Zane grimaced and scooped her back up, dropping into the chair with her on his lap. “I thought I’d have more time to get them out before fists flew.”
Right—because vampires were so quick to think before acting. She tried to sit primly on his lap and not sink into his muscled heat. This was all just beyond her. As if disagreeing, the markings across her back began to burn. She shifted against him.
He exhaled slowly. “We need to talk.”
“I know.”
“So stop moving.”
Heat filled her face. Oh. Well then. She half-turned to see his face. “Did you mark me on purpose?”
He paused, his eyes searching. One thick hand banded around her nape, caressing. “No.” He didn’t expand, just waited and watched.
She nodded, while both an unexpected hurt and a welcome relief flowed through her. She’d hate him if he’d tried to manipulate her like that, but even so, he hadn’twantedto mate her, and that made her heart ache. “Okay.”
“But I’m glad the mating happened.” Nothing else on earth was the true green color of his eyes.
Her shoulders hunched. “Right. Because now you can use my powers and keep me from the Kurjans.”
His hold tightened. “No. Because you’ve been mine your entire life, and I’m tired of waiting.”
A humming erupted in her core. The guy sure liked to control everything around him, and the strong hold and possessive tone promised the real Zane was showing up. So much for the sweet kid she’d once known. That kid she could’ve easily swayed. This guy? Not so much. A new determination hardened his jaw and made her pause. She tried to lever herself back but didn’t move.
“Let me go,” she murmured.
“Not a chance.” He stretched his neck. “I’m tired of fighting what I want. I want you, Belle, and now I have you. No regrets, no recriminations.Mine.”
That humming exploded into flapping wings, igniting an ache just for him. “I’m not into the whole vampire caveman routine, Zane.”
“That’s unfortunate.”
Her hand folded into a fist. For years she’d wrapped the most dangerous immortals in history around her finger, even while carrying an impossible mantle of responsibility. For once, a predator looked at her, and she had no clue how to handle him. No clue if shecouldhandle him. Irritation swept through her at his changing the game. “You’re nicer than this,” she whispered.
He slowly shook his head. “I’ve never been nice, Belle.”
“What do you want?” she asked, digging her free hand into the quilt.
Satisfaction lifted his upper lip. “Glad you asked. Want to know what I like best about you?”
He’d thrown her off balance, and she didn’t like it. Not one bit. “Sure.”
“Your independence and willingness to throw yourself into danger for those you love.” His free hand flattened over the blanket, capturing her thigh.
“Thank you.” She eyed him, wondering at his point, even as her nipples hardened.
“That ends today.”
Damn it. “You are such a vampire.”
“Vampire-demon hybrid,” he said without a hint of a smile. “I protect what’s mine, and nobody, including you, will change that.”
All right. The possessive words shouldn’t thrill her in such a way, so she frowned. “Listen, you can’t just start issuing orders because you chose to mark me. I choose to go my own way.”
His smile seemed more of a warning. “You chose to get into bed with me, and any consequences we’ll accept together.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “You consider marking me and binding us together for eternity a consequence?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
