She gasped for breath, chuckling with each pant and trying to shove at his chest. It was like being pinned down by a car. He’d immobilized her entire body. “You weigh a ton.”
He lifted himself up onto his elbows, pressing his groin more firmly against hers. “You calling me fat?”
“Hmmm.” She pursed her lips, pinched his flank. Or tried to. Nothing but smooth muscle over pure hard steel. “I have a couple of exercise tapes you could borrow.”
He grinned. “Have any leg warmers I could wear?” The tension riding his shoulders lessened.
She skimmed up his back to play with his thick hair. “I see you in pink.”
He chuckled, and his mental guard relaxed.
Images slammed into Janie’s brain. Strategy and danger. She stilled.
His smile faded. “We shouldn’t be able to read each other’s minds so quickly.”
Yet they could. She shook her head against the pillow. “We’re finally in a good spot. You have to find peace.”
Granite hard muscle pressed against her chest as he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “There’s no peace if Suri lives.”
Fiery heat ignited her nerves. “Then send an army and let’s finish this.” Her voice rose, and her mind reeled with the need to find a solution without so much danger to him. They’d just found each other, and they finally had a chance to live. To be together. “Please.”
“An army of vampires taking on an army of demons? That’s not peace.” Zane spoke softly, but the firmness of his jaw left no room for negotiation. For reason. “The only way to find peace is to take Suri down and agree to a treaty as the new leader. Otherwise, we’ll always be at war. The two sides of me, the vampire and the demon, will be fighting each other. I have family on both sides.”
The truth made sense but there had to be another way. A way that wouldn’t get him killed. She coughed out frustration. “Even if you beat Suri one-on-one, his death will send out shock waves, right?”
“Definitely.” An apology shone in Zane’s emerald eyes.
“Can you survive it?” Janie whispered, her gaze dropping to his full lips.
They formed the words she really didn’t want to see. “I don’t know,” he said. “I have a better chance than anyone else, though.”
That wasn’t exactly reassuring. She sighed, curiosity battling with fear. “What about you? There’s power in you, too. If you, ah, died, would you send out shock waves?”
He shrugged. “Not at this point. You need to be at least five hundred years old to accumulate that much mental power, and frankly, after the last two wars, not many demons have lived that long. Suri and Nick are among the few.”
So Suri had nothing to fear if Zane died. Janie swallowed. “You’re still regaining your strength from battle and from teleporting so many times. Surely you’re going to give yourself time to heal before taking on Suri.”
Zane lowered his head until his nose nearly touched hers. “I leave tomorrow, Belle.”
Her body flared into motion, struggling against him, trying to fight. “No,” she breathed.
He held her in place, not moving, letting her work it out of her system. Against him.
But every move, every touch, every strike of her body against his blasted desire into her nerves. Into her very being. By the time she wound down, she panted with more than exertion.
Need filled her, desperate and hungry. Finally, she stilled. “Why can’t we just relax and have a soft time? There’s always so much fire.” Vulnerability and fear made her feel small. Helpless.
His gaze melted. “You want gentle?” Soft as a whisper, his lips wandered against hers. “I can give you gentle.” His groin settled more comfortably against hers, hard and ready. Tempting.
Warm and strong, his palm cupped her jaw, his thumb caressing her cheek. “Let me show you, Belle,” he rumbled. His mouth covered hers, kissing slow and deep. Tears pricked the back of her eyes, and she let him take her languidly where he wanted to go. His senses opened, letting her inside his head. Inside his heart.
His fears as a child, his hope as a teenager, his determination as a man, all filled her mind. Memories of his thinking about her, of his wanting her, filled her heart.
He gave her everything, holding nothing back.
She accepted him, opening herself. Sharing every secret fear and hope. Somehow Zane smoothly removed their clothing with minimal effort, his hands caressing her breasts, his knees nudging hers farther apart.
He pushed inside her carefully, his mouth constantly working hers, his power keeping her with him. The sensations bombarded her—hissensations. What he felt, he shared with her.
