Pain charged up into his head, and his temper roared. He grasped her biceps and partially lifted her, drawing her within an inch of his face. “Do that again.”
She blinked, her eyes flashing yellow and then back to the blue and green. Her nostrils flared. “No.”
“Smart choice.” Apparently they needed to start with the basics. “No hitting, no kicking, and no fucking teleporting into hell dimensions.”
She lifted her chin. “Don’t be stupid enough to get hit or kicked.” She leaned the final inch, her nose almost touching his. “And if I have to teleport into hell dimensions to be of use, then that’s what I’ll damn well do.”
Her words struck him. She’d said something similar before, and he thought he’d been clear with her. Awareness competed with the fury in him. “Sweetheart? You are more than enough just being you. You matter—without having a so-called use.”
She blinked. Then leaned back and away from him. Vulnerability shimmered for the briefest of seconds in her eyes. “I, but…” Her voice trailed off.
He could picture her as a little girl among those ten kids, needing to have a function. How could she not see her value lay in her kind heart and big brain? Not to mention her sense of loyalty and fairness. He’d need several lifetimes to prove her worth to her, and that was fine with him. But first, he had to keep her alive. “You’re more than enough for both your people and me, Mercy.”
A slight pink filled her cheeks.
He tried to find a gentle way to explain the rest. “You’re my mate. That means your safety comes above all else—and that’s nonnegotiable.” There. That was fucking gentle.
Her fine brows slanted down. “I disagree.”
He smiled, and by the widening of her eyes, it wasn’t a pleasant sight. Good. He was starting to feel unpleasant again. “How so?” he asked softly, his blood pounding.
She swallowed. “Well, if you’re in danger, then I am, too.”
Sweet. Very sweet. “Wrong.”
Her mouth opened and closed. Her frown deepened. “Right.”
Okay. They could go back and forth all day. The feel of her thighs against his and her core right above his suddenly aching cock was making polite discussion impossible. “I’m a soldier, you’re not. I’m trained, you’re not.” He kissed her hard on the mouth. “I fight, you don’t.”
“Me Tarzan, you Jane,” she muttered.
He barked out a laugh. How could she make him laugh when he was still pissed off? “God, I love you.”
Her chin dropped to her chest, surprise lightening her expression. It was completely unguarded for the first time. “You do?”
His heart rolled right over and gave up. “Yes. Completely. All of you.”
She smiled, delight on her entire face. “I love you, too.”
Yeah, he’d figured. She had come after him into a hell dimension.
She hopped happily on his lap. “Well then. I guess that gives me the power.”
Ah, she was cute. And about to learn different. He stood, his hands on her ass, and headed for the bedroom in the rear of the plane. “You think so?” he asked mildly.
* * * *
Mercy wanted to purr. He loved her. Actually loved her. The pleasure blooming inside her was only slightly dimmed by a warning in the back of her head. Should she have joked about power? They crossed into the bedroom, which held an ultralarge bed and not much else. He shut and locked the door, still holding her aloft. She nipped his chin, enjoying the salty taste of his skin. “You going to show me who’s boss?” Why the heck wouldn’t her mouth just be quiet?
“Yes.” He didn’t smile.
A quiver started in her abdomen and spread out, lighting her nerves. Her breath caught, and her body hummed. “Um.”
“Too late for um.” He set her down and tore off his shirt, revealing that wickedly strong chest. His front looked the same—big and powerful and badass.
She motioned for him to turn. “Let me see.”
He paused, and then turned around, revealing the intricate darkness of the shield that made up his back. It took her breath away.
