“Wrong. There’s me. You and me.” He kissed her forehead, his lips heated. “Are you mine, Tabi?”
Whoa. Wow. “Um.” A jolt of awareness and want took her by surprise. His? Her thighs softened. “This isn’t turning out like I thought.” Yeah, her voice went hoarse and needy, and her core started to ache. For him. Only for Evan O’Connell, a male it appeared she couldn’t control.
His grin held steel. “I figured. Why don’t you tell me what you’d planned?”
That was the problem. She never planned—or hardly ever. “Well, I guess I thought you’d be grateful I’d saved your life and then I’d kind of protect you from afar and do my thing.” It was difficult to concentrate with his hard body over her.
He shifted his weight, settling his rigid cock between her legs. Only the thin material of her panties separated them. She bit back a moan.
By the flaring of his eyes, he felt it against his chest. “Is that how things usually go with immortals?”
She snorted. “No. Not at all. Didn’t you notice that either Dage or Max could’ve taken both of us out if either of us had threatened Emma? I’m sure the queen can fight, and I’m also sure the queen has never needed to fight.” She paused. “But—”
“No but. I’ve had more fighting experience than you have, and it appears I’m stronger.” He frowned, for the first time losing the arrogant glint in his eyes. “We’re going to have to watch that and make sure I can control it. I’d never want to hurt you. Or anybody else, really.”
Relief swamped her. Evan was back. The one she knew. “I agree, and I’m willing to stay here until you feel comfortable with your new powers. We’ll work on it until you’re sure you’ve got it under control.”
“Tell me about the Popovs so I can handle them,” he said.
Damn it. The Evan she’d known wassonot back. “I’ll handle them.”
He brushed his nose across hers, both hands sliding her camisole up her ribcage. “If I haven’t been clear, I apologize. You are no longer handling anything by yourself.”
The thrill that took her was because of his warm hands and not the thought that she wasn’t alone. That this big, strong, badass of a gentle giant was now being a bossy asshat should not turn her on or make her happy.
Yet the warmth in her center wouldn’t leave. “Evan—”
“You haven’t answered my question, so I’ll lead you there.” He removed her top, settling his bare chest over hers and groaning softly. “Are we mated?”
She rolled her eyes, her hands working on their own to caress down his flanks. Her nipples hardened against him. “Yes.”
“Is mating forever?”
“Apparently so,” she said, scratching down his heated back, still sure she could turn this around. “You’re welcome for my bringing you into this world.”
“Hmm.” He kissed her then—finally. Deep and sure with more than a hint of power. Oh, it had been there before, but he’d held back. Now he gave it all, giving her no choice but to take it. Then he released her, leaning back as if time had no meaning. “I was already in this world but hadn’t realized how big it was. Now you’re with me in it, demonness. I’m being as gentle as I can be with you, but you’re going to come to grips with it and soon.”
How had she missed this in him? “What the hell does that mean?” Why was he turning her on and pissing her off at the same time? It was too hard to concentrate.
“You mated me knowing full well what mating meant. I’m just taking you up on the offer.” His phone buzzed and he stiffened, reaching for it on his dresser. “It’s the king.”
She stiffened. “The king has your cell number?”
“Yeah. I called in a favor before he left the other day.” Evan sounded so damn casual about the freaking king of the entire Realm.
Who was this male she’d mated? What had she done? “What favor?”
“I let his woman take my blood and yours.” Evan lifted the phone. “Morning, Dage. What do you have?” His voice was all business, and then he listened, his gaze remaining on Tabi’s eyes. “When?” Those blue eyes narrowed. “Thanks for arranging the meeting.” He ended the call, his jaw hardening.
“What?” Tabi whispered.
The phone shattered in his hand. He looked at it, his brows rising. “Shit.”
She shivered, taken aback. Maybe he was more dangerous than even she’d realized. “We need to work on that strength.”
He tossed the useless pieces toward the floor and looked back at her. “We. I like that. Now you’re learning.”
Irritation mixed with the desperate desire flooding her. This entire situation had gotten away from her, and it seemed Evan had the control now. Oh, she had to do something about that but couldn’t think of the right move. “What did the king say?” she asked.
