“Thirsty?” If she could just get some air, she could figure this out.
“No.” He clocked her progress, looking big and bad and pretty damn sexy. “You done trying to make a run for it?”
It was one of her skills. “You’re in a mood.” One that was having the interesting result of heating her abdomen and softening her thighs. What was it about him?
“Good of you to notice.” He tracked her then, sure and strong steps.
She backed away, her heart thundering, her body healed. “What are you doing?”
“Settling things.” He reached her, his scent of smoke and honey wafting along her skin.
She took another step back, caught between the wall and his body. If she could just slide to the right, she could reach the kitchen. Although the broad spanse of his ripped chest all but begged for her mouth.
As if reading her mind, he planted a hand on the wall by her head, caging her. Easily. “I’d like to give you another chance to respond to my statement that you do not just breezily walk into danger thatdoes notinclude you rolling your eyes.” While his voice was soft, his eyes were intense, and his body vibrating.
She couldn’t have rolled her eyes if her life depended on it. Plus, breezily hadn’t exactly described her actions. “I guess I could agree to those conditions.” Her lungs seemed to be fighting her.
“No more danger, Tabitha.”
She shivered from the heat in his eyes. Human, her ass. He was all immortal badass. “Danger isn’t my thing.” She tried to sound agreeable.
He traced his free hand along her jaw and down her front, between her breasts. “Right. You go into business with shifters, and you double-cross them.”
She gasped.
Now he rolled his eyes. “Please.”
Okay. Her grin even felt sassy. “No more business arrangements with shifters.”
“Good. No more beating up humans, either.” His fingers were gentle as he lifted the shirt over her head, baring her to him.
She shrugged. “Whatever. I don’t have to beat people up.” Although, those boys had certainly deserved it. She caressed over his chest and down his abdomen, tucking the pads of her fingers into each hard ridge. She purred.
He tangled his fingers in her hair and twisted, forcing her to meet his gaze. “No more casually walking into traps. In fact, no more traps. If there’s a trap, you find a way tonotbe in the middle of it.”
Well, he’d probably need some time to really figure out the immortal world. Half the fun of traps was springing them. She leaned up and licked along his too firm bottom lip.
His hands—both hands—manacled her hips and lifted her. Fast. Way faster than she could move. He pressed her back to the wall and leaned in, his nose touching hers. Those eyes, blue and dangerous and slightly amused. Yeah, he knew her. Somehow. Maybe this had been his trap all along. “Panties off,” he ordered, kissing her before she could respond.
Heck, yeah. She shoved them down, tucking her hands in his jeans and pushing. “Now.”
He pushed inside her, going slow, easily holding her, his body warm and strong. “You merely like me?”
Pleasure rippled through her, so much and so strong. She laughed, enjoying everything about him. He was more than she could’ve ever wanted—and she gave herself over. Finally. “All right. I love you. Happy now?”
“Oh, I’m just getting started.” He moved then, driving inside her, taking everything she was. “I think you knew exactly who I’d be. Who I am.”
Maybe. Although admitting that to herself hadn’t been easy. She’d been alone for so long, and now she’d found somebody who’d never let her go. Yeah, it was a dream she’d always held but hadn’t thought would work out. So much for handling him. “Harder.”
He went harder, his hands digging into her butt. The ripples were fast, the tide strong. She broke, the room flashing hot, the orgasm stealing her thoughts.
Dropping his head to her neck, he shuddered with his own release. “I love you, too.” Then he lifted his head, his gaze bright. “That’s fast, right?”
She laughed, happy and not alone. Not even close. “That’s immortality, Detective.” The faded mark on her palm tingled. “Or maybe it’s fate. Does it matter?”
“No.” He kissed her deep. “So long as it’s forever.”
Chapter 16
