“Get into the vehicle, Grace.”
She looked around. Running was just foolish, so why the hell was her heart beating so fast and her skin sensitizing? She didn’t like him all growly like this. Did she? Yeah, he was kind of sexy in a demolish-the-world kind of way, and the guy could kiss, but she was trying to save his life. He could at least be a little bit appreciative of that fact. Yeah. He definitely should be thanking her instead of ordering her around.
“Grace.” The edge to his tone sharpened.
Dang. She’d gotten caught in her head again. Must be some kind of defense mechanism. She shook herself out of it. “Open the gate, Adare.”
“I’ll give you the count of two.”
Oh, he did not. She slapped snow off her gloves instead of throwing a snowball at him. “I’m not a wayward toddler, you arrogant jackwad.”
“More like an errant mate,” he retorted. “I’m done with it. Get in the vehicle, now, or I’ll put you in it.”
It had been freaking torture sitting next to him at dinner thinking about having sex, wanting to have sex, and if he put his hands on her right now, she’d probably just give in and take him down to the snow. Or at least try to. He was making it a lot easier for her to forget the risk to him if they finally gave in and had sex, so he should probably lose the attitude.
“That’s it.” He lowered his chin and strode directly at her.
She jumped. “Fine.” Without waiting for him to stop, she tried to run for the passenger side door and slipped on the ice.
He caught her by the arm to keep her from falling. Then he dragged her back toward the driver’s side.
She tried to pull back, but her boots couldn’t find purchase and just slid along where he wanted. He jerked open the door, lifted her inside, and shoved her over with his hip as he sat in the driver’s seat.
Scooting over, she glared at him. Yeah, she could open the door and run, but she’d end up right back here. There was no way she could outrun an immortal hybrid. “Did you say landmines?” Her head jerked as the conversation came back. Landmines and electrical currents? On the fence she’d tried to move?
“Yes.” His voice was grim as he set the vehicle in drive and turned around in the storm, crunching into snowbanks on either side of the driveway.
“You didn’t think those were facts I might want to know?” Her voice rose.
His head turned, in slow motion, and his gaze captured hers. “I didn’t think you’d be foolhardy enough to venture out at night in a storm with the entire Kurjan nation on your ass.”
Well. Since he put it like that. “I’m trying to save your life.”
“That’s not your job.” He turned back to drive over the thick snow piling up on the driveway. “There’s a simple truth you need to get into your stubborn head right now. I know you were raised human, but my world is simple. No soldier, no immortal male, would ever let his mate risk her life for his. Period.” He lifted a hand. “I don’t care if that’s politically incorrect or not how the humans live these days. That’s fine for them. But it’s in our very nature,myvery nature, to put your life before mine. Before almost anybody’s, in fact.”
They weren’t true mates. “We didn’t really mate,” she reminded him.
“I did.” He pulled the vehicle into the garage. “And you’re about to. Get inside the house, Grace. Now.”
Chapter 26
Grace slid out of the car and stomped her boots to get rid of the snow before climbing the stairs and bursting into the kitchen. His view of the world was kind of sweet, and if they were in love and mates, she’d understand. But right now, they wanted to smack each other. Or get naked. Why those two feelings were intertwined when she thought of him, she had no idea. “I really don’t see—”
He lifted her, flipped her around in the air, and caught her. She yelped and grabbed on to his coat, instinctively smashing her thighs around his hips to keep from falling.
His mouth was on hers before she could make another sound. Hard and demanding, his lips were cold from the snow and his tongue so hot it burned. He went deep, one hand on her ass and the other stabilizing her back. His tongue took hers, conquering, as he strode through the cabin, his steps soft and sure.
She couldn’t breathe. She didn’t want to.
With a low moan, she returned his kiss, tunneling both hands through his hair. Snow fell all around them.
All that existed was Adare and his mouth. His hand scalded her butt, even through her jeans. His heat and his energy, his anger and his desire. His powerful determination.
He kicked the door to their small suite shut with one boot and let her slide down his body to the floor, still kissing her.
She stepped back, her mind reeling, her body aching with a need so great it had to be unnatural. Or immortal. “Adare.”
Keeping her gaze, he drew off his coat and dropped it on the floor. His shirt was next, and all of that smooth and impossibly hard muscle played as he reached for his belt.
