“Wait a minute.” She held out a hand, trying to think. Tried to rationalize what was happening and use her brain instead of her body. The pull he had on her was unreal, and it was more than just need or want or lack of sex for years. There was something between them; something big and real that she couldn’t explain. The marking along her back, the faded brand that he’d put there years ago to save her life, began to tingle until it burned.
He paused, his eyes dark pools of burnt silver. “There’s only one way this works, and it’s if we both decide it’ll work. That much I know. All in, Grace Cooper. We control our cells, our DNA, not the other way around.”
The truth in that statement dug deep inside her. Where she wantedhimright now. “You’re telling me you believe in mind over matter?” she asked breathlessly, the craving she felt for him making her voice shake.
“No. I believe in fate and our ability to decide for ourselves what our ultimate destiny will be. You’re a powerful Key, I’m a member of the Seven, and if we decide to mate and survive, we will. There’s no other way life makes sense, and it’s time you stopped running and faced what you need to face.” He released his belt and drew it through the belt loops, the sound making an erotic wisp she felt in her core.
“I don’t want you to die,” she whispered.
“I won’t.” He unclasped the button on his jeans.
Oh, she wanted her mouth on those abs. “I don’t want to die either,” she admitted, her legs trembling with a combination of need and fear.
“You won’t.” He reached for the front of her coat and slowly unzipped it, giving her plenty of time and room to take another step back. “I won’t force you, and you know it. I won’t hurt you, and you know it. This is your decision, and it’s time you made it. You either trust me to protect you, to protect us both, or you don’t.” He released the zipper but didn’t make another move.
He was asking for what she’d never given anybody but her sister. Absolute trust. The woman she’d been before the coma would’ve made the leap of faith. Of trust. Would’ve believed that Adare was as powerful as he seemed. Was she still that woman? “What if you’re wrong?” she breathed.
“I’ll have no regrets.” He drew her coat down her arms and dropped it next to his. “Not a one. You’re going to have to trust me on that, too.”
She did believe in mind over matter. There was a lot about the immortal world she didn’t understand, and there was no doubt Adare did. “All right. I trust you.” She gave it all to him, letting go of doubt and the fear of risk. Of failure. If they both went all in, as he’d said, then they’d survive and deal with the problems of tomorrow…tomorrow. “So. I haven’t done this in a while.”
His smile held charm and amusement. “I’ll guide you through it.”
Why was she suddenly so nervous? Oh yeah. The hottest male on earth was about to see her naked. Thank goodness she’d shaved her legs that morning. “I think I remember what goes where.” She tried for humor but her words came out breathless.
“Good to know.” He unbuttoned her sweater, his gaze scorching.
Finally giving in to temptation, she flattened her hands across his abs, letting the hard ridges fill her palms. “Were you like this before you underwent the Seven ritual?” According to Faith, the ritual was a near death experience that involved fire, blood, and traveling between worlds.
“Like what?” His thumbs caressed her arms as he drew her sweater down them and let it go.
“Airbrushed,” she whispered. “Hard as steel.” Each ridge was powerful muscle, tight and strong.
The pads of his fingers skimmed across her clavicle, heating and sparking. “I was a fighter before the ritual, although it did make us stronger, I think.”
She gently tried to twist him around. “I want to see.”
He paused, and then with a soft sound of regret at removing his hands from her body, he partially turned to face the fire.
She breathed in sharply. His back was incredible. The black form of a shield, a tattoo way deeper than his skin, covered him from neck to waist. A solid form that could never be penetrated. No matter what, his heart was protected.
From the outside.
He turned back around, just as impenetrable from the front but lacking the tattoo. She felt vulnerable standing there in snowy jeans and her bra, but the flare in his eyes gave her confidence. “I’ll try not to hurt you,” she whispered, meaning every word.
* * * *
God, she was cute. A rush of emotion, hot and determined, swelled through Adare’s chest. The thought that she could hurt him was sweet.
With a flick of his finger, the front clasp of her bra sprang open, revealing small, high breasts. His fangs started to drop, and he retracted their sharp points, wanting to get his mouth on her as soon as possible. He traced from her collar bone down over one pretty pink nipple, smiling at her gasp. She was so honest in her responses. Finally. No more concerns or doubts.
When Grace Cooper went all in, she did it with a vengeance. He really liked that about her.
Even so, her expression showed a vulnerability that he needed to handle. “You’re beautiful, Grace.”
As expected, she rolled her eyes. Fair enough. He’d have to show her. He settled both hands at her waist, easily spanning the width, and lifted her toward the bed. She’d lost too much weight while fighting the decline of the mating mark, and the first thing he’d do after the op was make sure she ate healthy and continued to train. She needed to know how to fight, and she’d taken that on herself admirably, but he was done ignoring his duties.
Plus, he wanted to spend time with her. It was unexpected, but he fell into the truth. He laid her down, tugging off her jeans and boots as he stood to remove his own. Her panties were pink with lace along the edges, sexy and sweet at the same time. Like the female herself.
