She reached out and touched his arm. “Are you okay? Any stress can’t be good for your condition.”
His condition? Oh, for God’s sakes. He took her glass, placed it on the coffee table, and lifted her onto his lap. “The last person you need to worry about right now is me.”
Her mouth formed a small ‘o’ and then she settled against him. The scent of her hair, honey and vanilla, wafted up and tempted him. “Why won’t you tell me about the possible treatments?” She placed her palm right over his heart.
“You’re all I need right now,” he murmured, enjoying her touch way too much.
She grinned. “You are so corny.”
Since he’d decided not to mate her, he couldn’t tell her the whole truth. Unable to stop himself, he leaned down and kissed her. Sweet and gentle, going slow. The woman tasted like peaches, even after drinking the potent wine. God, he fucking loved peaches.
She sighed and leaned against him, tilting her head back to give him better access.
He took the invitation and delved deep, putting everything he couldn’t say into the kiss. The longing and the frustration as well as the acceptance and the desire. She got all of him—even if it was only for a few moments. Then he released her mouth. “You should go back to bed. I’ll stay out here and keep watch.”
“I don’t want to go back to bed.” She nipped his neck. “Unless you want to come with me.”
Hunger slaked him, but he kept his hold loose. “Not a good idea. I hit you with a lot tonight, and then a bomb went off. You don’t need to ease my pain, Mariana.” Yeah, she was a sweetheart.
She levered back and met his gaze evenly. “I’m not trying to ease you, and I’m not overwhelmed. We’ve been attracted to each other since our first meeting, you’re not my patient, and we both know how short life can be.” Her focus dropped to his mouth. “I’ve never been a game player, and right now, neither one of us has time to play a game. Do you want me or not?”
Considering she was sitting on his rock-hard erection, the question was rather redundant. “You know I do.” This could be a colossal mistake. How was he going to touch her—finally touch her—and not mark her for life? For eternity? “You don’t know what you’re offering.” He swept a tendril away from her lovely face.
“I’m offering myself,” she whispered, sliding around to face him. To straddle him. “That’s all. Just you and me—exploring whatever this is between us for what time we have.”
It was more than he’d ever thought he’d get. It was more than he could refuse. For the first time in his long life, he lied to himself. He kissed her again, tasting her sweetness and telling himself that it was just a couple of kisses. He’d stop before they went too far.
The beast of his soul laughed at him, even as it growled in need. There was no ‘too far.’ Not for him. It wasn’t in his nature to hold back, and if he had a sense of honor, he’d let her go right now. Or he’d tell her the full truth—and that was unacceptable. Too soon, he’d be gone, and he would leave her with a knowledge it wasn’t safe for her to have. He had to stop this.
But then she scooted even closer, core to core, and dug her hands into his hair. Her kiss was wild, beyond anything he’d ever experienced. Her tongue slid into his mouth, past the fangs that wanted so badly to descend, right into him.
He growled, low and with a craving that was rapidly taking control. The feeling of her tight little body on him shot right to his balls, lighting a path of fire on the way. He forgot about honor and forgot about protecting her for her own safety.
There was only right now and this female on him. The need to get inside her, to become complete for the first time in his life, propelled him to grasp her hips and hold her in place. Her wild movements and her merciless curves were going to kill him.
He could hear the blood rushing through her veins, and an unbearable thirst slaked through him. Would her blood taste like peaches? Could he bite her…just enough to taste?
The female had no idea how close she was to becoming his. Forever. His fangs started to drop on their own, and he wrenched his mouth free, licking along her jawline to the pounding pulse in her neck.
He nipped hard enough to make her jump and then stood, lifting her. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she breathed, wrapping her arms around his neck and biting lightly.
The immortal inside him roared with hunger.
* * * *
Mariana had lost her mind but she didn’t care. Not one bit. The man carrying her into her bedroom was strong and wild, and she wanted more. She wanted all of him. She licked beneath his jaw and then nipped as hard as he had. God, he was delicious. Every movement of muscle against her only made her crave everything he could give her.
He set her on the bed and used his thumbs to slide her sweater up and over her head. Then he pulled her closer into a blood-stirring kiss, turning even her bones to mush. Her lungs seized, and she breathed him in. Then he pulled her sports bra over her head, baring her breasts.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured, gently tracing each breast and scraping the pads of his thumbs across her nipples.
Electricity zagged from his touch to her core. She moaned and reached for his zipper.
“Not yet.” He leaned down and pulled her jeans down her legs, his talented thumbs caressing her skin on the way. Her panties came next, and then she was completely nude. His wide palms spread across her thighs, and then he dipped his head, kissing her right on the sex.
Her legs trembled. “Raine.” Every inch of her was hypersensitive and ready for him. Just for him.
