His mouth descends on mine, and all the words in my head disappear. Left with nothing but a swirling maelstrom of emotions, I throw my arms around him and squeeze tight, so incredibly grateful he’s alive. I meet his lips with my own fierce demand, never wanting to stop. My breath becomes choppy, and a sob escapes, but even then, I continue to pour every ounce of what I feel into this kiss. Into him. Gatlin. My protector. Safe haven. Rock. Friendship and gratitude meld into passion and need.
My breath catches. I’ve wanted him for a while, but it wasn’t until the last few weeks that I began to really see him. Know him. Sharing my home with him has been a tantalizing glimpse into a future I desperately want.
Eventually, lips gently pull away from mine, but my hands continue to roam, sliding across his hard body, wanting to touch and claim. I raise my gaze to meet his and marvel at the heat I see reflected back at me.
His hand comes up and cradles my head. “There’s no way you could have stopped me. Nor will you stop me the next time. Or the time after that.”
I draw back, furious with him for his words and for ruining the moment. “Like hell. I’ll sneak out and get Charlie or Maverick to take me via portal. I’m not risking your life again. You’re too important to me…and them.”
His voice is harsh when he responds. “There’s no way you’re getting rid of me, nor will you meet with Hera alone. Ever again.”
Astounded, I stare at him. Has he lost his mind?
“You shouldn’t have claimed me. That’s not something I take lightly, nor will I allow you to take it back. All that I am is yours. Andyouare mine.”
His lips capture mine again, rendering me breathless, and I shift into his body, cradling his hardness, willing to be distracted by him. Arguing can wait.
“We’ll talk about it later.”
“No, we won’t,” he growls in my ear. “The gods have tried to get rid of my kind many times. The magic that made us always reforms. I don’t know the exact specifics. The magi were secretive. Something about the grains of sand and creation of earth. It used to bother me to know I’d be around until the end of this world. A steward, drifting through time, protecting everyone but belonging to nobody.”
His golden eyes flare with emotion. “You claiming me… Suddenly, the future is brighter than ever.”
I blink. He really can’t die. As someone who’s lived for over three thousand years, his words crack open the walls around my heart. In a way I never thought about before. I used to think I’d be the only one here until the earth turned to dust. Even immortal supernaturals can cease to exist. Not him. Does he mean it?
With a flick of my finger, I slide off the band holding back his hair and run my fingers through it. I’ve been wanting to do that for so long. White-blond hair cascades onto his shoulders and down his back.
He drops his head forward, his hair shielding us from the outside world. “I want to show you how much you mean to me. But not here.” His mouth nibbles the spot where my neck meets my shoulder. “Besides, I want time to savor you. Taste every inch. Map every fucking curve with my tongue. Imprint myself on you until you’re utterly addicted to me.”
My breath catches. “I want that…more than anything…but I need you to be sure. Jamison and?—”
His finger on my lips stops my protest. “I’m sure. Let me worry about my family’s reaction.”
14
PHAEDRA
Gatlin shouts a thank you at Charlie, then tugs me down the steps of the jet into my vehicle. I barely have my seat belt fastened before he’s taking off, foot heavy on the gas. I laugh. The flight from Greece was long and torturous. For us both.
“Would have been faster for me to fly us home,” he mutters, with a wink in my direction. “Good thing it’s not far. I’m hanging on by a thread.”
I don’t comment on the slip of his tongue. Home. That sounds too good. I rub my palms on my jeans, trying to ease my nerves. I don’t know why I’m nervous. Maybe because this is the first time I’ve truly let myself feel vulnerable. It’s quite terrifying. Add in the conflict between me and the rest of his family, and despite his reassurance, I’m also worried.
“Will Hawthorne and Jamison be there?” I hesitantly ask. That could be awkward. I’m not trying to hide what’s happening between Gatlin and me, but I don’t want to fan the flames either.
His brow furrows. “As far as I know, they’re still in England, trying to hunt down Jamison’s father. Thehonorablelord has suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth.” His lip curls in a sneer. For someone whose honor is everything, Lord de Vere’s actions are reprehensible to Gatlin.
On the flight home, Gatlin spoke to Jamison, then filled me in. Unfortunately, the only person I’d ever dealt with at Harlequin had been Mercer. “Does Jamison have any clue who Bennett could be?”
“None of our contacts have turned up anything on him yet,” he replies as he brings the car to a halt in the garage and gets out. After gathering our bags, he turns to me. “Are you sure? Because once we walk in that door, the last vestige of control I have is going to go up in smoke.”
My eyes widen, and I nod. “I’m sure.”
Two steps inside, he drops the bags in the entry and stalks toward me. His head descends, and he captures my lips in a long, languorous kiss. Expecting him to rush, I’m taken by surprise by his slow, deliberate approach, but with a groan, I surrender to the need rushing through me.
Without stopping, he sweeps me into his arms and carries me up the stairs. At the top, he lifts his head. “Which room?”
“Mine,” I reply, sliding my hand into his hair to release it from its confines and comb through the long strands. He had swept it back a few hours ago to work, but I love it down.
