“Until that happens”—her eyes took on a feverish glitter—“which is unlikely, trapped in the most remote part of this back of the beyond, I needclothes.”
Dagan went dead still, her hiking energy bashing at his psyche like a furious gale force. Before she drew all the demons in the areas with her dangerous vibe, he grasped her hand and jogged for the thicket edging thefoothills.
“What the hell, Dagan?” She tugged at her hand. “Stop hauling meabout.”
Then he was running, forcing her to do the same because he couldn’t dematerialize them from the street with the damn human still watching. They finally rounded the last building two streets away and hit the dense copse surrounding the village. Bits of debris rose off the ground and whipped pasthim.
“You need to reel in that power. Now. Do it,Shae!”
She yanked free. “Go away.” She rubbed her face, panting hard. “I have to go buyclothes.”
He pushed his shades onto his head and grabbed her by her upper arms, but her molecules were already shifting, fading. His hand passed right through her body. Shit. “Shae, look atme!”
Those blank, storm-gray eyes stared right through him, her entire body shimmering between solid andintangible.
No!Fear took hold, his gut twisting. The heavens knew where she’d turn up when she took form again—probably right in the enemy’slap.
In sheer desperation, he put his mouth on hers. It was like kissing a wisp of cotton then air. Godsdammit, she was his mate, she should feelsomething—some kind of connection to him,right?
C’mon, Shae,he begged, wanting her to kiss him back so he’d know she was stillthere.
A second passed, two…she began to take corporeal form and swayed into him. A tiny gasp escaped her, her body solid once more. A tentative touch of her tongue against his, and relief flowed. And then he lost what was left of his rational mind. So damn grateful he had her back, he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into hermouth.
Her lips moved against his, a soft moan escaping her and setting his senses alight. It was the most intense physical pleasure he’d ever experienced in his long life as she kissed him back. She tasted of warm female and the strawberry candy she’d eaten. Desire coiled through his body, and his erection kicked up uncomfortably behind his zipper. The rush of her blood in her veins a sweet lure… His fangslengthened.
Fuuuuck!He leaped away, breathing hard, fighting to get himself under control. If he took her, it wouldn’t be just her body he’dwant.
“Dagan?” At her soft, husky voice, he spun around, ready to tell her that this couldn’t ever occur again. She blinked and looked around her, rubbing her temples like she wanted to knead away a headache. “Where are we? We were at thestore…”
She didn’t remember? Not even the kiss that had shaken him to the depths of his bloodstained soul? One he realized would haunt him for the rest of hislife.
Breathing in deeply through his nose, the taste of her on his tongue, wishing he could will away the aching tightness in his chest, he picked up her fallenpackage—
A tourist. Another notch for my bedpost,the man’s thoughts seeped into Dagan’s mind. His fingers clenched on the pharmacy packet. He would kill the bastardfirst.
“Dagan?” Her wary gaze searched his face. “Whathappened?”
It took him a moment before he could speak. “Your powers made anappearance.”
Fear widened her eyes, chasing away the flush his kiss had brought to her beautiful face, leaving her pale oncemore.
“Oh, no.” Hurriedly, she glanced around then back at him. “Did I hurtyou?”
So many words burned in his soul, demanding release.You’re my mate—my other half.Instead, he said, tone flat, “No. But we need toleave.”
“Wait-wait.”
His control hanging by a thread, he shook his head and drew her close. Trying not to breathe in her tempting scent, he dematerializedthem.
Back in the monastery courtyard, he waited until she’d steadied herself before headingindoors.
“Dagan, wait.” Her booted steps echoed off the granite floors as she raced after him into the living room. “What about myclothes?”
“Make a list, I’ll see you getthem.”
Shae planted herself in his path, her chest heaving from her short sprint, her gaze searching his. “What is going on withyou?”
Sidestepping her, he entered the kitchen and dropped her package and his shades on the table. He retrieved a loose cigar from his pocket, desperate to get his urge under control. Lit the thing and dragged in a lungful of narcotic smoke, hoping it would eliminate her scent, the feel of her luscious mouth onhis.
