He’d forgotten what that felt like—no, he realized, he’d never experienced that emotion. Since he was a boy, his life’s purpose had always been to defend. With a mother and sister who relied heavily on him, and a whoring sire they wanted toavoid.
Still intimately joined, Dagan walked to the bed and sat down with Shae in his arms. Desperate to savor this transcendent moment—the unexpected peace he’d found in her—because he realized it wastransient.
Shae eased back on his lap. Her gaze dropped to his lengthened incisors and skipped back to his eyes. He knew what the look was about, but he didn’t want to go there just yet. He shook his head when she opened her mouth to speak. “Later, we’ll talk. I just want to hold you. I needthis.”
She nodded. Sliding her arms around his neck, she hugged him tightly, and his heart clipped painfully. Then she eased off him. He didn’t hold her back. Although he regretted the loss of her warmth, he knew he had to get this damn thirst under control. Clamping down on his molars, he picked up the remaining inch of the still burning cigar from thenightstand.
“Dagan?”
“Yeah?” He inhaled deeply of his smoke then stared at the trailing wisps. He’d hoped this narcotic shit burning in the room would keep the urge at bay. No suchluck.
“Are youokay?”
He glanced sideways at her, sitting naked on the bed beside him, her arms wrapped around her bent knees, her red hair a seductive mess—and he wanted heragain.
“I’m fine,” he said instead. “Let me finish this first.” He indicated the cigar between his fingers. Pushing to his feet, he crossed to the window and openedit.
As he inhaled the sedative smoke, he rubbed a palm down his side and bit back a vicious curse. He hadn’t given two craps about his injury while making love to Shae, but now the fucking thing hurt like hell. And it was seeping again.Shit.
Before she saw it, he strode to the bathroom, put his cigar between his lips, and ripped off the dressing. Grabbing more gauze from the cabinet, he wiped away the blood, slapped on more healing salve, then taped on a freshbandage.
With his thirst blocked for now, he killed the end bit of his smoke and tossed it into the toilet. He removed his boots, pulled off his jeans, and dropped them into the laundry basket. A wave of his hand, and his ropey braids slippedfree.
He walked into the bedroom. Shae turned, her gaze roaming down his naked body and up again. Stopping in front of her, he cocked a brow in amusement. “What?”
She reached out and touched his stomach, and his muscles clenched in response. He breathed in deeply through his nose, trying to get his damn body to calm down. He’d never experienced a carnal hunger like thisbefore.
“You’re beautiful, you know that? Your hair, this body—this…” Her fingers lightly stroked his semi-erect sex, pulling a groan from him. Sighing, she removed her hand and slid off the bed. “I’ll be rightback.”
“Hold it.” He grabbed her, his arms banding around her waist. “You don’t get to tease me then decide toleave.”
“Dagan—” Laughter fell out of her as she tried to free herself, then she lightly traced the tattooed sword on his biceps with a fingertip. “I’m glad the goddess Gaia was there and looking out for you through thecenturies.”
Frowning, he glanced at his mystical ink. “Yes…she gave us purpose in our lives again after escaping Tartarus. Once we pledged our oath to her to be Guardians, she gave us our powers back, and gifted us with these tattooed swords and the obsidiandaggers…”
As he explained about the day Gaia had approached them, Shae didn’t even blink while she listened. But he was all too aware of her warm, sexy body aligned with his. His blood fired up, and he was rock-hardagain.
He picked her up and dropped her on the bed. A startled squeak escaped her. He settled between her parted thighs and continued speaking as if he weren’t the least bit affected. “But then we were a rabid bunch, and with five hundred years of barely suppressed anger from being imprisoned in that hellhole pressing down on us, we needed an outlet. It had to be why she took us on, so we had something to direct it at. Now, I need to work offthatenergy.”
“What?”
He shifted his hips, letting her feel what hemeant.
Her face reddened. She smacked his arm and rolled her eyes. “We just made love—” She tried to push him off her. He didn’t budge. Amusement and tenderness crowded him for his mate. His life had been a violent one—even sex, until now. Shae didn’t use him. Shegave.
“Dagan,” she sighed. “I’mhungry.”
Dammit, how could he let something so important slip hismind?
“I’m sorry, Shae-cat, I should have remembered.” He rolled off her. “You stay. I’ll go get food.” He headed for thedoor.
“Wait-wait. You aren’t going out there without any clothes on, areyou?”
He glanced back. “It’s just Angelus and Nik. They won’t care. But if they look at me the way you do, I’ll castratethem.”
She laughed, but her discomfort had her flush deepening. “They’ll know that we—thatwe…”
He shook his head. “Shae, I don’t care if the entire world heard us when I made love to and claimed you. You are mine. Stay here and don’t move. I’ll be rightback.”
