“No!” He spun around, his expression one of pained fury, like he wanted to punch something again. “Don’t tell me how I should feel, or what I should do! Even when I thought I was siphoningyouremotions and using them, they were mine.Mine!”
She reached a helpless hand out to him then dropped it when he didn’t take it. “I don’t want you to be alone.”
“I won’t. Those law-keepers will finally get their wish.”
“Blaéz, no!”
A nerve pulsed hard in his jaw. “IfIwas dying, and you lived forever, what wouldyoudo?”
“I’m sorry. I-I wasn’t thinking about it that way.” And yet, she didn’t want her end for him. Much as it broke her heart it wouldn’t be with her, he deserved happiness.
He crossed back, dropped to his knees in front of her and gathered her close. His arms wrapping around her waist, he laid his head on her lap. “You loved me when I least deserved it, put up with my shit when I was too fucked up in my thinking. I want all that with you in this life and the next. I want you fighting with me when I’m filled with too much macho-bullcrap and loving me in spite of it.” He looked up, eyes dark with agony. “I can live through Tartarus again, but I cannot bear this life without you in it—don’t leave,a leannan… If it means I have to give you up, fight—live, please...”
Tears misted her eyes. Unable to ease his pain, because it was the one thing she couldn’t promise him. She was mortal. Death would always be her end. She lowered her head and pressed her lips to his. He captured her mouth in a fierce kiss. With his emotions running so high, she used it, sliding her hands beneath his t-shirt, caressing his taut, scarred back.
He pulled away, blue eyes wary. “Darci—”
“Please, Blaéz? I miss you so much.” She missed him, missed the intimacy of them. Since she’d given him back his soul, he hadn’t touched her, instead, he treated her like porcelain, so afraid she’d break.
“You think I don’t want you. You tire so easily, it tears me up inside this fear I have, I touch you and take away whatever time we have left. Christ, I wish you hadn’t—” He squeezed his eyes tight, then his lids snapped open. Whatever it was he saw in her gaze, or maybe it was his decision to follow her when her life ended, he finally nodded. “But not here.”
Blaéz swept her into his arms and carried her through the long corridors up the stairs to the second floor and their quarters. In their bedroom, he set her on the bed.
Darci reached to unfasten her top, but he stopped her. “Let me.”
As he undid the buttons, he pressed his lips to every inch of skin he revealed. Sliding her top off, he tossed it aside, then unzipped her skirt and removed it, leaving her in her plain, white cotton underwear. She shivered, the cool air in the bedroom dusting her skin with goose bumps.
With a wave of his hand, the fire in the hearth roared to life. He moved her to the middle of the lake-size mattress, then he reached for the bottom of his shirt. But this time, she was the one who held him off. “My turn.”
He lowered his hands, but those deep blue eyes remained on her. She sat up and faced him where he kneeled on the bed. Grasping the hem of his tee, she lifted it off and found herself eye to pec with him, surrounded by miles of lightly tanned muscles. The shirt dropped from her hand. She trailed her fingers down his warm body, tracing the ridges of his abs. Leaning closer, she licked his flat, male nipple. A shudder rippled through him.
She slid her fingers between his flat belly and jeans. Popped the button and brushed against the top of his erect sex. He wore no underwear. That irresistible bulge beckoned her as she unzipped his fly. His freed cock bumped against her hand, warm and thick, and so tempting. She stroked him, smoothing the blunt head and the wetness there with her thumb.
He groaned and grasped her hand. “You do that, and I don’t think I can hold out, love.”
Moving off the bed, his unfastened jeans slid lower, revealing the top of his taut backside. He kicked off his boots, turned around, and gave her a more tantalizing front view as he got rid of his pants.
Tall, naked and so overwhelmingly beautiful, he came to her. Parting her knees, he kissed her inner thigh and trailed his lips up her hips, across her belly to her chest. Using his body, he eased her back on the covers. She placed a hand on his chest. “No, let me.”
“Darci—”
“Please, Blaéz.” She wanted everything with him.
Inhaling deeply, he dropped on his back but his hands remained on her waist, his fear for her apparent in his tense features and darkening irises. She leaned over and kissed his jaw. Despite his taut expression, his eyes burned with a hunger she’d seen from that very first time she opened her front door. It made her heart expand, her love deepen.
Darci fought to keep her breathing even, because she knew he’d stop if he thought she was tiring. And God knows she felt like she’d run a mile. Lightly, she ran her fingers down his stomach and circled his navel. Unable to resist the temptation, she wrapped her fingers around his erection. The man was warm silk over steel. She stroked his hard length, lowered her head and licked the top of his sex.
“Christ.” His grip tightened briefly in her hair. “Come here, love.” He drew her back to him, and kissed her with a tenderness that squeezed her heart. His warmth and scent filling her senses, his touch so gentle, as if she’d been made of spun glass.
He rolled her on her back and moved between her thighs. His turbulent gaze met hers for a brief, profound second before he kissed her again. His tongue swept inside her mouth, finding and sucking on hers. Deep. Insatiable. Desire unfurled like the dawning sun.
He made quick work of removing her bra and panties. Breaking their kiss, he drew her nipple into his mouth. She moaned, her blood igniting, arousal flaring higher.
Moving lower, he spread her thighs and ran his tongue up her cleft. Her breath quickened. Lightly, he lapped her clit before grasping the bundle of nerves with his lips and sucking harder, taking her toward the edge. The shuddering cry he pulled from her echoed in the room. Her thoughts scattered then narrowed, focusing only on him, on his mouth drawing on her most intimate flesh.
“Blaéz…” she moaned, her legs sliding over his shoulders. She grabbed his head, needing more, needing that push, but he eased back and pressed his lips wet from her arousal on her stomach and moved up her body.
“I want to be inside you,” he whispered, his tone like gravel. Despite his gentleness, his eyes were a wild, stormy blue of desire—of love. “You need a moment?”
