The words came out of his mouth like a purr.She had a feeling he knew her body had an instinctive reaction tohis. She almost jerked her hand away from his, but she couldn’tgive him the satisfaction of knowing how much he affected her. Herpulse picked up as she found herself almost pressed against hisbroad chest. She tilted her head back to look at him.
His eyes were hooded, his mouth quirked ashis gaze traveled over her. It had been three days since he’d lasthad sex, he hadn’t gone this long in a couple of years, but lookingdown at her he didn’t feel the piercing urge that usually drove hissexual needs with such intensity. She calmed him in ways no oneever had before. She made him feel sane again, made him feel likehe had before he’d stopped aging. He’d missed feeling normal; hehadn’t realized how badly until now.
Unable to resist, he brushed back a strandof her damp, curling hair and tucked it behind her ear. “See, I’mreally not a monster.”
Words were something she spoke every day,but she found herself struggling to find some as his breath tickledher cheek. The warmth of his body caused her breasts to tingle; sheinstinctively swayed closer to him as pleasure rippled over hersensitized skin. “It’s still early in the week,” she said.
He laughed, his hand fell away from her faceas his thumb caressed the back of her hand. Paige took a reluctantstep away. She had to put some distance between them to regaincontrol of herself. “Yes it is, Paige. Yes it is.”
A shiver slid down her spine at the unspokenpromise within his words.
CHAPTER 10
Ian walked by her side through the woods and towardthe lake about a half a mile away from the cabin. He’d done a fairamount of exploring the area while she’d still been asleep, inorder to keep his mind occupied. The lake, mountains, andsurrounding area reminded him a little of the home he’d shared withhis family. A twinge of longing filled him at the thought of thehome he’d most likely never see again. He’d called his mom whenhe’d gone into town and discovered cell phone service. She’dconfirmed they’d decided to play it safe and leave Oregon. He’dmiss his home, but there was nothing to be done about it, and hedidn’t think he would change anything, even if he could.
He glanced down at Paige’s bent head as shewalked. A tingle went through him when he spotted the vein pulsingin the side of her neck. He wasn’t used to denying himself, notwith women. Indulging in the female race was how he managed to getthrough his days, but Paige was different. She wasn’t like one ofthe many other women he’d taken back to his room. She wasn’t one ofthe women he’d taken into backrooms or some hotel. Mainly becauseshe wasn’t willing to be taken somewhere with him, and also becausehe knew his one and done rule wouldn’t apply to her. He’d want muchmore from her.
The sun filtering through the trees playedacross her chocolate colored hair and brought to life the shades ofmocha and sable within it. She glanced up at him from under hersweeping lashes; a scowl curved her mouth when she caught himstaring at her. The turquoise color of her eyes deepened before shehastily looked away.
“Did you find it strange to grow up as avampire?” she inquired.
“Did you find it strange to grow up as ahuman?”
Her eyes shot up to his; she blinked at himbefore releasing a small chuckle. “No, I didn’t.”
“Neither did I,” he assured her. “We went toschool when we were old enough to control ourselves. I had friends,played on sports teams, went on dates, went to prom, and attendedcollege.”
She stopped walking, causing him to turn tolook at her. Her gaze ran over his tall, broad frame as she triedto sort through what he was saying to her. “It all sounds so…normal.”
“It is, for me.”
“You aged like a normal human?”
“Until ten months ago.”
She brushed back a strand of her hair andheld it as a breeze drifted over them. “What happened ten monthsago?”
“I reached maturity and stopped aging.”
Her gaze raked over him again. “So this iswhat you’ll look like, forever?”
“Impressed?” he asked with a crookedsmile.
She didn’t look at all impressed when sherolled her eyes at him. “You’re so arrogant.”
“Only when I’m right,” he assured her.
“Ugh.” She waved her hand at himdismissively before she started walking again. He fell into stepbeside her. “You won’t age anymore?”
“No, I won’t.”
“What does that feel like?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean how does it feel not to age? Not tohave to worry about death, for the most part anyway, or arthritisor cancer? To know your family and loved ones will always be withyou? It must be such a freeing feeling.”
“I never really thought about it,” headmitted.
