Chapter 23

 

Chris

 

“Where is she?” I roared at the Incubus I held by the throat against the wall.

Around us, the bodies of his brethren littered the hallway, but the Incubus showed no fear. He smirked through bloody teeth and let out a rattling laugh.

“Too…late,” he rasped.

I rammed my knife into his chest so hard it pinned him to the wall.

“Chris.”

Sara’s voice cut through the bloodlust consuming me. I ran toward her, barely seeing the faces of the warriors I passed. All I could think about was Beth. I could sense her nearby, but I couldn’t locate her. Her presence felt muted, and I was terrified of what that meant. She could be dying, and I couldn’t find her to help her.

I found Sara and Nikolas in an office, standing before an open section of wall that led to a set of stairs leading down. I moved past them and raced down the stairs with them close on my heels.

I emerged in a dimly-lit hallway with a set of doors on the other end, and I knew without asking that this was the Lilin’s private quarters. We hadn’t found him since we’d stormed his lair, and my gut told me he was holed up down here. And he had Beth.

The thought of what he could be doing to her made me almost blind with rage. I hit the doors with the force of a truck, but I didn’t even put a crack in them.

“Beth,” I bellowed, shoving at the doors with all of my might.

Sara ran up to me. “Stop. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“She’s in there,” I snarled, my voice barely recognizable as my Mori came closer to the surface.

“It’s warded.” Sara waved me away and placed her hand on one of the doors. Blue sparks crackled over the surface of the wood, and there was a blinding white flash as her power obliterated the warlock magic protecting the door.

Solmi, my Mori growled when I felt Beth’s presence strong and clear. She was alive and behind this door.

I rammed the door hard with my shoulder, and it cracked under the assault. A second hit and it crashed inward.

The first thing I saw was the body in the center of the room. The head had been hacked off with what looked like a fireplace shovel, and the rug beneath the body was soaked with black demon blood.

“Beth,” I shouted, seeing no sign of her.

My eyes fell on the bed visible through the open door of the bedroom, and I nearly choked on the fear of what I would find in that room.

I was halfway across the sitting room when a tiny whimper stopped me cold. I looked toward the sound, and crimson bled into my vision when I saw Beth’s bloody and bruised body huddled in a corner. She was barefoot, and the pink dress she wore was ripped and bloody.

Blood roared in my ears as the last of the control I’d been holding onto for days finally slipped. My vision tunneled until all I could see was my mate, looking small and broken on the floor.

Beth’s head lifted slowly. Through the curtain of her blonde hair, her tortured gray eyes met mine. A wave of pain came across our bond, pushing through the red haze in my mind. My mate needed me.

I knelt in front of her. My focus never left her, but I was aware of every sound behind me. My body thrummed with feral rage, and I’d kill anyone who came near us.

Neither of us moved or spoke for a long moment. Then she reached out with one hand and touched my face as if she wasn’t sure I was real. I placed my shaking hand over hers, holding it against my cheek and letting her touch soothe the beast clawing to break free. For the first time in five days, the unbearable tightness in my chest began to lessen, and I could breathe again.

“Beth,” I whispered hoarsely.

Her eyes brimmed with tears that spilled over and left trails through the black blood on her face. She stared at me, silently pleading for what she was unable to put into words.

Letting go of her hand, I sat on the floor and lifted her into my arms. She curled into a tight ball with her face buried against my chest. A single ragged sob escaped her as I wrapped my body protectively around her, and the anguished sound sliced my heart to ribbons.

“I’m here, Dove,” I said, my voice hoarse with emotion. “I’ve got you.”

I could hear low voices and movement in the room, but all of my attention was focused on Beth. Nothing else mattered to me. I had no idea what she’d gone through down here, or what lasting effects it would have on her. My sole purpose in life now was to do or be whatever she needed to help her recover. I’d start by taking her away from this hellish place.

Standing with Beth in my arms, I walked to the door where Nikolas stood talking to Sara and Rachel. Rachel put a hand to her mouth to cover her gasp when she saw Beth, and Sara looked like she was trying hard not to cry.

“I’m taking her home,” I whispered, not wanting to startle Beth.

Nikolas nodded. He and Sara would stay here and oversee the care of the human girls and the demon slaves we’d recovered. Margot was most likely with them now, and then they’d need to be returned to their families. There were more than enough warriors here to handle that. My only concern was Beth.

“I’m coming with you,” Rachel said softly.

We made our way upstairs. Warriors moved out of our way and cast worried looks at Beth as I carried her through the large underground structure. She kept her face pressed to my chest, and I was glad she didn’t have to see the blood or the dead Incubi littering the hallway from our short and violent attack on the lair. She’d been through enough tonight.

I climbed the final set of stairs to the exit, a carefully concealed trapdoor in the floor of a utility shed at the back of the Bel Air property. My jaw clenched as I walked through the trees and the house came into view. It gutted me to know I’d been here four days ago, and the whole time, Beth had been a few hundred feet away.

Once Jordan had identified the Lilin, it hadn’t taken David long to find out that Henry Durham, who owned this property, supposedly had a grandson named Adam Woodward. That had been all we needed to convince us to come back for a second look at the place.

It was Sara who had suggested that the reason we didn’t find anything the first time was because the Lilin might be using warlock glamours. She’d stayed in the house on our first visit, but this time, she’d walked the entire property. She was the one who had discovered the trapdoor in the shed and had neutralized the powerful glamour hiding it.

I’d never be able to repay my cousin for what she’d done here tonight. She would say we’re family and she was glad she could help, but she’d given me back my mate. There was no gift more precious than that.

My mother was waiting for us in the driveway with a set of keys in her hand. She gave Beth a tender look and led us to an SUV at the bottom of the driveway. Rachel opened the back door for me, and I climbed in, settling Beth on my lap. The two women took the front, neither saying much as my mother drove us back to the command center.

Beth still hadn’t uttered a word by the time we arrived at the house, and her silence scared me. Killing a demon wouldn’t upset her. Something far worse had traumatized her, and I couldn’t bring myself to think about what had put her in this fragile state.

The women took over as soon as I carried Beth to her bedroom.

“Rachel and I will bathe her and check her for injuries,” my mother said when I sat on the bed with Beth in my arms.

“I won’t leave her.”

I gazed down at the girl I’d feared I would never hold again, and I didn’t think I’d ever be able to let her go.

My mother laid a gentle hand on my shoulder, and I looked up into her warm eyes.

“Christian, I know you two need each other, but it’s important that we understand the extent of her injuries. You have to let us tend to her.”

The meaning in her words sent a knife straight through my chest, and I could only nod helplessly. My protective instincts were riding me hard, and it took a Herculean effort to stand and place Beth in my mother’s capable arms.

Rachel ushered me out of the room and shut the door. A few minutes later, I heard water running in the bathroom and the soft murmur of voices.

I didn’t move from my spot by the door. The longer I waited, the more my mind replayed images of the scene in the Lilin’s quarters and tortured me with thoughts of what might have happened down there.

My hands clenched and unclenched, wanting to rip apart the demon that had hurt my mate. But Beth had dealt out her own justice on the Lilin. I couldn’t conceive of how a new warrior had been able to kill such a powerful demon with nothing but a tiny shovel. People were capable of seemingly impossible feats when they were pushed to their limit, and I was afraid what had happened to push Beth to hers.

I was seconds away from knocking on the bedroom door when it finally opened. My mother stepped out and shut it gently behind her. I tried to read her expression to be prepared for what she was going to tell me, but I was too wound up to think clearly.

“She has some cuts and bruises, but otherwise she’s unharmed,” she said, placing emphasis on the last word.

I sagged against the wall as relief coursed through me. It was a minute before I could speak. “She’s talking?”

My mother smiled. “A little. She’s going to be okay.”

“When can I go in?” I asked roughly.

“In a few minutes. You should use that time to clean up. At least, change out of those clothes.”

I looked down at my black-stained shirt and jeans. I didn’t want to spend a minute away from Beth, but I couldn’t go to her like this.

“My duffle bag is in her room. Can you get it for me?”

My mother went inside and returned with my bag. I used Mason’s bathroom to shower, and I was back at Beth’s door just as it opened again and Rachel came out, followed by my mother.

“She’s asking for you,” Rachel said quietly.

I entered the room, and my eyes immediately found Beth lying in the middle of her bed. Her eyes tracked me as I crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. Anger boiled in me when I saw the bruises forming on her jaw, but I pushed it down. The last thing she needed now was to see me getting upset.

I wasn’t sure what she needed from me, so I took one of her hands in mine. “Are you in pain?”

“No,” she whispered. “Will you hold me?”

I lifted the comforter and slid in beside her. I lay on my side facing her, and she came into my arms with her head tucked under my chin. Closing my eyes, I struggled with the sudden onset of emotion at having her safe and in my arms.

Over and over, I found myself thinking about what she must have endured the last five days. Captivity, even for a short time, took a mental toll on a person, even a warrior. Beth’s physical injuries would be gone long before she recovered emotionally from her ordeal.

“Chris.”

I kissed the top of her head. “Yes.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too, Dove.”

I rubbed soothing circles on her back, and she let out a little sigh.

“At night…I imagined you holding me like this,” she whispered.

A lump lodged in my throat. “You’ll never have to imagine it again.”

She fell asleep a short while later, but I lay awake for a long time, not willing to give up a second of feeling her beside me. The sky outside was turning pink when I finally gave in to my exhaustion and joined her in sleep.

 

Beth

 

“How can you say no to a boot sale, Beth?” Jordan demanded incredulously. “You love boots more than I do, if that’s even possible.”

I tucked my feet beneath me on the couch and lifted a shoulder. “I’m just not in the mood to shop.”

Her gasp was a tad melodramatic. “Okay, who are you, and what have you done with my BFF?”

Mason chuckled from the other end of the couch where he was eating his way through his second bowl of popcorn. We were having a movie day, and I’d let him choose the movies. We’d just finished Blue Crush, and we were starting Point Break. Surfer movies weren’t really my thing, but I had to admit, it didn’t get much better than Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze.

Chris was supposed to be here with us, but he’d left two hours ago to meet with Nikolas about something. Not that I minded. He’d been pretty much glued to my side since I came home a week ago, and he could probably use some guy time.

Things had been quiet here since the Lilin was killed. Most of the warriors who had come to Los Angeles to join in the hunt had left, including Chris’s parents and Rachel. Slowly, life for everyone at the command center had gone back to the way it was before the Lilin had arrived in town. Well, for almost everyone.

I was finding it a little harder to get back into a normal routine. My injuries had healed after a day, but I was off active duty for a month. Council’s orders. Chris was on leave, too, and we spent our days training and hanging out together. At night, he slept in my bed, but all he did was hold me. I wished he’d kiss me again, but I didn’t know how to tell him that.

I’d told him some of what had happened in the Lilin’s lair, but I hadn’t been able to bring myself to talk about Adam’s plans for me or my last night there. I didn’t know how to tell him about Adam feeding me his power, or the attraction for him that had grown stronger every day. How did I tell the man I loved that I hadn’t been strong enough to stop myself from having feelings for another male? That I’d kissed another male? Just thinking about it made me want to throw up.

Chris never pressured me to talk about my ordeal. He told me we had all the time in the world, and he was here when I was ready. The Council wanted to know the details of the Lilin’s death, but Chris had asked Lord Tristan to get them to back off. The demon was dead, the girls were all safely back with their families, and the threat was over. He told them they’d have to be content with that for now.

“Are you even listening to me?”

I gave Jordan a sheepish smile for having zoned out on her. I’d been doing that a lot lately. “Sorry. What were you saying?”

She huffed. “I said if you don’t go, I’ll have to drag Sara with me, and you know how much fun she is to shop with.”

Mason snorted, and Jordan smacked him on the back of the head.

“Keep that up and I’ll make you go with me.”

The door opened, cutting off Mason’s retort, and Chris entered the guesthouse. He came over to me and surprised me by taking my hands and pulling me to my feet.

“What’s up?” I asked, puzzled by his actions.

He smiled. “How would you like to go on a little trip?”

My stomach fluttered with excitement. “Where?”

“It’s a little place by the ocean. My parents have a house there.” He brushed my hair back over my shoulder. “Unless you’d rather stay here.”

“No,” I said quickly, already imagining Chris and me alone in a house by the ocean.

His smile widened. “Good. Go pack. We’re leaving in an hour.”

I hurried to my bedroom and stopped in the doorway to turn back to him. “Do I need to dress for warm or cold weather?”

He thought for a moment. “Colder than here.”

I waited for him to say more. When he didn’t, I frowned. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Nope,” he said with a mischievous little grin.

Jordan helped me pack, and an hour later, Chris drove us to a private hangar at LAX where one of the Mohiri jets was waiting for us. We took off, and I still had no idea where we were headed, even after we’d stopped in Chicago to refuel. All I knew for sure was that we were heading east.

It was early morning when the plane began to descend. We landed at a small airport, and the first thing I noticed as the plane taxied to a hangar was the Canadian flag. It took me a few seconds to recognize the second flag from my world studies.

I turned to Chris and found him watching me with the same pleased smile in place.

“Your parents have a house in Newfoundland?”

I’d always wanted to visit Canada, but I’d thought I would start out west, maybe go hiking in the Rockies. I didn’t know that much about the East Coast, but now that I was here, I was eager to explore it.

“They bought it years ago, and they used to visit around once a year. But they haven’t been back since they moved to Germany. It’s a great place, and a local couple takes care of it for them.”

His brow creased with uncertainty. “I thought you might like a change of pace, but if you’d rather go somewhere else, we can.”

I smiled and grabbed his hand. “No. I can’t wait to see it.”

Instead of the usual SUV, there was a black truck waiting for us. Chris stowed our bags in the back of the large double cab, and we set out.

It was barely dawn when we drove through the city. Chris had been here before so he pointed out places of interest we could visit while we were here. When he said there were over two hundred miles of coastal trails for hiking and walking, I could barely sit still. He laughed and told me he thought I’d like that.

We left the city and drove through several small towns before Chris turned onto a gravel driveway. He stopped in front of a white two-story house overlooking the ocean. The house was hidden from the road by trees, and the view was breathtaking.

I got out of the truck and inhaled deeply of the cold ocean air. The breeze was chilly, but the morning sun felt good on my face.

“What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful,” I breathed, intrigued by some peculiar little black and white birds skimming across the water. I couldn’t tell if they were swimming or flying.

He put an arm around me and pulled me close for a quick hug. “Come on. I want to show you the house.”

Grabbing our bags from the truck, he went ahead of me to unlock the front door. I expected to enter a cold house, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it toasty warm inside.

“I called the caretakers yesterday and asked them to get the place ready for us,” Chris explained as we walked through a big eat-in kitchen. “They stocked the fridge and pantry for us, too.”

The living room was nice, and its best feature was the large window overlooking the ocean. There was a fireplace we could use, though the house was heated by a furnace in the basement.

Upstairs, there were three bedrooms and a single bathroom. I wondered aloud how a whole family could get by with one bathroom.

Chris laughed. “Times were different back when this house was built.”

He entered the largest bedroom and laid our bags on the queen-size bed. It was covered with a colorful patchwork quilt that had to be handmade.

My stomach did a little flip at the thought of sleeping in this bed with Chris. I didn’t know why I was nervous, considering I’d been sharing a bed with him for a week. But something about our trip and this room felt different, more intimate.

To hide my sudden shyness, I walked over to the window, which also looked out over the water. The original owners had really capitalized on the location when they built the house.

“How did your parents find this place?” I asked Chris without looking away from the window.

“They took a trip to the island, and they loved it so much they hired someone to find them a house. My mother would have been happy to stay, but there’s not much work for a warrior here.”

“I guess not.”

I’d learned about the island in my studies. It was one of the few places on Earth that was considered Fae territory. No one knew why the faeries had claimed it as their own, but it had been that way for as long as anyone could remember. They seemed to tolerate our people in small numbers, but no vampire would dare set foot on the island.

Chris joined me at the window. “Do you like the house?”

“I love it.” I faced him. “Can we take a look around?”

“We can do anything you want. But first, I’m going to make us some breakfast.”

He took my hand in his, and we went downstairs. Chris cooked while I tried the delicious homemade bread and jam provided by the caretakers. I made a note to thank them and let them know how much I’d enjoyed it.

After our meal, we set out on foot to explore the town. The sky was partially overcast, but the sun managed to break through enough to make it a beautiful day. It could have been raining, and I wouldn’t have cared as long as I was with Chris.

Living in Los Angeles, I’d gotten used to how strangers avoided interacting with each other in public. It shocked me when most people we passed here called out a greeting. I mentioned it to Chris, and he laughed at my amazement that people could be so friendly.

At noon, we stopped into a quaint little coffee shop for lunch, and Chris teased me about all the baked treats I consumed.

“All this fresh air makes me hungry,” I said after I’d eaten two of the little chocolate-covered peanut butter balls. “These are so yummy. You should try one.”

His eyes sparkled with laughter. “I will if there are any left when you’re done.”

When we finished our walking tour of the town, we headed back to the house. We made dinner together, and then we went down to the beach where someone had created a fire pit out of rocks. Chris got a fire going and sat with his back to a small boulder, tugging me down to sit between his legs.

I leaned back against him and sighed happily. This place was far removed from California and all that had happened, and I could feel it working its healing magic on me. “It’s so peaceful here.”

“We can stay here as long as you want.”

I tilted my head to look up at him. “On the beach or the island?”

“Whatever you want.”

He lowered his head, and my breath hitched in anticipation of his kiss. Disappointment washed over me when he playfully kissed the tip of my nose. It was sweet and affectionate, like everything else he did for me, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted him to kiss me like he used to, like he couldn’t get enough of me.

I stared at the fire again without seeing it. What if Chris didn’t want me that way anymore? I knew he loved me and he was even more protective of me now, but I was afraid he no longer desired me. I’d been with the Lilin for almost a week. What if that had changed how Chris saw me?

The fire died down, and Chris stood, helping me up. Hand in hand, we walked back to the house and up to the bedroom we were sharing. I brushed my teeth and then changed into my sleep clothes while he was in the bathroom. It was our nightly routine now.

When he came back to the bedroom, I was already in bed, waiting for him. He turned off the light and got in beside me. Wordlessly, he opened his arms, and I went into them.

“Love you,” he said.

“Love you back.”

I closed my eyes and let the steady sound of his breathing lull me to sleep.

 

*     *     *

Chris and I spent the next few days exploring the surrounding towns, getting to know the locals, and not taking life too seriously for once. When you are constantly protecting humans from the bad guys, it’s easy to forget there is a lot more good than evil in the world. Sometimes, you just need to get away from it all to understand that.

When the caretaker heard how much I loved her bread, a new loaf arrived every morning, along with another bottle of what she called bakeapple jam. She laughingly informed me that a bakeapple was a berry, not an apple, and she offered to give me some to take back with me. She looked insulted when I wanted to pay for it, so I didn’t bring it up again.

Every night after dinner, we went down to the beach to sit by the fire. We talked, but only about things we’d done that day or our plans for the next one. Neither of us mentioned what had happened to me, but I could tell Chris was waiting for me to talk about it. On our third night there, I finally found the courage to open up to him.

“He wanted to keep me…as a mate,” I said, never taking my eyes off the fire.

I felt Chris stiffen behind me, but he stayed silent, waiting for me to continue.

“I told him I had a mate, but he knew we’d never…” I cleared my throat. “He didn’t care that I loved you. He said I’d forget you eventually.”

Chris’s chest rumbled angrily against my back.

“I could never forget you,” I whispered.

His arms tightened around me, and he leaned down to press his cheek to mine. “I know.”

I took a deep breath. I had already told him I’d been locked in my room most of the time and that I’d mostly seen Adam at dinner with the other girls. Now that the time had come to tell him the rest, I couldn’t seem to find the right words.

Chris rubbed my arms. “You don’t have to talk about it if you’re not ready.”

I took hold of his hands and drew his arms around me again.

“Adam – the Lilin,” I amended, because Chris hated to hear me call him by name. “He thought he could use his power to make me love him like the human girls did. He…came to my room when I was asleep and fed his energy to me.”

Chris swore, and I could feel his fury simmering beneath the surface. I tensed, waiting for him to stand and move away from me, but he stayed where he was.

“He couldn’t make me love him, but I started to…” I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t hurt him like that.

“You felt a physical attraction,” Chris said tenderly.

I nodded stiffly, and he kissed my temple.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of. You were under the influence of a powerful demon.”

My eyes filled with angry tears. “It shouldn’t have mattered how strong he was. He never should have been able to make me feel those things for him. How can you even touch me, knowing I let him do that to me?”

Chris lifted me and sat me sideways on his lap. I couldn’t look at him, so he turned my face toward his. The light from the fire showed me the fierce love shining in his eyes.

“You did not let him do that. He forced it on you.”

“But –”

“No buts. A Lilin’s power is designed to manipulate emotions, the same way a Master could make you believe whatever they want. They’re predators, Dove. I’d be just as susceptible to a Master as you were to the Lilin. Maybe more. Would you think less of me if that happened?”

I sniffled. “No.”

His thumb swiped at the wetness on my cheek. “Is this why you didn’t want to talk about what happened? You thought it would change how I felt about you?”

I averted my eyes, not wanting to see his disappointment. “Yes.”

He pulled me against his chest, and I laid my head on his shoulder.

“I love you, Beth, and nothing will ever change that. Tell me you believe me.”

I sighed, feeling lighter and happier than I’d been in almost two weeks.

“I believe you.”

 

Chris

 

Beth relaxed against me. She hadn’t been herself since the night I brought her home, and everyone I’d talked to had said she just needed time and love. I’d give her whatever she needed for however long she needed it.

It killed me to know what she’d been going through because of that bastard. He’d messed with her mind and made her believe she’d done something wrong, that she was unworthy of my love. I wanted to bring him back to life so I could be the one to kill him.

She hadn’t told me about the night she’d killed the Lilin, but she would when she was ready. It was enough that she’d been able to open up to me about what she was feeling.

I held her close and looked out over the water that sparkled under the full moon. When my mother had suggested this house for a getaway, she’d confided she had always thought there was something magical about the island. Seeing the light come back into Beth’s eyes over the last few days, I was starting to believe my mother was right.

Beth lifted her head and looked at me before she leaned in and brushed my lips with hers. It was the first time she’d initiated a kiss since she’d come home, and my breath stalled as I waited to see what she would do next.

She placed her hands on my shoulders and slanted her mouth against mine. I opened to her, letting her take the lead, and nearly lost my mind at the first swipe of her tongue against mine. Fire ignited in my blood, and I stifled a groan when she raked her fingers through my hair and held my head in place as she kissed me slowly and thoroughly.

I protested when her mouth left mine, and she let out a sexy little laugh as she trailed kisses along my jaw. When her tongue traced the shell of my ear, it was all I could do to sit still. I wanted nothing else but to lay her down on this beach and worship every inch of her body.

Hot breath washed over my ear, and the world stopped when she said, “I need…”

“What do you need?” I asked huskily.

“You,” she whispered.

I cradled her face in my hands and looked into her beautiful gray eyes. “You have me.”

Her teeth tugged at her bottom lip, and her eyes filled with uncertainty. I grazed her lip with my thumb and felt her tremble.

“What is it, Dove?”

“I want to…” She glanced away self-consciously. “I don’t know how to make it good for you.”

Make it good for me? I stared at her profile for a moment before her words sank in. She was trying to seduce me.

My chest expanded, and I could barely keep the grin off my face. God, I loved this woman.

“It’s good because it’s you,” I said, wishing she’d look at me and see the truth in my eyes.

“I know we have the bond, but you’re used to experienced women, and I’ve never –”

“Stop.” I captured her chin with my hand and gently forced her to face me again. “I’m glad you have no experience because it means I am the only man you’ll ever have. You may not have noticed it, but I’m a little possessive when it comes to you.”

She gave me a small smile. “I might have noticed that.”

“Good.”

I stood with her in my arms and set her on her feet so I could douse the fire. She laughed when I swung her into my arms again and started walking to the house.

“I can walk, you know,” she protested half-heartedly.

“Where’s the fun in that?”

I entered the house and carried her straight to our bedroom. When I looked at the bed, I was surprised to suddenly feel nervous. I’d imagined this moment so many times, and I wanted to make it perfect for her.

Setting her on the edge of the bed, I knelt on the floor between her legs, putting my face level with hers. I reached behind her and freed her hair from its ponytail, letting it fall in soft waves around her shoulders. Moonlight poured in through the open curtain, bathing her in a soft glow and making her blonde hair gleam like white gold.

“What?” she asked hesitantly, making me realize I’d been staring at her.

“You are so beautiful.”

I put a hand on the back of her head and pulled her toward me as I leaned in to taste her sweet mouth again. She met me eagerly, and what started as tender soon became hungry and urgent. Without breaking the kiss, I removed her coat and then my own. I had her shirt unbuttoned before I pulled back, panting.

“Am I going too fast?”

Her answer was to grab the bottom of my thin sweater. I raised my arms, and she pulled it over my head, throwing it somewhere behind me. I smiled and returned the favor, freeing her from her shirt. Nudging her chin up with my nose, I gained access to her throat and leisurely tasted every inch of her skin down to the swell of her breasts. The sight of them rising and falling with each quick breath nearly undid me, but I forced myself to stop and make sure she was still with me.

“Beth?”

“Don’t stop,” she said in a low throaty voice that sent a bolt of raw lust through me.

I pressed light kisses above the cups of her delicate satin bra as my fingers found the tiny clasp at the front. My heart raced like it was my first time when I moved the cups aside and bared her to me.

“Perfection,” I whispered roughly as I dipped my head again.

Her fingers dug into my shoulders, and I almost growled with satisfaction to be the first – and the only – male to know her body and to give her pleasure.

Lifting my head, I met her heavy-lidded eyes. I gently pushed her down on the bed, and she looked up at me with so much love and trust that I suddenly found it hard to breathe.

I kept my gaze locked with hers as I removed her short boots then unbuttoned her jeans and eased them over her hips and down her long legs. Reverently, I ran my hands from her ankles to her thighs and hooked my thumbs in the top of her panties.

She let out a small gasp. “Wait.”

My hands stilled.

“I want to see you.”

I smiled and stood, my hands going to the button of my jeans as I kicked off my boots. She rubbed her lips together nervously, and I expected her to look away. But her eyes followed the journey of my hands as I unfastened my jeans and pushed them down. I stepped out of them and watched her for any sign she wanted me to stop. Seeing none, I lost my last piece of clothing and stood there as her gaze moved over me like a caress.

“Can a male be beautiful, too?” she asked when her eyes settled on my face again. “Because that’s what you are.”

I leaned over her, bracing my arms on either side of her head.

“I’ll be whatever you want,” I murmured as she pulled me down for another searing kiss.

Mine, Solmi, mine, my Mori chanted impatiently as my mouth left hers, and I began a slow, thorough exploration of her body. I took my time, learning every curve and hollow, and reveling in each breathy moan I drew from her. I could have spent hours just adoring her and bringing her pleasure.

“Chris,” she said thickly.

I looked up to see tears shimmering in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m so happy.”

I gave her a wicked little smile. “And I plan to make you happy every night for the rest of our lives.”

She laughed and wiped her eyes. “As long as I can make you happy, too.”

“I don’t think that will be a problem.” I shifted my body, and desire flared in her eyes again.

“Chris,” she whispered.

“Yes, Dove?”

“My Mori is going crazy. Is that normal?”

“Mine, too. They’ll calm down soon.”

I settled my body over hers and lowered my head to trail kisses over her face. When my mouth covered hers again, she responded with a hunger that rivaled my own. Her eyes locked with mine as I made love to her, and I knew that no matter how long I lived, I’d never see anything as beautiful as she was in the moment our Mori joined forever.

It was sometime in the wee hours of the morning when we finally curled up together under the covers, sated and content. Beth lay with her back to my chest and her head on my arm. Her fingers toyed with my hand that lay against her stomach.

“Can’t sleep?” I asked her.

“I can’t stop thinking. I keep expecting to wake up and find out this was all a dream.”

I nipped her bare shoulder with my teeth, and she sucked in a sharp breath. “Does that feel like a dream?” I asked, pressing my lips to her soft skin.

She rolled over to face me, her hair falling over her shoulder in wild disarray and her face still glowing from hours of lovemaking. My body stirred again, and I knew I’d never get enough of her.

She gave me a sexy little smile as her hand traveled down my chest and stomach, eliciting a growl from me.

“No, this feels very real,” she murmured.

“You’re insatiable.”

Her lips grazed my jaw. “And you’re mine.”

I lowered my head enough for our lips to meet. “Say it again.”

“You. Are. Mine.” She punctuated each word with a kiss. Then she pushed me onto my back and rose up on one elbow.

I think I’m a little possessive about you, too.

I grinned and pulled her mouth down to mine.

I’m all yours.