Bound By Darkness

Still he hesitated. His mind might know she was hurt and fragile right now, but he wasn’t so sure his body understood. Before he could make up his mind, he noticed her smile was quickly fading. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her feelings. He walked to the side of the bed and kicked off his shoes. When he started to sit down, she stopped him.



“Such a gentleman. Look, you might as well get comfortable.”



In no mood to argue, he ditched his shirt and pants, conscious of her watching his every move.



“I promise to behave,” he said as he slid in between the sheets.



“I know,” she murmered.



Sasha slowly released the breath she’d been holding as Larem snuggled in close until her head was resting on his chest, his arm wrapped around her. Being near him soothed her in so many ways.



The two of them still had some major hurdles to face, no doubt about it, but for tonight, she needed his warmth and his strength to hold back the darkness. As they lay there in the quiet room, there was one thing she needed to know.



“Larem, how did you figure out that I’m pregnant? I only just knew for sure myself yesterday and hadn’t told anyone.”



“It’s part of my Kalith nature, a gift that has been lost to my people for generations because of the fading light in our world. But here, with your bright sun, I have become what you would call a healer.”



She could feel the rumble of his words through his chest as his hand brushed lightly up and down her arm, leaving a warm tingle in its wake. Gradually the warmth spread, easing the aches that had kept her from really falling asleep. On the other hand, she could feel Larem tensing up.



“Tell me more.”



“In my world, I could sometimes do small things—close up cuts, ease minor pain. But when Hunter was dying from a gunshot wound, I took a chance and tried to heal him. My efforts enabled him to come back faster than he would’ve on his own. By early the next morning, his injuries were all but gone.”



He took a deep breath, relaxing a bit. “Other than that one time, I haven’t used my gift on any humans or Kalith to heal major injuries until today.”



He’d been staring up at the ceiling but now angled his head down to look at her. “My gift doesn’t always work as it should, so I’ve been practicing on the abused animals at the shelter. Chance wouldn’t have survived his injuries without my help, and it may be the reason he’s learning to trust people again.”



She smiled against his skin. “What a perfect use for your ability. I can see why you’d have some misgivings about using it to aid Paladins on a regular basis. Is it weird to have so many friends among those you always thought were your enemies?”



He briefly squeezed her tighter. “It is a problem that all of us who now live in the light must come to peace with.”



“Do you think you’ll ever go back?” God, she hoped not, although she wasn’t sure she had the right to ask him to stay.



“I had hoped to someday, but now . . .”



She didn’t need to ask what had changed his mind, not when his hand immediately settled over her stomach. A feeling of warmth and well-being spread through her, right up until it occurred to her that his magic was Kalith and she was human.



She caught his hand with hers. “Is doing that safe?”



“I would not harm you or the child—our child.” But he withdrew his hand anyway. “But I understand why you would worry.”



“Can you tell if it’s a girl or a boy?”



“Not yet. Do you have a preference?”



She smiled again. “I haven’t thought that far ahead yet, but I don’t think so.”



“But you’ll keep our child?”



She turned to stare into his worried face. “Yes, I will.”



“But the Regents—”



She cut him off. “I’ll deal with them when the time comes, but the baby’s more important. Push come to shove, there are other jobs.”



His relief was obvious. “You’ll be a great mother, so fierce and protective.” He gently cupped her face, a small smile softening his somber expression. “Sasha, you know I want to be there for both of you.”



She turned to nuzzle his hand, pressing a soft kiss to his palm. “I never doubted it.”



When she yawned, he pulled her closer again. “Now, you need to sleep. I have to wake you up again in two hours.”



“All right.”



She closed her eyes and relaxed. Maybe she should be worried about how good sharing this moment with him felt, but that was something she’d deal with tomorrow. Or maybe the next day. Right now, she needed this man beside her and that was enough.



Morning came slowly. Larem hovered somewhere between sound asleep and pleasantly aware of the warm female currently half-sprawled across his body, her head tucked under his chin. If this was a dream, he didn’t want to wake up. If it was reality—well, he was in no hurry to let the outside world intrude.



Besides, neither of them had enjoyed a quiet night. Every couple of hours he’d had to make sure she woke up. Right now, it was enough to doze with Sasha in his arms.



“You’re thinking way too hard.” Sasha blinked up at him sleepily, her fiery hair surrounding her sweet face in a halo of unruly curls. “Got something on your mind?”



Yes, a couple of things, starting with how tempting it was to have her lush body so close to his. All that separated them was the thickness of his boxers and her pajamas. Even that kept them too far apart. Better to deal with one last issue.



“I was asked to befriend you deliberately.”



He immediately felt a new thrum of tension in Sasha when she asked, “By whom?”



He stared up at the ceiling, not wanting to see her reaction. “The other Kalith and their mates. They thought if the new representative got to know me as a real person before finding out I was Kalith, it would change how all of us were dealt with.”



“Why did they pick you instead of Lusahn or Barak?”



He didn’t even try to sugar-coat it. “Because I was expendable. If it blew up in my face, I could disappear more easily than any of them.”



Sasha was looking pretty darn fierce. “I understand why they did it, but that was mean of them.”



“They meant no harm. They were trying to protect themselves.” He trailed his fingers down her shoulder, trying to soothe away her anger.



“Yeah, I get that, but who was protecting you?”



Her question pleased him, sending another surge of desire for this woman burning through him. “I won’t complain, Sasha, not if it led me here. Don’t hold it against them. I wouldn’t have said anything, but I wanted nothing but truth between us. Okay?”



He felt her nod.



“There is one other thing on my mind.”



“Which is?”



When he didn’t immediately answer, she raised herself up to look at him. Her eyes widened and her mouth curved in a seductive smile. “Never mind. I think I can guess what it might be.”



Her playful mood had him smiling. “So now you’re a mind reader?”



“Oh, I don’t have to be when there’s obvious proof readily at hand.”



Her fingers traveled down his chest to stroke the hard evidence. He thought about claiming it meant nothing, that it was normal in the morning, but they both knew this time was different.



She caressed his cock slowly with the palm of her hand. Out of pure selfishness, he let her continue, wishing like crazy they could finish what she’d started. Finally, he gently grasped her hand, threading his fingers with hers.



She pouted. “Don’t you like that?”



“You know I do, but you’re testing my already shaky control.” He kissed the top of her head.



“And if I want you out of control?”



She slowly slid her body up over his until her core was centered right over his erection. Dear gods, how was he supposed to think straight when she rocked against him like that?



“Sasha, I want you, but you were badly injured yesterday. I don’t want to hurt you.”



“Oddly enough, the pain is almost completely gone. Thanks to a certain healer I happen to know, I’m feeling positively frisky.” She nibbled on his chin after each word.



He might be cautious, but he wasn’t fool enough to dismiss her offer out of hand. Still, he had to ask, “Are we doing this because you were almost killed yesterday or because you really want me?”



She sat up and eased her hands under the hem of his undershirt and spread her fingers out over his chest. “A little of the first and a whole lot of the second.”



He appreciated the honesty. “Perhaps, as your healer, I should reassess your injuries.”



“Tell me what you want me to do.”



He gently rolled her back onto her own side of the bed, and then lifted her head enough to tuck his pillow in on top of hers. “Now lie back and relax. I’ll take care of everything.”



He knelt beside Sasha and took her hand in his. Closing his eyes, he slowly traced the length of her arm, pausing over each bruise or scrape long enough to add a small jolt of healing. He repeated the same procedure with her other arm before moving over her shoulders and neck.



Her hair slid like silk over his fingers as he checked the bump on her head. “Any headache?”



Her eyes were closed, her face peaceful. “Not now.”