Once he got Amaya into his bedroom she let out a little whoop of joy, her face lighting up as she looked around, her hand running over the bed and wiggling her eyebrows at him. “I bet you’ve had fun in here.”

“Not often.” He shrugged. “I’m usually working.”

“Not often?” She turned her back to him so he couldn’t see her face. “That means you have at least sometimes.”

He couldn’t see her but her body language and voice told him he should’ve kept his mouth shut. Stupid. “Amaya, are you telling me you’re a virgin?”

She spun around, her cheeks pinking and her arms crossing across her chest as she shook her head. He’d struck a nerve. That much was obvious from her stance and her glaring eyes. “No, of course not. What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m just pointing out that we’ve both got a past but you were obviously upset when you thought that I’d had fun in here. I didn’t mean to upset you, in fact, it’s the last thing in the world I want to do. I’m sorry if I did, so please accept my apology for doing so.”

She paused, looking away to the bed and back at him, before her body relaxed. “I’m being silly. Of course you’ve had women in here. You’re a rich and gorgeous man, that’s to be expected. I’m just . . .”

With three strides he closed the distance between them, standing toe to toe with her, he cupped her face with his hands and leaned down . . . the pull of his Bloodmate had grown with every passing second and he could deny it for not another second. Her lips were full, plump and delicious looking but after her ordeal he didn’t want to take anything from her. Not after what she’d gone through. So he held her still, his lips almost touching but not quite, and asked, “May I?”

Amaya quivered beneath his touch, a hand reaching up to cover one of his, her tongue darting out to lick her lips. He could hear her heart as it sped up, thudding quickly in her chest as her breath hitched once, twice, and a third time before she answered. One word slipping out of her perfect mouth he wanted nothing more than to cover with his. “Yes.”

It was all the encouragement he required, closing the miniscule distance between them his lips finally touched hers, tasting her for the first time in an exquisite joining of their pent-up desire. It had been building up between them since they’d first locked eyes back in that filthy building when Zorin’s lackey held her in his grasp. When she’d recognized him as hers and he’d already known she was his. But now, right in this moment, their souls collided with a passion that ignited the second their kiss started, soaring them higher than anything he’d ever imagined a mere touching of lips could awaken. It was beautiful, miraculous, and downright magical.

The power of their love flowed between them, over them, and right down inside . . . Quinn felt it invade him to overtake him completely and he knew from that second onward Amaya was the only one for him. No other would ever compare, ever satisfy him ever again. She was the most important person in the universe and he’d do anything, any-fucking-thing to make her happy and keep her safe for all eternity. Her hands tangled in his hair, her heart beat a wild staccato in her chest as she whimpered in his arms, her tongue and his entwined and . . . a knock on the door caused them to pull apart and him to curse.

“Fuck!” He laid his forehead against hers and yelled, “Enter!”

The attendant, whose name he still couldn’t recall, came in with a tray laden with burgers and a bottle of his finest malt, two glasses and ice. “Just leave it,” he ground out, barely civil.”

She quickly did and left as Amaya’s nose twitched as the smell of food filled the room. Damn! He wanted to pursue what they’d started but it was obvious she was starving and he couldn’t deny her. “Come on, let’s get you fed, darling.”

“That kiss . . . it was,” she paused, gazing up at him with a confused look. “Different.”

“Aye, it was. I’ve never experienced anything so wonderful in my life. I can only assume it’s the Bloodmate bond.”

“I know about mates, and as I said, my Tiger recognized you as ours but I know nothing about this Bloodmate thing. I think you need to explain it to me.”

“Aye, I do.” He led her to the bed. “You get comfy and I’ll get your food and pour us some drinks and I’ll explain everything.”

She hopped onto the bed, sitting cross-legged in the middle while he brought over the tray, sitting it next to her before joining her. Amaya inhaled, taking a huge deep breath as she picked up one of the burgers, “Hmm, this smells delicious.” Then she devoured it, and the others while he explained all he knew about the condition known as A Vampire’s Thirst and Bloodmates.

She made several alarming sounds around her food, stopping to gulp down the whisky he’d poured when he explained how the Thirst had affected him, and even more when he told her what would’ve happened if they’d not been reunited in time. When he was done, she’d finished her food, clearing everything on the tray and drinking down two large whiskies, her eyes drooping but she was bedraggled, with muck and traces of blood still on her face so he held out his hand and pulled her from the bed.

“Shower time for you, I think.” He nodded to the attached full bathroom. “There’s everything you need in there.”

“Aren’t you going to join me?” She tugged on his hand trying to pull him in with her.

He was tempted. Sorely tempted. But he’d seen the way her body had started to flag. She was exhausted. “You’re tired, beyond tired, Amaya. You need to rest and I have to check on some business. I’ll be back in five minutes, you won’t even know I’ve been gone.”

Frowning she released his hand and looked as if she were about to argue. That was until a huge yawn escaped, her hand shooting up to cover it, and she relented. “Fine, I’ll have a quick shower, but don’t be long.”

“I promise.” He placed a quick peck on her cheek, forcing himself to leave and not stay and join her in the shower to lather her body, wash her long ebony hair, run his hands over her slick, wet body and slide his fingers into her warm, welcoming . . . Stop it. He chastised himself as he turned away, straightening his semi-erect cock in his pants and realizing he was still dressed in combat gear.

He’d change as soon as he’d checked everything with Thorne and Ace and double check their projected arrival time back in Scotland. He’d need to alert his housekeeper, Agnes, that he’d be bringing Amaya with him and to plan for her arrival. The house would need to be changed accordingly now that he had a Bloodmate, specifically that she would require to be fed properly but that wouldn’t pose a problem for the Scotswoman who looked after his home. She’d probably be over the moon at cooking every day and having someone to take care of, hell, he could just envisage Aggie, as she preferred to be called, rushing around like a madwoman preparing everything for their arrival.

“Thorne,” he interrupted a lively conversation between his friend and the wounded Wolf who seemed to be swapping their side of the earlier fight. “I need you to let Aggie know about Amaya. She’ll need to stock up the kitchen for her arrival and make any other necessary arrangements now that I have my Bloodmate. She’ll obviously need to cater to her requirement of needing food and ask that my rooms are cleaned and ready for us.”

“Will do,” Thorne chuckled, standing up and patting the wounded Wolf’s shoulder. “I’ll check on you later.”

“Do you know our ETA?” Quinn looked for Ace but he was strapped into a seat, eyes closed and looked to be sound asleep. He didn’t want to disturb him so left him alone to rest.

“Should be around ten in the morning, local time, shit, I hate the time zone changes. We should be okay, Q, we only have one Vampire that’s not a day-walker with us and he’ll just have to stay inside the jet until nightfall. He’ll go to sleep anyway, I’ll get him into one of the spare rooms in plenty of time. It’s safe enough for him to spend the day and he can come home later.”

“Just make sure he’s safe, Thorne, I don’t want to lose anyone. Not after everyone’s helped me bring my Bloodmate home safely.” Quinn looked at the group of men in the cabin. Each and every single one of them had helped him, in one way or another. “Make sure to get their names too, they’ll be receiving a bonus.”

“Me too?” Thorne quipped back. “I could do with a holiday, just sayin’, in case you’re thinking along those lines.”

“A holiday?” Quinn snorted. “I’ve just taken you to Hong Kong in a private jet, what more could you ask for?”

Thorne’s face turned red, his eyes glinting as he spluttered, “Something where the damn Directive aren’t on our tails and we’re not under threat of being locked in one of their cells. Oh yeah, and where I don’t have to worry about any mad Russians either. That would be good.”

Quinn kept his face devoid of emotion as he looked down into his friend and bodyguard’s face. “All in a day’s work, Thorne. Now, I’m going back to check on my Bloodmate and I don’t want to be disturbed until we’re due to land.”

He turned away, a smirk now playing on his face. He planned on repaying Thorne with something magnificent for what he’d done for him but he’d let him stew for now. A surprise was always better when it wasn’t expected. A holiday was fleeting and soon forgotten but he was certain Thorne would be far more excited when he presented him with the brand-new sports car he knew he’d had his eye on for some time but was way beyond his means. It was but a drop in the ocean to Quinn and he’d order the damn thing the first chance he got. All he had to decide was the color, or maybe he’d allow Amaya to choose for him.

Yes, that’s what he’d do. He’d ask Amaya to help him. It would be a way for him to help her integrate into his life and maybe she’d like the thought of thanking Thorne for his part in rescuing her. He’d ask her and gauge her reaction then decide.

“There you are.” She was drying her hair with a towel when he arrived back, wrapped in one of the robes from the bathroom that was far too big on her, and she’d tied tight around her waist.

“I had to make sure Thorne alerted my housekeeper that I was bringing you home so she could make arrangements to stock the kitchen.” He sat down on the edge of the bed next to where she stood, admiring the soft curve of her hips and the smooth skin of her neck.

Damn, it called to him like a beacon. The vein throbbing right there, his fangs pressing against his gums and threatening to break free. He forced them back. He would not allow himself to lose control and definitely would not attempt to feed from her here in this setting. Their first time would be something that he’d cherish forever and therefore would be done when they were at home, in their bedroom where they’d spend the rest of their lives together. Not here in the jet with a bevy of his men in the next cabin, all with supernatural abilities who would be able to hear everything that occurred.

“I missed you,” she purred, coming to stand between his legs, dropping the towel, her hand running through his hair and causing his cock to stand to attention. Rock hard and pressing against his pants painfully, her fingers tugging him forward. “You were gone ages.”

“I was not,” he laughed. “Mere minutes.”

She shook her head, disagreeing, before leaning down to kiss the side of his mouth. “It felt longer.”

“It’s sorted now,” he murmured falling back, Amaya following to lie beside him, her smile bright as the goddamn sun.

She held his face, her eyes raking over him as if seeing him for the first time, her fingers trailing over his brow, his cheeks and down around his mouth before she sighed, the sound one of utter contentment. He’d never heard such a complete and perfect sigh before, but as it left her body, he knew exactly how she felt. It embodied how he was feeling precisely. Having her here with him, in this moment was perfect and he surmised she’d realized that too as she gazed upon him.

He daren’t move, daren’t utter a sound, for fear of breaking what was happening between them. Amaya’s eyes glazing over slightly, her head leaning forward to lay upon his chest, arms wrapping around him, no words passed between them as they held each other. He could feel her relax against him, her heart slow and a peace settled deep in his soul. One he’d never felt before in his life, not when he was human and certainly not since he’d been turned into a Vampire so many years ago. He felt it in his Bloodmate too. It seemed to link them together in some strange way . . . their hearts beating together as one. His arms holding her close and he knew he’d never felt happier.

Moments earlier he’d wanted nothing more than to sink his fangs into her skin. Drink her sweet ambrosia and fuck her senseless . . . and that would come, but this . . . this was different. This was a blending of their souls and he cherished it more than words could say. How it was, what it was, he had no idea. All he knew . . . was it was.

Long minutes passed until finally he was aware that Amaya had passed over into a deep sleep. He knew she needed the rest after everything she’d gone through, so he gently moved her onto the bed and covered her with the bedspread, staring down at her beauty for long moments before undressing and slipping in beside her. Once again, he took her into his arms, closed his eyes, and rested with his love safe in his embrace.