Part 10 (1/2)
Her pulse stuttered, a perilous warmth exploding in the center of her heart.
Mate.
Oh . . . s.h.i.+t.
It was madness. Complete and utter madness.
So why wasn't she shrieking in outrage instead of feeling like she'd just drunk an entire keg of her father's ale?
She gave a dismissive toss of her head, even knowing she wasn't fooling Uriel.
”Well gypsies prefer a long courts.h.i.+p that includes a lot of bling.”
”Some perhaps.” He reached to brazenly cup one breast in his hand, a smile curving his lips as she gasped in pleasure. ”Others enjoy being swept off their feet.”
She s.h.i.+vered, heat blazing through her. ”Arrogant.”
His eyes smoldered with a ready pa.s.sion. ”Lie to yourself if you want, but you can't hide the truth from a vampire.”
She couldn't lie to herself either as it turned out. Not when sensual antic.i.p.ation flowed through her veins like warm honey. Or when she was instinctively moving back toward him to press against the welcomed strength of his male form.
Not that she was ready to accept his shocking claim that she was his mate.
Was she?
”Fine, we're s.e.xually compatible,” she conceded.
”More than compatible,” he growled, his erection pressed against her lower stomach. ”Combustible.”
Combustible. Yeah. That just about summed it up, Kata acknowledged, vividly aware of the silken slide of the cool water across her highly sensitized skin and the golden spill of sunlight that only intensified the heat blazing through her.
She craved this man with an insatiable hunger that she sensed would plague her for the rest of her life.
Regardless of how long or short that life might be.
”What about the fact that you hate anything and everyone connected with Jinns and I hate vampires?”
His arm circled her waist, squeezing her so tight not even the water could come between their entwined bodies.
”They say love conquers all,” he growled.
Kata wrinkled her nose, not nearly so confident.
She loved her sister only to discover that she'd become the enemy.
She loved her daughter, only to have to sacrifice everything to keep her safe.
Love was . . . dangerous and painful and messy.
Now, however, didn't seem the time to argue the point.
”I'm human again,” she instead pointed out. ”Within a few years I'll be old and gray.”
The dark eyes flashed with an intimidating ferocity. ”Never.”
She frowned. ”I won't be turned.”
He shrugged, undeterred by her refusal to be made into a vampire. Understandable. Once a vampire was created they lost all memory of their previous life. She would no longer be Kata, but a new creature that was as likely to try and rip out his throat as to be his mate.
”The fey can brew potions to keep you young.”
She s.h.i.+fted her gaze to the delicate wildflowers that lined the bank of the stream.
His soft words were reminding her of when she'd been young and the world had been filled with possibilities. Including the hopes of a loving husband and a small tribe of children.
Blessed mother. She'd gone through the misery of having those dreams crushed once.
Was she willing to put herself in the position of having them destroyed again?
”This is a ridiculous conversation,” she muttered, more in an effort to convince herself than him.
Uriel stiffened, then with a low groan he lowered his head, pressing his lips to the pulse beating at the base of her throat.
”More than that,” he rasped, ”it's futile.”
”Futile?”
Slowly he pulled back, his expression somber. ”If the Jinn's curse is still active then I'm a walking time bomb. I won't put you at risk.”
Contrarily, she was offended by his attempt at self-sacrifice.
Did he think he could claim she was his mate in one breath and then toss her aside in the next?
”Shouldn't that be my decision?”
”No.”
”That's it? Just no?”
”That's it.”
She scowled, glimpsing the ruthless warrior who first came searching for her.
”Look, you stubborn vampire, if I decide you're going to be my . . .” She struggled to form the word. ”Mate, then that's what you'll be.” She leaned forward to nip his chin. ”Got it?”
He shuddered, his fangs erupting as his hands skimmed down her back to cup her a.s.s.