Part 9 (1/2)
”I understand.”
”You do not, but you must trust that I will keep you from harm.”
Touched by the depth of his caring, she laid her hand upon his forearm. ”However irrational, I do.”
Aedan drew her hand within his and pressed a kiss upon her palm, humbled to have found this amazing woman, one he wanted forever. ” 'Tis not irrational.”
”Is it not? All my life I have been told tales of vampires' viciousness, of their killing people in cold blood without thought. Yet, with you I find trust.” She paused, her eyes searching his as understanding dawned. ”But because you can read my mind you already know that, do you not?”
He stroked his thumb across her lower lip, wanting her, needing her forever. ”Aye. ”
If he could read her mind, was there more that he could sense or know about her that he hadn't revealed?
At her thought, he released her, turned and scoured the darkened woods. Judging from the stiffness of his body, he was upset.
Rowan's unease grew. ”Aedan, what are you keeping from me?”
Silence.
”Aedan.”
He turned, his face taut, his eyes torn between happiness and regret. ”I want you.”
Need infused her, a yearning so desperate she caught her breath.
His nostrils flared.
Pleasure shot through her. He was not immune to her either.
”Nay, I am far from immune. I want you overmuch.”
”Never before have I wanted a man.” Heat warmed her cheeks. ”Never have I lain with a man. But against all that I have been taught, against my beliefs, I want you.”
”Rowan.”
At the desire that roughened his voice, heat built within her. ”Tell me.”
He muttered a curse. ”Never did I believe I would find you.”
”Find me?” She frowned. ”We have never met.”
He gave a cold laugh void of amus.e.m.e.nt. ”We have not, but our blood recognizes the other.”
”You are not making any sense.”
On a shaky exhale, his eyes held hers, a silent plea within. ”Rowan, you are my mate.”
Chapter Three.
Against the backdrop of the night, shock veiled Rowan's face. ”I am your mate? Impossible.”
Hurt tore through Aedan at her disbelief, but had not his surprise at the discovery been as great? ”Rowan, neither you nor I were given a choice. Our bond is a gift of nature neither of us can change.”
”I ...”
Bed.a.m.ned. ”Did you not say but moments ago that you want me?”
Her body trembling, she tried to step back.
Aedan held her, needed her to accept the attraction between them, one as natural as his next breath. ”I am going to kiss you-unless you bid me to stop.”
Eyes wide and unsure, she watched him.
However much she struggled to accept the fact, beneath her nervousness he saw need. He lowered his mouth to a whisper above hers.
”Order me to stop,” he said as her scent infused his every breath, driving him insane, ”before I touch you, before I taste you everywhere.”
Her body shuddered against his. ”I cannot.”
On a groan he claimed her lips, hot, hard, demanding her response. Her actions would acknowledge what she refused to say.
”Aedan,” she moaned as she returned his kiss, her own blistering hot.
His tongue slid between her lips, teasing, tasting, seducing her until her body melded against his. On a soft growl, he backed her against the cave wall and pressed his full length against her, wanting her to feel every inch of his need.
He lifted his head. ”I am going to make love to you. Here. With naught between us but the stars and the night.”
Another tremor whipped through Rowan. Until Aedan she had never known someone who made her want, who made her feel as a woman desired. Now, she did.
And he was a vampire.
However frightening the thought, she accepted it.
But, he believed her a woman with whom he shared a lifelong bond. How she wished such a connection could exist between them. But she was human, while he was a vampire. She could not ponder the differences between them now. This stunning vampire, a man who sought to protect her, who found her beautiful and engaging, wanted her. However wrong, she wanted him as well.
Her lower lip trembled. ”I need you.”
”Aye,” he said on a rough whisper, ”I will fulfill each fantasy and more.”
A cool breeze tumbled over her body. Rowan gasped. ”I am naked.”
”Aye. A vampire's speed has many a use.” He slid his lips against the sensitive skin at her neck. ”Worry not, I will nae rush the lovemaking.”
The sultry promise in his voice left her breathless. How could he move her to such depths? How could he make her want him so much? If nothing else, she understood that he was a man of his word, one she found herself needing more than she could explain.
Rowan laid her hand upon his heart. ”Aedan, make love to me.”