“Decisions that led you to a serial killer and a vampire. I do not think this is your best argument, csitri.”
There was the faint humor again that made her head want to spin around three times on her neck and have demon sounds come out of her mouth. When that didn’t happen she settled for thumping his chest with her fist. She struggled to get herself under control. When she was fairly certain she had a handle on her temper and fear, she took a deep breath and looked up at his face.
“Andre, I need you to step back. I’m going to get dressed, pack my things and go home. I need to come to terms with this and I want to do it at home, surrounded by people who love me. People who will listen to me when I talk to them.”
His fingers curled around the nape of her neck. “You are going to stay right here with me and talk to me. I will listen to you and we will work this out between us. You are my heart and soul. No one else loves or needs you in the way I do. No one. Not your grandmother. Not your sisters.”
“See. Right there. That’s not listening,” she was compelled to point out.
“I listened, Teagan. I heard every word you said. You are not listening to me. I get that you are afraid. Everything about my world is frightening and new to you. Your grandmother and sisters cannot answer your questions or help you adjust.”
He wasn’t going to let her leave. She could see the resolve on his face. This man, this beautiful man, had trapped her in a body that wasn’t hers. The worst part about it was that she actually understood his reasoning. She didn’t agree with it, but she had seen his terrible childhood tragedy. He’d been terrified for her when she’d climbed the boulder and somehow disturbed the vampire in his lair. He’d had his lures out, just like a spider, and she’d nearly been trapped in his web.
Apparently in Andre’s world, men could dictate. That was not going to happen. It just wasn’t. She took a breath and let it out.
“Andre, you say lifemates are predestined. That there is only one and she is your other half. We’re so different. I am modern and was raised to speak my mind, have my own opinions and make my own decisions. Clearly in your world, women do what men tell them to do . . .”
He laughed. Out loud. He actually threw his head back and laughed. The sound was amazing. Beautiful. He was beautiful when he laughed. She’d never heard him laugh wholeheartedly and the sound was pure music. His eyes lit up and his face had gone softer.
“What?” She tried to inject temper into the demand, but watching him laugh was mesmerizing and she failed completely.
“The women in my world do not do what their men tell them. Not one that I can see, unless it has something to do with safety. I would say they obey because they choose to obey and know their men take their safety seriously. They aren’t stupid. They want to be safe from the dangers in our world.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you implying I’m stupid?”
His fingers tightened on the nape of her neck. “Teagan. Seriously. You have every reason to be upset and hurt by what I did, but do not look for other reasons. We need to deal with this issue.”
Her head really was going to explode. She didn’t care if his fingers massaging the tension from her neck felt great, or that he was the hottest man on the planet. Or that his voice slipped inside her every single time and turned her insides to a melted puddle of scorching hot need.
“You do realize,” she bit out between her teeth, warning him. Because seriously, he needed to be warned. “Standing this close to me, when I detonate and go up in a fiery flaming bomb, you are going to get caught in the blast. For your own safety, Andre, just step back and let this happen.”
He leaned into her, one hand still at the nape of her neck, the other on her belly, fingers spread wide pushing her slightly so that she was up against the wall. His head descended and she quickly turned her face away from his, knowing if he kissed her, she might just give in, and she wasn’t going to. Not over this. It was too important.
Kiss me, Teagan. His mouth followed hers.
She clamped her lips together and shook her head. His hand went from her belly to her jaw, controlling her head.
His mouth rubbed gently over hers, his tongue tracing her lower lip and then the seam of her mouth.
Teagan shook her head, glaring at him. With her lips clamped shut, she still told him off. Your listening skills need serious work.
Sivamet, kiss me.
His tongue lapped at her lips. His mouth brushed across hers, sending little darts of fire straight to her bloodstream where they rushed like a fireball to her sex. She thought to resist. She really, really did. But maybe she needed to be kissed. She needed something. She was so scared of what she was that she wanted comfort.
She opened her mouth and was instantly lost in him. His kisses left her breathless. On fire. But more, they swept her away to another realm altogether where she couldn’t think. Only feel.
The moment she began to return his kiss, Andre yanked her to him, his arms strong, powerful even. He deepened the kiss, devouring her. She met his hunger with her own.
Arms around my neck, sivamet.
There was that beautiful voice. Velvet. Silk. A new rasp that sent tingles down her spine and liquid fire spilling from her sex. His mouth never left hers, and it felt like he poured himself into her, down her throat. All of him. Who he was. What he was. How he felt. How much he felt.
It was intense. So intense her eyes burned with tears for both of them. She slid her hands up his chest to his shoulders and then circled his neck with her arms. The moment she did, he lifted her. Easily. So easily. Instead of making her feel vulnerable, she felt safe. Cherished. Cared for.