“That’s a dark look,” Payne said, his smile widening as though he knew what she was thinking. “Chica didn’t mean anything by it... but I’m flattered that you’re jealous.”
Elissa levelled him with a glare. He was reassured more like. She stifled her desire to sigh and stood instead, smoothed her top down and crossed the room to him. She took hold of both of his hands and looked up into his eyes, catching the sparks of blue and gold that shone against the cool grey. How could she make him see that she was here to stay and that she had truly meant what she had told him? There had to be a way to reassure him that she wasn’t going to treat him as others had in his life and that her feelings for him would never die, they would only grow over the coming years.
“I meant what I said downstairs, Payne. You don’t have to keep doubting me. I want to be your mate.”
He closed his eyes and hung his head, a sigh escaping his sensual lips, drawing her gaze to them. “I want that too... but...”
“No buts.” Elissa released his left hand and raised hers to his face, cupping his cheek and lifting his chin so he was looking into her eyes again. “I know you... I see you... and I believe you’re good mate material and that you’ll keep your promise to protect me and Luca... what happened back at the incubi den can’t colour our future together. I won’t let it. I pushed you too far and I knew the risks. I should have stopped myself. I know how dangerous it was of me to do what I did and I understand you better now. It won’t happen again. I trust you, Payne... I want to be with you. I want to be your mate.”
“Why?” his voice cracked and her heart went out to him again as his eyes searched hers. He needed more from her and she was willing to give it to him, to take the leap and risk her heart, because he had suffered so much rejection and darkness in his life that he couldn’t bring himself to be the one to do it.#p#分页标题#e#
Elissa smiled into his eyes. “Because I’m in love with you.”
He closed his eyes, snaked his arm around her waist and dragged her against him, clutching her hard against his body. His free hand settled against the back of her head and she shut her eyes as she rested her cheek against his chest, listening to the rapid beat of his heart, feeling him trembling.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, voice strained and hoarse, laden with emotion. He smoothed his hand through her long hair and she knew he was looking at it, watching as the strands turned silver. Verity had taken to dyeing hers to conceal what she had done.
Elissa would never do that.
“Don’t be,” she said and drew back enough that she could look up into his eyes. “I don’t regret what we did. I want the world to know that I belong to you, and that I’m not ashamed of what we have done... because I love you.”
Payne pulled her back to him and kissed her, claiming her lips with such ferocity that she melted into him, lost in how good it felt to be back in his arms and to feel things between them were beginning to find solid even ground again.
She returned his kiss, dancing her lips over his, savouring the way he held her so close to him that she could feel his heart pounding against her breasts. He would never let her go. She knew that and it touched her, soothed her, and she wanted him to know that she felt the same way. She would never let him go. She would always fight for him, even during the times when he hit rock bottom and his past haunted him. She would be there to tell him that she loved him, all of him, and that the past was behind him now, something they would help him deal with together so he could put it to rest and accept that there was good in his life at last.
Elissa paused when she tasted blood and caught hold of his shoulders, pushing him back so she could see his mouth. A single red line cut over his lower lip and the soft flesh around it was swelling. There was a nasty bruise on his left cheek too, and another on the right side of his jaw, that one partially concealed by dried blood.
“You’re a mess,” she said, frowning as she stepped out of his arms to run an assessing gaze over him. Elissa slipped her hand into his and tugged. “Come on.”
He didn’t question her as she led him into the dull grey tiled bathroom and released his hand. She closed the door behind him, not wanting Luca to see or hear what was about to happen. She needed to clean Payne up, but more than that, she needed to prove to him that things could be good between them, and that they could make love without worrying he would lose control.
Payne stood immobile in the middle of the cramped bathroom as she unbuttoned his dark bloodstained shirt and pushed it off his shoulders. There were more bruises on his chest and some cuts too. The fight had finished off what she had started on his shirt, completely wrecking it beyond salvation. She dropped the garment to the floor and moved her attention to his jeans. He tensed when she undid his belt and she glanced up into his eyes.