He stroked a caress down her cheek with his free hand, as if he could wipe away every tear. “This is why you are my lifemate, Gabrielle. Not your sister. Your sister would never suit me. We would not ever fit. You fit with me. When I tell you to do something, no matter how difficult, you do your best for me. Did you think I did not feel your struggle to stay still when I was in battle? You tried hard for me. Your nature, whether you know what you are doing or not, is to aid others. But you tried to do as I asked.”
“Ordered,” she corrected, sounding a little miffed.
He didn’t smile, although he wanted to. “Ordered,” he agreed. “I am a man who will order his woman and expect obedience. I will also take great care of her, always. In every way. I will see to her happiness because, kislány, by giving me that, by giving me her obedience when I need it, she is making me happy.”
“I told you I’m not certain I can do obedience.”
He did laugh then. Softly. Gently. So that she would know she meant everything to him and he wasn’t laughing at her. “I get that, Gabrielle. But you try. That is what makes it such a gift. If it were easy for you, if it did not matter to you that I was in trouble and you stayed on the sidelines because obedience was easy, it would mean nothing. You needed to help me and yet you fought to do as I asked.”
“But in the end, I disobeyed.”
“I am certain you will disobey me often. It is the gift that it is difficult and you try that matters to me, not the actual doing. Although, in a battle, I will never allow you to aid me. I am not that kind of lifemate nor will I ever be. My woman stays safe where I put her. There is no discussion about that. There never will be. Your sister would never suit me, Gabrielle. Not in a million years. I would not want a woman who could battle at my side. I am too much of a . . .”
“Chauvinist?”
He laughed and brushed a kiss on her mouth. Her sweet mouth that always tempted him. “I was going to say protector, but chauvinist will do.”
“I hated that. I hated knowing you could be killed, that you were being burned to the bone by the vampire’s blood. That Vaugn was repeatedly stabbing that knife into your back.” She shuddered, her hand moving over his face, gently touching the lacerations that were no longer open, but still raw.
There was tenderness in her touch. In her eyes. His heart shifted in his chest. She’d never looked at him with that particular expression. Soft. Loving even. He didn’t want to think that word. He didn’t know if he could take the disappointment of her not feeling that emotion, so he stayed out of her mind. Giving her space. Giving her time.
18
Gabrielle shifted positions, climbing onto Aleksei’s lap. Straddling him. Fitting her body tightly to his. He seemed to always be hard for her. Ready for her. She leaned into him, grinding her mound against his hard bulge while she gently kissed each scratch and tear on his face. She didn’t know what she was feeling, only that she felt full. Completed. Whole. And he made her feel that way.
“Do you mean it, Aleksei? You aren’t disappointed that you didn’t get a woman who could fight by your side?”
“It is impossible to be disappointed in you, kislány.”
Aleksei slid his hands down her body, from beneath her arms to her hips, taking her clothing with it. He bent his head to capture her mouth. “We do not have a lot of time, little cat, and there are things I want to do to you. Things I need from you, so this time, you will give that to me.” He murmured the command against her lips, his hands spanning her waist.
“I already gave you obedience,” she pointed out, her mouth seeking his.
He lifted her easily and deposited her on the bed, following her down, his mouth on hers, his much heavier body pinning hers. I see the allure of beds for humans.
Nice. Right? She lost herself in his mouth. In all that heat and fire. She couldn’t believe anyone could kiss like him. When he kissed her, if he asked her for the moon, she would have tried to find a way to give it to him.
Very nice.
Aleksei kissed his way down to her throat. Put your hands above your head, kislány, I like the way it lifts your breasts, like a wonderful offering. I intend to take my time, what time we have before we have to return to the monastery, worshiping your body. I want your eyes on me at all times. Do not look away.
Gabrielle stared into his eyes. So green. So filled with desire. Desire so intense, she felt her body instantly dampen in response. Not taking her eyes from his, she slowly complied, lifting her arms above her head.
She had no idea how much time passed or how many times her body gave him exactly what he demanded. His mouth, his teeth, his tongue and his fingers were everywhere, claiming her, pushing her up over and over, until one climax ran into another. Until she thought she might die before he actually took her. Until she was writhing on the bed, sobbing his name, pleading with him.