That is what I wanted exactly. You are doing good. Now open your eyes and look at me.
Her heart lurched. Her fists tightened in his hair and he felt her body stiffen. No. No, I can’t do it, Aleksei.
What did I tell you about saying no to me? There is no reason not to open your eyes and look at your man. I have you in my arms. In my care. Do as I say.
Please. Please. Please, don’t ask me to do that.
He felt her mounting terror. She still had the idea that she was buried alive in her mind. He didn’t touch her mind, but he knew. He knew because she was so terrified and her body showed that terror to him.
He stopped breathing for her and kissed her. Gently. Very gently. He hadn’t known he could be gentle, but that was what she needed. Coaxing. Kislány. He whispered the word in her mind. Little girl. Baby. His. You are safe with me. Now open your eyes and see me. See that you are safe with me.
She struggled with obeying his command. He felt her struggle and was proud of her that she tried when clearly she was so afraid. He stroked one hand through her hair; the other smoothed over the curve of her bottom.
Finally her long lashes lifted and she looked at him. Straight into his eyes. He smiled at her. There you are. Can you see that I would never allow any harm to come to you? I may be more demon than man, but you are my woman and in my care. Kiss me, Gabrielle. Do not worry about breathing. Feel the earth. The soil. It strokes over you, feeding your body. Healing and rejuvenating you. Nourishing you.
Her lashes fluttered. He kept his mouth on hers because he knew if he moved even a breath away from her, panic would come back. She was barely keeping it at bay, but she trusted him enough to follow his instructions. She didn’t realize she was giving him that gift—her trust. But he did. And he knew how precious a gift it was.
Her eyes clung to his, but he felt some of the tension ease from her body. He rewarded her, kneading the firm muscle of her buttocks and then slipping his hand between their bodies to find her core. The moment his finger slid over her soft velvety folds, he felt the welcoming dampness. He loved that. He loved that she was scared, clinging to him, relying on him, and yet still got wet when he touched her. So ready for him. She was his lifemate without a doubt. She just had to believe it.
Do you see you have nothing to fear? The earth belongs to us. We belong to the earth. You can wake and not need air until you surface. You can open the earth above our heads with a thought. Visualize the earth open. Do it now, Gabrielle.
It was a command, but he kept his finger moving gently in her folds, slipping into her for a moment and then back to making small lazy circles. His own body stirred. Filled. Became engorged and hot and needy. He wanted her mouth there. He needed it there, but this was more important. Letting her feel her own power.
She didn’t take her gaze from his, but he felt the surge of energy and the soil around them moved. Lifted. Pulled apart. Cool air found them. He smiled against her mouth. You did it, kessake. There is no need to fear. When you do not know something, simply ask me and I will teach you.
He floated them out of the earth and closed the opening after them. All the while he kept her body sprawled over his. They lay on the same carpet. It mattered little what was beneath them. Her hunger beat at him. She didn’t know how to feed properly and he would teach her that as well. But not yet. Not until he taught her other things. Not until he gave her other things.
“I was so afraid,” she confided, lifting her head, her eyes still on his. “I feel like I’ve been afraid for so long I don’t know how not to be anymore.”
“You will learn.” He kept his fist bunched in her hair. “You are the kind of woman who needs to know what she’s doing to feel comfortable. I will give you that.”
Her tongue touched her lower lip, drawing his immediate attention. She was sexy and she didn’t have the slightest clue. He was amazed at the combination of innocent and sexy and just what it could do to his blood.
“Tell me what to do now,” she whispered. “I want you, Aleksei, but I don’t know what to do to get you.”
Her whispered confession yanked at his heart. Hard. Punched him in the gut. Harder. His body went tight. Painful. His cock swelled, thickened, lengthened. Burned like an out of control fire. The blood in his veins rushed like a firestorm.
“I dreamt of you,” she confided. “I dreamt you were inside me and I was flying free and I wasn’t afraid anymore.”
“Carpathians do not dream.” He growled his response, because first, lifemates didn’t lie to each other. Second, she was killing him, taking him to the very edge of his control again, and he’d promised himself he would be gentle with her.