“You had to protect her.”
“Yes.”
Melissa rested her head against the back of her seat. He’d lost his father in a war with her people. His mother had died because vampires used their influence to push his kind as far from the rest of the supernatural world as possible. Yet despite his past, he’d still faced off against what remained of his family in order to protect a kidnapped vampire.
“I don’t understand why you don’t hate me,” she whispered. Anyone in his position should.
Tarian slammed on the brakes, swerving the car onto the shoulder of the road.
“Jeez, give warning much?” she squeaked as he reached for her. “Dominic will be after us.”
“We lost him long ago, if he was ever following in the first place. Besides, this is more important.”
“What is?”
“You.” Sliding his seat back, he pulled her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her. “Not for a single moment have I hated you,” he told her. “You had nothing to do with my sorry past.”
“My people—”
“I don’t think all vampires are evil, even if you think all necromancers are monsters.”
She stiffened in his arms. “I don’t…” her voice trailed off as the defense fell flat.
“We’re your boogeymen,” he replied. “No use denying it.”
Twisting, she cupped his face between her hands. “That was before I met you.”
“And now?” he breathed, his lips an inch from hers.
She stared into his beautiful eyes. He was reordering her world, making her question beliefs she’d never doubted. Even worse, he filled her mind. Her waking hours were spent wondering about him, arguing with him, wanting him. Her daylight sleep spent dreaming of him. He was worming his way into every corner of her being, and the walls she’d built to keep him out were crumbling around their feet.
“Now?” she whispered, trailing her fingers along his strong jaw. “Now I’m finding I care less and less about what you are, so long as you’re by my side.”
As soon as the words were out she wanted to call them back. They were too revealing. Too pitiable. The last thing she wanted to be was the lonely vampire he’d once accused her of being. A few days and a couple heated embraces weren’t enough to warrant such a declaration. She knew it as well as he. However, it didn’t change the ever present need growing within her, not just to have him in her bed, but to have him in her life.
She focused on the curve of his collarbone. He was centuries older than her. Had lived experiences she could only dream of. No doubt her words sounded very young to him. And very naive.
“We should get going,” she murmured, wanting to dispel her embarrassment. They’d go back to the road and talk of something light. Something that didn’t reveal their pasts and further blur the line between ally and lover.
His fingers caught her chin as he gently forced her to raise her face. Knowing there was no help for it, she looked up and fell into his sapphire gaze. The world disappeared around them until she wasn’t thinking of Dominic, or the wrath of her father. She wasn’t thinking about saving lives or fighting prejudice.
The only thing on her mind was a burning desire to kiss him once more.
Their lips touched in a caress far more sweet than it was passionate. Tarian’s hands slid down her back, holding her closer as his mouth slanted over hers. In her many years, she’d been kissed by more men than she could remember, but never had anyone touched her with such care. Her necromancer kissed her, and she felt treasured, precious.
He’s not mine, she told herself. Don’t get used to this. And she could. So easily. She could imagine herself fifty years from now, being calmed by his touch.
The universe had never been kind to her, but showing her such a perfect future only to snatch it away seemed particularly cruel.
His lips glided over hers before she felt the brush of teeth on her lower lip. A low moan caught in her throat. It seemed Tarian had adopted her penchant for love bites.
“Reckless,” she said, tilting her head back so he could trail his mouth down her neck. “We should be driving.”
“Tell me again,” he replied.
She leaned back. “What?” she teased. “That you’re slipping past all my best defenses?”
“Seems only fair. You’ve obliterated mine.”
Her smile slipped from her face. The words might be light, but the meaning behind them was anything but. The embarrassment over her words drained away. It wasn’t warranted. Not when he’d echoed the sentiment.
“What do we do?” she asked.
“What can we do?” he replied. “Other than drive fast and pull over early.”