“Fine,” she said, stalking into her apartment. “You have five minutes.”
She kicked off her heels as Tarian closed the door behind them. Ignoring him, she went to the kitchen and pulled out a bag of blood.
He waited in silence as she poured the red liquid into a novelty mug Chloe had given her that read “got blood?” on the side and popped it into the microwave.
“Your time is ticking,” she reminded him, watching her mug rotate on the glass plate.
“Look at me.”
The microwave beeped, and she pulled out her drink.
“I don’t need to,” she said as she turned, blowing on her mug. “I know what you look like.” She tried to stalk past him but he caught her arm.
Taking the cup from her fingers, he set it on her floating island before tipping her chin up.
The blue of his gaze filled her view. For a brief instant, all she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and block out the rest of the world. When he held her, all their problems fell away. They could go back to being the partners they’d been on the road. The ones learning to trust, too naive to believe the other would ever break their word.
He drew his knuckles gently over her skin. “God, I’ve missed you,” he whispered.
She closed her eyes and tried her hardest not to melt beneath his touch. “This isn’t helping either of us,” she said. “You should leave.”
“I will if you answer one question.”
She looked back up at him. “What?”
“Do you love me?”
Her already battered heart shattered. They were not going to do this. She would not stand here and rehash everything that had gone wrong. She couldn’t bear it. To hell with closure, she wanted him gone before she revealed even more pitiable secrets.
“Leave,” she said, her voice flat.
“You know how to get rid of me,” he replied, one thumb brushing against her lower lip. “Tell me you don’t love me, and I’ll never bother you again.”
“Did you forget what led to this lovely moment we’re having?”
He shook his head. “I don’t deny there are complications with our union , but I believe the benefits far outweigh any potential risks.”
“Going to woo me with finance speak?” she taunted.
“I’m trying to tell you every day I spend away from you is hell.”
She looked down. It should be comforting to know she wasn’t suffering alone, but instead it just made her sad that he was living the same pain she was.
“We can’t change what we are,” she whispered. “It makes no difference if I love you or not.”
“It does,” he replied. “I’ve waited centuries to find the one woman I’d spend eternity with, and I knew the first moment I saw you, Melissa. You were the one for me.”
She dragged her gaze back to his. “You said I wasn’t your mate.”
“I lied.”
The vise on her heart tightened even more. “I can’t be with someone who thinks I’m weak and in need of protection.”
“You are, without a doubt, a dangerous adversary, sweetheart,” he replied. “You fought me, remember? Every movement was elegant, lethal, and anything but weak.”
“You sent me away like a child.”
“Know why?”
She rolled her eyes. “For my own good.”
“No,” Tarian shook his head. “For mine. The thought of a world without you in it destroys me.” He stared down at her, every line of his face etched with sincerity. “I was trying to protect you because my world stops if you get hurt. It wasn’t a comment on your skills. If anything, it shone a spotlight on my weakness, not yours.”
She snorted. “You have a weakness?”
His hands cupped her face. “When it comes to you I do. I will always try to protect you, Melissa. It’s not an instinct I can shut off. That’s what happens when you find your mate.”
Ripping herself away from the comfort of his touch, she paced over to her living room. She looked out the tall patio windows as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“It’s not just that you didn’t trust me to fight,” she said.
“I know.” The words were soft from behind her.
She saw his reflection in the glass as he stood behind her right shoulder. “I can’t be with someone I can’t trust. Your powers are just too strong, Tarian.”
Hands skimmed over her shoulders in a light touch. “I could vow to you I’d never make this mistake again, but to be honest, I don’t know if that’s a promise I can keep. If I ever saw you in danger again, my instincts would be to save you any way I could.”