Dying to Date(77)

Pain slashed through her. Part of her had actually hoped for promises, false or not. Then she would have had an opening, a way of thinking seriously about their future. She could have fooled herself into believing it had only been one slip. That it would never happen again, and she could love him the way that she craved.

But instead he gave her honesty. She should appreciate the gesture instead of damning his integrity.

“Then there is no solution,” she said.

A tiny tinkling reached her ear, and she saw something shine in the window reflection.

Turning, she saw the rield bracelet dangling from Tarian’s fingertips.

“I thought you couldn’t make another,” she breathed, staring at the answer to all their prayers.

“I can’t,” he agreed. “But I was able to secure this one from Dominic before he was tossed into prison.” He wound the silver strand around his fingers. “You know how powerful these pieces are. He wasn’t about to throw it away.”

She reached for it, but he pulled his hand back. “No,” he said. “I’ll not give it away so easily twice.”

Melissa frowned, wondering what new game they were playing.

“The first time I gave you this bracelet I was filled with noble intentions. I thought myself to be an upstanding, moral man who would never stoop to manipulating a lover, no matter how dire the circumstances. I gave you this rield as a way to convince you I could be trusted, not because I thought it would ever matter that you wore it.”

“And now?”

He studied the silver twining around his fingers. “Now I know giving this bracelet away restricts my options. I might have to watch you get hurt one day. Hell, I might have to watch you die, knowing that if I hadn’t given you this rield, I could have saved you.”

“Every couple fears losing each other,” she whispered.

“You took a few decades off my life when Dominic had you under his power,” Tarian said. “I never want to feel that way again.”

“I can protect myself,” she replied. “And what’s more, you can be around to be my backup.”

He inclined his head, playing with the rield. “There’s another piece to consider. You nearly killed me when we fought. Without my magic I’ll be at your mercy.”

She bit back the smile that threatened. “I might be stronger,” she pointed out. “But you also weren’t really fighting me. Dominic might have been pulling the strings but I still remember every moment of that night. You only defended yourself, Tarian. You did everything in your power to avoid hurting me.”

“Always,” he breathed, taking a step closer.

“What if I promise to be gentle with you?” She rose to her tiptoes. One hand pressed against his chest to steady herself as her lips nearly brushed his.

“Trust,” he whispered against her lips. “This all comes down to trust.”

Melissa drew back slightly, meeting his gaze. Trust. She had to trust him not to abuse his powers, and he had to trust her not to take advantage of her immunity with the rield. It was a risk for them both.

Cool metal touched her wrist and she looked down to see Tarian clasping the bracelet over her hand.

“I love you,” he said.

A shudder ran through her. As often as she’d prayed to hear those words, nothing could compare to the reality.

“Be my mate,” Tarian whispered in her ear as he pressed a kiss to the sensitive skin. “Mine for all eternity.”

Tipping her head back, she closed her eyes. His lips trailed down her throat in a gossamer caress.

A startled cry escaped her when he caught her around the waist and twirled her backward toward her high-backed beige couch.

“I don’t care if you won’t give me the words,” he said, pressing her down onto the sofa as he watched her with burning eyes. “I don’t care if it takes me centuries to pry them from you. I know you love me.”

“Centuries, hmm?” She traced her fingers along his jaw.

He caught her fingers and pressed them to his mouth. “Though I do hope it won’t take quite that long.”

She smiled. “Are you so sure I love you, Tarian?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me why.”

He pressed another kiss to her fingertips before drawing her up into a sitting position. “Do you know when Abbey told me you were missing, I experienced a panic I haven’t felt since I was a young man?”

She arched a brow. “What does that have to do with me loving you?”

“Nothing. But it has everything to do with me loving you,” he replied. “I knew then you were important to me. And on the road when you could have run but came back to see if a child needed help, that’s when I knew I wouldn’t be able to forget you.” He turned her palm over and pressed his lips to the tender skin. “But it was when you stood up to your father in order to fight beside me that I knew I’d love you until the end of my days.” Tarian cupped her face between his palms. “How could I travel on this adventure with you, Melissa, and fall for you so completely, without you feeling anything in return?”