Forbidden Craving(97)

"Only twelve times."

Only. "I've been here, what? Eight days. So you suck at math, but that's hardly your fault. A man as gorgeous as you are can't have brains, too."

He snorted.

"Also," she continued, "you can't obsess over me. You can't make all my troubles go away. You've got to let me get myself out of my own messes. You can't throw jealous fits of rage, and you can't ever, under any circumstances, call me your old lady, your ball and chain, or your property. I belong to myself. I'm loaning you my time."

"You. Are. Wonderful. Never change." Leaning down, he brushed his lips over hers. His hands found hers, and he intertwined their fingers before anchoring them above her head. The action lifted her chest and pressed her breasts deeper into him. She licked her lips as her eyelids lowered.

"While you've seen only the bad side of love, I have seen the best. My mother and father were mated and completely devoted to each other."

"Where are they, your parents?"

"They died many years ago. My father died in battle and my mother's sadness took her not long after."

"Wow. To be so devoted to someone you actually die without them, simply lose the will to live. It's like something out of a movie, yet a part of me doesn't want to acknowledge such devotion is possible. It frightens me...but it also excites me for the first time in forever."




 

 

He translated: hope was not lost.

"I'm sorry about your parents," she said softly.

"Uh-oh. There you go, showing your sweet side again."

She grinned. "How dare you say such a thing? I'm hard-core!"

"And you hate the things I do to you."

"Hate them," she agreed with a laugh.

His breath tunneled into her ear, followed by his tongue. Her hands tangled in his hair as she trembled.

"Just like you hate me," he breathed.

"Yes," she whispered. "I hate you so very much."

"That's good. Because I'm going to hate you until you can't imagine life without me."

He thought she might have whispered, "Too late," as he slid inside her.





  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

LEAVING SHAYE ASLEEP in his bed-their bed, Valerian amended-was the hardest thing he'd ever done...while he was the hardest he'd ever been. He only wanted more! Her soft, pale tresses tapered over the violet sheets, as ethereal as a dream. Her features were relaxed, the sandy length of her lashes casting shadows over her cheekbones. Her lips were plump and rosy from his kisses.

Will never get enough of this woman.

He'd already dressed, had hastily tugged on a black shirt and pants before he'd lost his resolve to leave. As king, it was his duty to see to his guests. But more than that, he wanted to see to the palace's defenses and ensure they were well fortified and strong enough to withstand the most violent of attacks.

This peaceful reprieve the vampires had given them wouldn't last long, he knew. Darius would be back. Valerian only hoped the dragon would arrive later rather than sooner. The longer he had to solidify his bond with Shaye, the better. She strengthened him in ways he'd never thought possible.

He placed a chaste kiss on the tip of her nose-which proved to be a mistake. She muttered under her breath, an airy gurgle of unintelligible words, one of which might have been his name.

Must have. Now, now-

Leave. Safety first.

Right. Valerian forced one foot in front of the other and finally exited the room. Now that Shaye had decided to stay with him, she would begin to make the palace her own, gifting every inch with little touches of her personality. 

He couldn't wait!

Would she fill the rooms with the colorful bouquets he planned to buy her? Hang her favorite paintings on the walls, select hand-carved furniture, add beaded pillows to the couches? He would take her into the Outer City and purchase everything she fancied. All the things humans used to make a home, well, a home. She would want for nothing, her every wish his to grant.

His jaw hurt from grinning too wide as he entered the dining hall. Vampires surrounded the table. Most clutched goblets filled with some type of blood, he was sure. Several nymphs were here, though most were on duty and if not on duty, they were most assuredly having sex, preparing for battle. There were no females present.

Layel, who had claimed the head of the table, spotted him and motioned him over.

"Acting as king of the place, already?" Valerian said, his grin only widening. He plopped onto the now-vacant spot beside his friend.

"Of course." Layel sipped at his goblet. "I don't think you've ever looked so sated, nymph."

"Mated life agrees with me, vampire."

A curtain of sadness flittered over Layel's expression. "Ah, yes. I remember mated life very well."