Once Bitten, Twice Burned(112)

“What do you want?” he asked her.

Her lips stretched into a smile. “I want to be with you.”

She probably deserved better. No, she damn well deserved better, but he’d kill any man or supernatural who ever tried to take her from him.

So Sabine was pretty much stuck with him.

If she wanted to leave me, could I let her go?

It was a dark thought, and one he didn’t want to examine too deeply. He needed her so much. Too much? Maybe he wasn’t what she—

Sabine’s soft laughter stopped him. “You just faced me and my fire, so why worry now? Don’t you realize, vampire, you’re all that I want? The only man who can get through the flames and get to me?” She pulled his head down toward her. “I want to go where you go. I want to be with you.”

And the only place he wanted to go? Wherever the hell she was.

If she wanted to stay in New Orleans, he’d make the city safe for her. If she wanted to fucking fly to Paris, he’d buy her a jet. He’d do anything for her. Risk anything.

Give anything.

His forehead pressed against hers. “Don’t ever die on me again.” Because he’d wanted to cut out his own heart when her eyes had gone blank.

“If I do,” she whispered, “I’ll come back. I swear, I’ll never leave you.”

He believed her. After all, his Sabine had never lied. She’d also never said . . .

“I love you, Ryder.”

He kissed her.

Then heard the disgruntled, “Hell,” that came from Rhett. “Looks like I’ll have a vamp brother-in-law.”

Yes, he would.

Ryder ignored the human. Rhett had managed to shake off his compulsion, just as Ryder suspected he might do. He’d come back to the city, ready to face any enemies.

Ryder could respect him. But even though he had that respect, he wasn’t about to stop kissing Sabine. Because she was all that mattered.

Fire. Blood. Fury.

Life. Death.

Lust.

Love.

She’d given him the world, and he’d spend the rest of his days laying the whole damn world at her feet.