Once Forbidden(16)

Devlin stood and moved away from her. He had to; otherwise, he’d not get more accomplished other than making love to her. “I need to teach you how to protect yourself, Sarah. You’re obviously a target—I’m sorry for that. I still don’t know how the Hunters found out about you.” He sighed and ran his hand through his dark hair. “But I promise you, I will find them. I will find the man responsible for hurting you.”

“So, how long will it be until I’m safe on my own?”

His head snapped up. “On your own?”

“Of course. I have some semblance of a life to get back to, Devlin. I have a business to run. Bills to pay—the normal things,” she explained patiently. “Once the danger has passed, of course.”

So she wasn’t going to forgive him for changing her. Once she was safe, she was going to leave him. He felt a wave of pain that nearly staggered him. No! He wasn’t going to let her go that easily. “It will take a while,” he said carefully, watching her. “I won’t leave you alone until I’m sure you’re safe and that you know all you need to know.”

Sarah stood and walked over to him. She put her hand on his chest. “I do understand, Devlin. I might have done the same thing in the same circumstances,” she said quietly. “I just need time to figure out how to deal with this. With what I am. Then, I promise, I’ll be out of your life.”

Perhaps when hell froze over, he thought grimly. “I came to you, remember? Who says I want you out of my life, Sarah? Did I even once suggest such a thing to you? I can understand if you do not wish to be with me after what I did—but do not fool yourself into believing that I no longer want you,” he snapped. “Perhaps a reminder.” He shoved aside the worry and concern. She needed to remember what was between them—that was important. Her well-being and his might depend on her knowing her worth.

In a movement so fast it had her head spinning, he lifted her effortlessly in his arms and put her on her back in his bed. Where she belonged, damn it! He opened the knot in the robe and looked at her—seeing her totally without scars for the first time since the fire. He’d thought she’d been beautiful before—now, he knew she was that and more. Her skin was exquisite. He ran his fingers from her neck down to her breast.

Sarah moaned. “We shouldn’t do this,” she said.

His eyes were green fire. “We should.” He lowered his head and kissed her, driving his tongue into her mouth and literally taking possession. This wasn’t the time for hesitant explorations, that time had passed. It was time for Devlin to stake his claim on her. Leave him? Not bloody likely!

Devlin wrapped his hands now into her long hair, threading his fingers through the silky mass. He held her head still and drank his fill of her sweetness. In only a moment, she responded. Soft hands wrapped around his back and he groaned. He lifted his lips from hers a fraction to speak “That’s right, Sarah. Touch me,” he groaned.

Sarah’s senses were overwhelmed. Just one kiss and she was lost. She tore at his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against her. Finally, she just reached beneath the shirt and held him to her.

When Devlin lifted his head, his breathing was hard. “You’re mine, Sarah.” The feel of her small hands holding him to her made him smile. “Tell me.”

Sarah froze, her hands stilled on his back. The air was literally filled with emotion, and she was unable to separate them. She loved him. But he spoke in words of possession and need. Finally, after a long tense moment, she met his gaze. “Love me, Devlin,” she whispered, her voice aching. If his passion was all she could have, she’d take it. Maybe it would be enough, though the thought of him not loving her hurt so much she wasn’t sure she could bear it.

It hit Devlin suddenly. It was there clearly in her eyes. Mixed with the passion was the uncertainty.

My God, she was afraid he didn’t love her? How could she not know? He lowered his head so their foreheads were touching. Need was riding him hard, but it was important too for him to let her know how he felt about her. “You’re my soul mate, Sarah,” Devlin explained, brushing his fingers down her cheek now. “I love you more than life itself.” He’d only needed to see her so near death to realize that he loved her. How could he have even wondered for a moment? She was his, just as he belonged to her.

Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. “You love me?”

Devlin reached his hand between them and freed himself from his slacks. He spread her thighs and flexed his hips, pausing just at her entrance. Ever muscle in his body was tight, and the urge to drive deep inside her was strong. But he held there, just poised at her soft folds, the heat of her enveloped him, but he didn’t enter. “I love you.”