“I’m awed by your strength, and I greatly admire your protector’s heart. Your ability to walk into a room and assess everyone and thing wows me. And baby, you are gorgeous.”
His eyes hooded, his heavy lids sinking low. “I also have a multitude of scars and tattoos. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about your fetish.”
“Well, in my defense, those scars and tattoos look incredible on you.”
“Youlook incredible on me.” He tipped up his face to nip my bottom lip with his teeth. “You are brave and kind and sweet. So sweet. So very, very sweet. I love you, and I like you.”
Aah! He’d said those three little words again. And he’d added three more, equally powerful. Heat painted my cheeks even as a smile bloomed. “I lo—like you too.” My heart skipped a beat. That had been too close for comfort. “I like you very much.”
An answering smile lingered. “You almost said it.”
The heat in my cheeks cranked up another thousand degrees. “True,” I admitted, leaning closer. We exchanged breaths, every inhalation igniting the most delicious aches and pangs. “I think I’m afraid of my feelings. With Astan determined to use you as his host ...”
Cyrus gave a clipped shake of his head. “I will never give in to him, I swear it.” He caressed my earlobe, and I nuzzled into his touch. “But I understand your hesitation.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Mad? I want to kiss you more than I’ve ever wanted anything. But I won’t.” He growled the statement. “Domino doesn’t get to experience your pleasure. That is for me alone.”
Inhale. Exhale. “I wish ...” So many things.
“We cannot go backward,” he said, exhaustion settling into his features. Looked like the day had caught up to him. “We start today. You may be bonded to him—at the moment—but you’re mine forever.”
Breath—gone. “I won’t share your pleasure either,” I told him, standing. A separation I couldn’t bear. “Come on. Let’s go to bed.” I urged him to his feet and led him to the bedroom, where we stripped to our undergarments and climbed under the covers.
He gathered me close and shut his eyes. “Stay with me,” he muttered. “All night.”
“I will,” I vowed, conforming my body to his and luxuriating in his heat.I will stay with you always.
Chapter Fifteen
The same measure you use with others will be measured with you.
—The Book of Soal2.3.6.38
Cyrus and I fell asleep tangled together. I used to wonder why so many couples risked everything simply to spend a few hours together. Now I got it. The warmth. The intimacy. Filling my lungs with Cyrus’s incredible scent. The companionship. The sense of safety and belonging. Theaching.
“No,” Cyrus muttered, yanking me from a light, dreamy doze. “No!”
When his entire body jerked, I popped open my eyes. “Cyrus?” We were on our sides, with him behind me, curled around my body. I patted the hand resting on my stomach. “Everything okay?”
“No!” He flopped to his back, allowing me to twist around. His head thrashed over a pillow, the brand on his face much paler than his skin, the puckered flesh pulled taut.
A nightmare? “Hey, hey,” I cooed, gentle, so gentle, as I caressed his chest. “I’m here. It’s okay. You’re okay.”
“Born ... rule.” With a roar, he jerked upright and yanked on handfuls of his hair. “Can’t lose ... won’t ... mine!”
Can’t lose ... the crown? “Wake up, Cyrus.”
In lieu of a response, he punched his temples, as if he attempted to dislodge his troublesome thoughts.
“Stop it!”Please.I latched onto his wrists, taking control of his arms. “Sugar, I need you to wake up, okay?”
He wrenched from my hold and sprang from the mattress to stalk forward. Overhead lights switched on automatically. To my dismay, he tried to walk through the door. When that failed, he punched.Wham, wham, wham.
I leaped up and over, putting myself between my sleepwalking boyfriend and the entrance. There was no need to duck or dodge. Even in sleep, he was a protector, striking the door around me. “Cyrus!” I shouted as he drew back his elbow, intending to launch another strike. Blood dripped from torn knuckles. Desperate, I slapped him.
He went still and shook his head. Blinking rapidly, he lowered his arm.
