“I would never hesitate to give my life foryours.”
Tears spilled down her face as she pushedaside her chicken parm and crawled across the blanket to him.Kneeling before him, she draped her arms over his shoulders andkissed him. Julian had planned to wine and dine her before makinglove to her, but when her body melted against his, all plans fortheir romantic evening vanished.
Aida played with the hair on his nape whileshe deepened the kiss. She considered herself in love with himbefore, but now she was sure of it. He’d given up so much for herand planned to die without her ever knowing how much he loved her.There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for this wonderful man.
Her fingers worked the buttons on his shirtfree before pushing it open so she could flatten her palms againsthis chest. She relished the beat of his heart beneath her palm ashis fingers threaded through her hair while he kissed herbreathless.
Julian had taken her as often as possibleover the past couple of days, but his desire for her continued toincrease. With every touch, every kiss, and every sigh, he foundhimself falling more in love with her. They hadn’t broached thesubject of changing her yet, mainly because he didn’t know how tobring it up.
After everything she endured with hercaptors, he didn’t know how well she would take the idea ofbecoming a vampire. She had accepted she was his mate with ease andknew what followed, but he would give her more time to adjust tothe idea.
Before he returned to the States, he washanging on by a thread, but holding her and knowing she was his,made it easier to maintain his control. However, he didn’t know howmuch longer that would last. Still, he managed to keep his fangsrestrained every time they were together.
When she pushed his shirt back on hisshoulders, he shrugged it off before unbuttoning the high-necked,black blouse she wore. He stripped the shirt off and smiled when hesaw the lacy, black bra he’d told her was a favorite of his.
He ran his fingers around the edge of itbefore tracing the edge of her dusky areola. “Did you wear this forme?”
“Who else would I wear it for?” sheteased.
“No one,” he growled, and for a second, thedemon part of him broke through as it sought to claim her.“Ever.”
Barely leashed violence simmered beneath hissurface when he lifted his reddened eyes to hers. Always so carefulto keep the vampire part of him chained when they were alone, itastonished her to see it so clearly visible now.
Their relationship was wading intotreacherous waters, and they would have to deal with the next stepsoon, but she wasn’t ready yet. She wouldn’t turn him away; sheloved him too much not to join him. She just needed more time toget used to the idea of becoming a vampire and drinking blood.
Resting her hand against his cheek, sherubbed the scruff of his beard. She marveled over the effect shehad on him when the red eased from his eyes. “No one else. You’reit for me, Julian Byrne.”
CHAPTER 31
His teeth unclenched, but the demon refused to beleashed again. He couldn’t get his fangs to retract, and when shebent to kiss him again, he turned his head away.
“What is it?” she asked.
He shook his head but didn’t pull away whenshe turned his chin toward her. The outline of his fangs showedagainst his lips. A prickle of unease ran through her, but sherefused to back away. He’d been willing to sacrifice himself forher; she could ease the need pulsating from him.
When she leaned forward to kiss him, Julianrecoiled a little, but she didn’t back down as she pressed her lipsto his. “It’s okay.”
Running her tongue across his lips, sheprodded them until he relented and opened his mouth to her. Goosebumps broke out on her flesh as screams from those distant daysechoed in her head. Her body instinctively braced for the agony itsuffered all those years ago.
Julian didn’t dare move while Aida kissedhim. She didn’t back down, but she started to shake when her tonguecaressed his fang again. Breaking the kiss, he wrapped his armsaround her and cradled her against him.
“Stop,” he murmured.
Her lashes fell to shadow her cheeks beforesweeping upward again; he found himself gazing into her beautiful,golden eyes. She was everything he’d ever wanted and more. Thebastards on the island traumatized her and stole her innocence, buther strength allowed her to forge onward as she sought to escapewhat they’d done to her while living her own life.
However, he may never be able to possess hercompletely. She loved him, he didn’t doubt it, but would she beable to get over what they did to her and join him? And what wouldhappen to them if she couldn’t?
That was something to worry about later; fornow, it was just the two of them as he kissed her forehead andnose. By the time his mouth reclaimed hers, he’d managed to retracthis fangs again, and her unease was ebbing.
Julian unhooked her bra and slid it from hershoulders before tossing it aside. Leaning back, he savored thebeauty of her curvaceous figure. He’d learned every inch of herthese past couple of days, but he would never get used to howlovely she was.
He lifted his hands to run them over thefaint bite marks marring the top of her breasts. If it weren’t forhis enhanced vision, he wouldn’t see them, but to him, they were asstarkly visible as blood against her porcelain skin. They hadn’traped her, but what they did to her was a violation of her body andmind.
When Aida sensed his rising anger, she restedher palms against his cheeks and leaned forward until he lifted hisgaze to hers. She no longer saw the marks on her breasts, but shewould never forget their location, and that’s where he wasfocused.
“It’s the past,” she said.
His rage vibrated like a tuning fork againsther skin. “I’d kill them all again for you.”
