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He was already attached to her. He couldn’t deny what he felt anymore, how one out of every two thoughts turned to her, how the whole time the surgeon had worked on him he’d thought of little else but getting back to her.
And he sure as hell couldn’t blame the chains. The tradition in his world made it clear that blood-chains could only reflect what already existed, which was why couples who argued a lot, but tried the chains out to see if they would improve the relationship, only ended up arguing more.
He sensed he and Shayna were highly compatible and could probably develop a strong relationship. But on an essential level, they both knew she would have to leave.
The thought, however, made his chest hurt even more.
When he slid his hand behind her neck, she caught his arm. “Marius, what are you thinking about? You feel so sad suddenly, but I have no idea why.”
He shook his head. “It’s simple. I was just wishing everything was different, in every possible way, that I was human or you weren’t, that you didn’t have a life to go back to, that I had a different life here. That’s all.”
Her emotions shifted to match his. “I was thinking just a few minutes ago how much I care about you even though I barely know you. We seem to connect on a level that has surprised me and makes no real sense. The disparity in our cultures is so great that you might as well have been living on the moon. Yet I feel like I know you, really know you.”
He drew back enough to meet her gaze. “Me, too.” He leaned into her and slanted a kiss over her lips.
She responded as he expected her to, with a soft moan, a sound he’d come to love. He explored her lips and her mouth, memorizing the feel of her in this way as well. He didn’t want to forget anything about her.
She slipped her arms around his neck and leaned into him so that he felt her well-supported breasts pressed against his chest. He held her close and curled his hips into hers, wanting her to feel his arousal.
She responded by writhing against him and uttering another moan.
He deepened the kiss, stroking in and out of her mouth as he pushed his hips into her. He wanted to take her to bed and do it right. He wanted her under him, looking into her eyes as he brought her repeatedly. He wanted to lock his hands with hers, to be completely joined, then he would take her blood.
The thought of it set his heart racing. He gripped her bottom and began working her, pushing against her mound.
Marius, I’m so close and all you’re doing is kissing me and holding me.
He drew back, breathing hard. “I wish I could finish this right now, but there’ll be a call to dinner any second.”
“I know.” She searched his eyes. “I want to go to bed with you. I want that so much. I mean, I know we’ve had sex, but I really want to be with you. Does that make sense?”
“I’ve thought the same thing, so, yeah, it makes sense. Maybe after dinner?”
She nodded, but he saw the concern in her eyes.
He thought he understood. “You’re thinking about the weapon.”
“Yeah. It’s really been bothering me and at some point soon, I want to talk it over with you. I’ve had some thoughts about what I think is going on.”
A knock sounded on the door right behind Marius. He felt Shayna jump. “Yes?” He wasn’t willing to invite anyone in, not until he’d calmed the hell down, and definitely not until she’d changed her shirt.
“Rumy sent me to tell you that we’re gathering for the communal meal.” He didn’t recognize the woman’s voice.
“Thank you. We’ll be there in a couple of minutes.”
“I’ll let Rumy know.”
He released Shayna and she stepped away from him. “I need to finish getting dressed and brushing out my hair.”
As she walked over to the armoire, she took off her shirt then turned it around. He wondered why she felt she needed to wear two shirts, until she put on the second one and saw that it was low-cut as well. He shook his head. Rumy really was hopeless.
A few minutes later, he led her out of the villa and onto what proved to be a front lawn that led to an underground river. Linen-covered tables and chairs, as well as a laden buffet table, sat to the left, as well as the village Shayna had tol
d him about. There had to be dozens of houses about a quarter mile off as well as a park with trees and a large playground.
The front lawn of Rumy’s villa stretched all the way to the river’s bank. For quite a distance, Rumy had built up the river walk with a low wall to keep the young children safe.
The river itself was fairly broad and had been further improved with a beach area and a shallow pond for swimming.
