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She lifted her gaze from his backside and saw that he’d caught her watching him from the mirror above the sink.
Busted.
But she wasn’t embarrassed. Instead, she crossed the room coming up behind him and slid her hands around his waist. She wasn’t a short woman, but Ian was six-six, so she had to peer around his shoulder to meet his gaze in the mirror. I was just thinking about how I used to use my nails. Remember?
His whole body did a strange rolling jerk. Sweet Goddess, yes.
She released him and he leaned forward, catching his hands on the edge of the sink. He’d been in the middle of putting his rings on and now took deep breaths. I want to kiss you and do everything else right now. But if I get started, I won’t be able to stop.
She laughed and headed back to the bedroom window. I’d better be good, then, because I really don’t want to stay in this house as beautiful as it is.
When Ian lost the towel, however, desire shot through her sex once more and created a kind of whirling effect between her legs. She almost ran to him and leaped on his back.
But he was right. Once either of them got going nothing would stop them. Worse, there’d probably be a dozen Guardsmen outside who’d hear a whole lot of moans, sighs, and at least one earth-shattering scream she knew would come from her throat.
So she turned away from him and even closed her eyes as she worked to focus on anything else. “Just let me know when you’re dressed. Okay?”
He chuckled, a deep throaty sound. “Almost done.” A moment later, “There. You’re safe now.”
But as she shifted to face him, she knew she was anything but safe. He wore jeans and a long-sleeved t-shirt and looked more handsome than ever. Her heart was in danger of falling for Ian all over again. Everything he was as a warrior, as a devoted leader of his realm, as a trusted friend to those closest to him was what she admired most in a man. In some ways, Ian was her ideal.
In others, as in how much he blamed her for the massacre at Raven’s Overlook, she knew she had little hope this could ever be more than a brief interlude.
Sex with Ian would be amazing; it always had been.
But beyond a beautiful laying together, what future could she possibly have with him?
He came to her and took her hands. “I know you’re distressed; I can feel it in the air. Was it the battle?”
She shook her head. She could have said so many things right now, but held back. She could even have spoken the words, ‘Raven’s Overlook’, and ended this moment with Ian entirely. In doing so, she wouldn’t have to worry about the future of her already achy heart.
Instead, she made a decision then and there not to let her concern for what might happen destroy the next few hours with Ian.
Taking a deep breath, she told a half-lie. “I’m worried about what Margetta is planning to do next.”
He pulled her against him, wrapping his strong arms around her shoulders and back. She moaned softly. “You don’t know how good that feels.”
~ ~ ~
She was wrong; he did know. Regan felt like heaven in his arms because she fit him really well and he never felt as though she’d break if he squeezed too hard. She had a full figure with rounded curves and large breasts.
And he needed her in his bed.
Without saying another word, he released her to pick up her satchel. Afterward, he took her hand. She walked beside him to the front door with a hop to her step. She seemed to be as anxious as he was to get going. But for what he wanted to do to her, he needed some privacy. No way in hell he wanted even one of the Guardsmen privy to his doings with Regan.
Once outside, he settled her on his right boot with his arm around her waist and held her tight against him. He inclined his head first to Ben, then Stone. After which, he levitated straight up, then headed east until he was well out of sight of any of the Gua
rd.
When he felt certain no one could see him, he veered north angling his flight at the foothills of the Dauphaire Mountains, staying to the contours of the land. He passed over several villages, but maintained his altitude so that he and Regan wouldn’t be seen.
Regan was quiet, though she sighed several times, leaning her head against his neck. She’d always loved flying with him. How many times had she asked him to take her for a quick flight for the sheer pleasure of it? She trusted him — that much he knew — and he valued her confidence in him.
Sweet Goddess, he needed to take her to bed. His drive toward her was almost overwhelming and everything he’d read on the loop or heard the other mastyrs say about the blood rose experience now made complete sense to him. Mostly, he was struck by the powerful need he felt to protect her, as though her essential value to him had increased exponentially.
But how could he and this woman ever truly have a life together? She’d enthralled him, or at least he’d always believed she had. And because of that thrall, over two hundred villagers at Raven’s Overlook had died.
Yes, he blamed her. He’d tried to leave her bed repeatedly that night, knowing he needed to be with his Vampire Guard, but she’d kept calling him back.
