Chapter Six

Neal told himself to back down. He was coming on way too strong. The connection the luceria had forged between them had already grown enough for him to sense Viviana’s anxiety.

“You’re quite ful of yourself, aren’t you?” she asked.

He bit his tongue to hold back a comment about how he’d rather she be the one ful of him. That was way too crass for his sweet Viviana.

His.

Neal was already in trouble, already feeling way too possessive. She wasn’t ready for that. Hel , for al he knew she never would be. He needed to calm the hel down before he screwed up his one chance to keep breathing.

“I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m sorry.” He guessed he was going to have to get used to saying those last two words a lot—assuming she stuck with him long enough to let it happen.

“Where are we going?”

“A safe house. I need to clean up.” He looked down at his chest. The wound had already healed, but the blood was stil there, drawing every Synestryn for miles, no doubt.

“You said they can smel your blood.”

“Yep. I need to wash it off ASAP.”

There was a nervous lilt to her voice. “What about my blood? Can they smel that, too?”

“Absolutely.”

“I cut myself earlier tonight. On the glass. That’s why they came, isn’t it?”

The thought of her being hurt made his stomach twist in a combination of anger and pain. “Let me see.”

She ripped off a smal bandage and held up her hand. A short, shal ow cut crossed her palm—

little more than a paper cut.

“Did it bleed?”

“A little.”

“Toss the bandage out the window.”

She did, letting in a cold gust of wind. Without his shirt on, he felt every degree in the drop of temperature.

“Wil that work?” she asked.

“Not with me in the car, but I don’t want you walking around with blood on you.”

The next thing he knew, she was kneeling on the seat beside him, using one of those white cotton gloves to wipe away the blood on his chest.

“You’re already healed.”

“I heal fast. It’s necessary for the job.”

She made quick work of cleaning him up, her movements efficient and matter-of-fact. “Job?”

“Kil ing Synestryn. Protecting humans.”

She brought the glove to her mouth and wet a spot to scrub away the dried blood. Then, as if she realized what she’d done, she stammered, “I-I’m sorry. I should never have put my saliva on you without permission.”

Neal stifled a laugh. She was so prim and proper. “Honey, the way we kissed, I’d say it’s a bit late to worry about that. Hel , I’ve fantasized about things involving your mouth that would make you blush.”

And just like that, she did, and quickly changed the subject. “You cal ed those things that attacked tonight sgath.”

“Sgath are one type of Synestryn. There are lots. Al butt-ugly. Al deadly.”

“Sgath are one type of Synestryn. There are lots. Al butt-ugly. Al deadly.”

She finished the job, went back to her side of the truck, and the cotton glove went out the window. “And you fight them.”

“Nearly every night.”

“What would I do? I mean, someone who planned to continue her association with you?”

That made Neal grin. “Association? Sounds like our names should be on a business card together. You think that’s what we have going here?”

“I don’t know what to cal it, and you shouldn’t make fun. I’ve been through quite a bit of stress tonight.”

“I’m sorry, sweetheart. You sure have. I should be more understanding.”

Silence greeted him and he left her alone. She did have a lot to digest. It was barely past midnight. He’d met her eight hours ago and in that time, she’d been attacked, lost a friend, and joined herself to Neal in a way she couldn’t possibly understand.

But he did. He knew what her commitment meant to him and what it would mean if she decided to walk away. Stil , even the fear of dying couldn’t stop him from celebrating what he had now.

He was fulfil ing his purpose in life. He was united with a woman who could wield his power—

one he was sworn to protect so she could blow away the demons that plagued Earth. Together they would be unstoppable. And not just on the battlefield.

The brief glimpse he’d had of her life stil haunted him. Even though her adoptive mother had loved and cherished Viviana, she’d stil felt alone. It was as if she knew she was part of something bigger than herself. She’d tried to fit in as a child, and as an adult, she’d found people who accepted her for her quirks. But it had never been enough.

Neal didn’t just accept her; he reveled in her. Everything about her was fascinating—from the prim bun she wore down to those naughty stockings under her skirt. Her love for ancient Sentinel artifacts only added to her appeal.

He wanted to be part of her col ection. A permanent part.

As much as he hated feeling needy and demanding, there was nothing he could do to stop himself. Without her, he would die. No matter what it took, he was going to spend what little time they had before they found the gadget convincing her that he was the kind of man worth keeping.

She was quiet as they drove. Every few minutes, he could feel a subtle tug on his power, as if she were testing the waters. Knowing that if he said anything, it would only discourage her, he kept quiet, pretending he didn’t know what she was doing.

Slowly, her attempts became bolder. More power flowed between them, easing the crushing pressure inside Neal. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so good.

Despite how much he needed her, despite how much he wanted her, the need to protect her tender feelings rose above al else. He promised himself he wouldn’t push her for more. At least, not yet. Let her discover her newfound power on her own so she wouldn’t balk at accepting it.

Two hours later, Neal was regretting his decision to let her find her own way. He kept getting glimpses of her—little fleeting images of things she felt and wanted.

He was at the top of the list. As proper as his Viviana seemed, she was al hot, passionate woman beneath that prim exterior. She kept having fantasies of her hands on his bare skin, stroking his lifemark. Every few minutes she’d glance his way and get caught up staring.

Apparently, she liked the way he looked, which worked for him. He’d never real y paid much attention to the texture of his skin or the play of shadow over his muscles, but she did. And seeing that through her eyes—the way it turned her on—was making it hard for him to keep his hands on the wheel.

Al he could think about was how good it felt to slide his hands up her thighs until the smooth skin above those stockings greeted him.

By the time they pul ed into the driveway of the Gerai house, Neal was shaking with lust. He was careful to keep it from her—block her from sensing his thoughts—though he knew that worked against his need to bind them together. She wasn’t ready for his desire yet. She was stil dealing with too much. It would be unfair of him to ask her for more when she’d already given him more than he’d ever hoped to have.

Neal pul ed his shirt back on before braving the cold. He found a key tucked behind the porch light and let them into the smal farmhouse.

The air inside was chil y, but al the makings for a fire were laid and ready to go. Neal made quick work of getting a nice blaze going before raiding the fridge for food.

“Is this your house?” Viviana asked when he returned with some sandwich fixings.

She was curled up on a corner of the couch nearest the fire. She stil wore his leather jacket, which made her look smal and vulnerable.

Protective instincts rose up in Neal, and he had to fight the urge to reach for his sword and bare his teeth against an invisible threat.

“No. It’s cal ed a Gerai house, named for the group of humans who keep it stocked with food and supplies.”

“Gerai?”

“They’re blooded humans—humans who have ancient blood running through their veins.

Synestryn wil attack them for their blood, so we protect them. In exchange, they help out where they can, like giving us a safe place to rest when we need it.”

“So the Synestryn can’t get to us here?”

“Oh, no. They can get to us, but it’s harder to find us here than in other places, since Gilda has woven some magic that helps shield us here.”

“Gilda? Who’s she?”

“A powerful Theronai. She and her husband, Angus, have been together for centuries. She’s the one who told me about the gadget. She has amazing power.”

“And she uses it to protect these Gerai houses?”

“Among other things. But yes, I can sense her touch on this place. Unless we do something to attract attention, we should be safe here.”

“That sounds nice.”

Neal heard fear wavering in her voice. “I don’t want you to be afraid, sweetheart. You’re safe with me. I’d give my life to make sure of it.”

“I’d rather you didn’t. I don’t want anyone else to die because of me.”

He set the food on the coffee table and sat next to her, taking her hand in his. Her skin was smooth and flawless, unlike his own scarred hands. Her bones were delicate, her limbs breakable. He had no idea how he was going to keep her safe long enough for her to learn to wield his power, but he knew he’d do whatever it took to make that happen.

Neal made sure she was looking in his eyes. He couldn’t stand knowing she was being eaten up by guilt. “The professor didn’t die because of you. You have to believe that.”

“Would those things have come for him if I hadn’t given him the artifact?”

“How many people have you al owed to study your col ection?”

“Several.”

“Were they attacked?”

“No.”

“Then there was no way for you to know what would happen. You can’t blame yourself for the evil of another. Al you can do is use the power you now have to stop them from doing it again.”

“Is that what you do?”

He shook his head. “I can’t do a lot with magic. I can use a little bit, but nothing compared to you.

The best I can do is cut them down.”

“You’re good at that.”

“Nice of you to notice.”

She was silent for a long moment. “What’s it like living in your world?”

“Normal. It’s al I’ve ever known.”

“Kil ing monsters and fighting demons is normal? I don’t think I could ever get used to that.”

“There’s more to being a Theronai than kil ing. We have a home where we take care of humans

—orphaned children, mostly. We’re helping rebuild a stronghold in Africa that was destroyed. And we stand guard over the Gate.”

“Gate?”

“To Athanasia, the place where our magic originated. Chances are good your father was from there.”

“Where is it?”

Neal shrugged. “Another planet, I guess. I never real y worried much about the details. I fought when I needed to, protected when I needed to, and in the meantime, I spent every second looking for you.”

She scoffed at that. “That’s hard to believe.”

“It’s true. I mean, I didn’t know your name, but I hoped you were out there. And here you are. My own personal miracle.”

“You make it sound so easy—like you already know how things wil end.”

“I’ve had over four hundred years of watching unions between our people. They’re not al easy, but the luceria picked you to be with me for a reason. I know enough to trust that and let the rest work itself out.”

She looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. Neal let it drop, refusing to cause her any more upset tonight. There would be time for her to come around. He could be patient.

“Would you like to try to find the gadget?” he asked.

“I think I can feel it. It’s faint, but if I concentrate, I might be able to get a stronger impression of its location.”

“You do that. The sooner we find it, the sooner I can take you home.”

Neal hadn’t come on to her. They were alone together in that cozy house, in front of a roaring fire while the wind blew snow al around them, insulating them from the real world. It was the perfect setup for romance and yet Neal hadn’t taken advantage of that.

Part of her was disappointed. Her body was humming with a frenetic energy—an achy need to run her hands over him and let him do the same to her. The saner part of her was relieved. Too much had happened tonight and she was having trouble digesting it al .

Neal was a member of an ancient race. So was she. From what he said, they were destined to be partners in a war against evil monsters—ones she didn’t even know existed outside of her dusty books.

And yet, as hard as al that was to believe, what she real y had trouble believing was the part where he needed her. He was a big, strong, strapping warrior. He didn’t appear to need anyone. If she hadn’t felt that need through the luceria, she stil wouldn’t believe it.

He wanted her, and not just for the night. The impressions she got through their swiftly growing connection were ones of permanence. Forever. He wasn’t afraid of commitment, like most men she knew. He craved it.

Not that she knew him wel enough to agree to that kind of relationship. For now, she was content to stay with him, see how things went. He might not appreciate her caution, but that was too bad. Caution was al he was going to get.

For now.

The thought whispered in her head, summoning images of the two of them together, making love. She could almost feel the power of his big body moving over hers, driving them both higher.

He’d be a demanding lover. She could tel that by his personality. But it was his grace that made her toes curl in longing. A man with that smooth kind of power would drive her crazy. Neal would take her to places she’d never been with a man before, and deep down, she wanted that more than she’d ever wanted any ancient trinket.

Neal came back out of the kitchen. He stopped dead in his tracks, staring at her. His jaw was tight and she could see tension straining his body. He pul ed in a couple of deep breaths before he managed to speak.

“I heard that,” he whispered.

“What?”

“Your thoughts. The things you’d like me to do to you.”

She’d been getting brief flashes from his thoughts since putting on the luceria, but had brushed it off as her imagination. The things she’d felt coming from him couldn’t be real. No man had ever wanted her like Neal did.

The proof of that want was straining the front of his worn jeans, making her mouth water.

He took a measured step forward. Viviana didn’t move. She didn’t want to encourage him to do something he wasn’t ready for, and yet the thought of him backing away left a deep ache in her chest.

“I’m more than ready,” he told her. “You’re the one with questions about the two of us. Not me. I already know how I want it to end.”

“How?” she asked before she could stop herself.

“I want us to love each other. To be happy together. To stand side by side and fight the Synestryn. Forever.”

“Forever is a long time.”

“Only when you’re alone and unhappy.”

Like she had been her whole life. Mother had always loved her, but Viviana had never truly fit in elsewhere. She wasn’t an outcast, but she often thought that was due to her wealth. People would do a lot to overlook the flaws in others when there was money involved.

She didn’t want to be included for her money or her status. She wanted to be wanted for herself.

Neal was offering that to her, and doing so as if he had no idea how precious the gift was.

He held out his hand. The iridescent ring shimmered as it grew closer to her, swirling with the colors of parchment and ancient bronze. “I understand that this is al fast for you, but for me, it’s something I’ve been thinking about for centuries. We can be good together. Al you have to do is trust me.”

Viviana swal owed. So much had happened tonight. Too much. And yet there wasn’t a place on earth she’d rather be than right here. With him.

He cal ed to her on some deep level she’d never even known existed. It was as if she were recognizing a long-lost part of herself.

Whatever this thing was between them, it had a magic al its own, and that alone was too al uring for Viviana to resist.

She put her hand in his and a slow, hot smile curved his mouth a second before he kissed her.

Heat bloomed inside her at his touch, swel ing until she was consumed by it. His hands slid over her back, pul ing her close enough to feel the hard length of his erection. That empty ache inside her clamored to be fil ed, and Viviana was no longer wil ing to ignore it.

“I want you,” she told him.

A rough groan vibrated his chest. “I want you, too, but we can’t. I have to be careful. If we get too close . . .” He didn’t finish what he was saying, but his body shook with tension.

Viviana couldn’t resist trying to comfort him. She stroked his arms and petted his chest, feeling his muscles tighten beneath her palms.

He closed his eyes as if seeking self-control and his fingers clenched against her hips. She laid He closed his eyes as if seeking self-control and his fingers clenched against her hips. She laid her head on his shoulder, and she swore she could hear the creak of swaying branches beneath his shirt. The scent of his skin was intoxicating, and despite his hesitance, she couldn’t find the strength to back away.

Heated images flittered through her mind, and the rougher edges told her they were coming from Neal. She was naked, laid out for his visual enjoyment. Her hair was loose, shimmering around her head. Her nipples were tight, and her skin seemed to glow. His dark hand was splayed against her chest, and the matching parts of the luceria throbbed in time with each other.

The image shifted. A red wash covered them, and Neal’s body was gleaming with sweat as he moved over her, his muscles bunching powerful y with each gliding move. It wasn’t real. It was only a vision in her head, but the effect it had on her was much more than mere imagination.

She was hot, aching. Her clothes were suddenly too tight and itchy. She needed to peel them away and rub herself against Neal, feeling his firm, smooth skin against her own. Maybe if she got him naked, he’d give in and make love to her.

She desperately needed that, needed the release only he could give.

Neal let out the groan of a man who knew he’d been bested. “I can’t deny you anything, sweetheart. I’l make you come, but we’re going to do it my way.”