Page 101 of Dark Embrace

Her eyes widened. “But you said…”

“I lied,” he said thickly. “I lied to make ye go away, but yer so stubborn.”

Their gazes locked.

He almost smiled, and then he crushed her in his arms, his mouth claiming hers.

In his hard embrace, Brie cried out, kissing him back frantically. He wanted her!

And she felt everything from him then, not just the hot desire. She felt the grief, the despair, the hope and something else, something so strong and bright, so profound and deep, so elemental it almost felt like love.

She knew she was wrong—it was something else. It had to be something else.

He groaned, whirling her toward the bed, his manhood raging against her jeans, their lips locked. Brie let him push her onto her back. He lifted her sweatshirt as she fumbled with his belt. He broke their kiss to drag her sweatshirt over her head. She undid the huge belt and let belt and swords fall to the floor, the weapons clattering loudly. Their eyes collided. He ripped off her T-shirt and she tugged on the leine, lifting it.

He went very still.

His erection appeared between them. Breathing hard, she slid her fingers over his huge, pulsing length.

“Brianna,” he said roughly.

She held him so tightly he surged in her hand. His gaze was smoldering and Brie’s heart exploded with desire, urgency and love.

He put his knee between her jeans-clad thighs and smiled at her.

There was so much warmth and promise in that smile that Brie simply stared back at him, even more stunned. And then she exulted. This man cared about her. She saw it in his shimmering blue eyes, and she could not be mistaken. Somehow, she wet her lips and whispered, “Aidan.” She needed him now. She had never needed him more.

“Aye, Brianna,” he murmured.

His other knee came down between her thighs and he reached for her jeans, shrugged them down her legs and she kicked them away. Then he paused to rip off his leine and fling it aside. He wore only the gold-capped wolf’s fang on the thin chain.

Brie reached up to touch it. He became still, except for the rapid rise and fall of his chest. Her fingers grazed the fang, then slid over his chest. She was ready for pure, hot sex now, and so was he. She was spinning in the cyclone of his desire, and the roar of love made the anticipation blinding.

Aidan went still, gazing down at her. “I have a concern fer ye,” he said roughly.

Brie went still.

A flush appeared on his high cheekbones. “A great concern,” he added thickly.

Brie looped her arms around his neck. “I love you, too,” she said, smiling.

He took her mouth again.

BRIE AWOKE SLOWLY. She was snug and cozy beneath heavy bedcovers. The bedchamber was bright with the light of a new, sunny morning, and she was in a man’s embrace. Suddenly Brie was fully awake, blinking against the bright sunlight flooding the room, recalling the time spent in Aidan’s arms. She was still in his arms. She shifted to look up at him. He lay deeply asleep beside her.

Brie went still, not wanting to awaken him. He had spent an afternoon and evening making love to her. She was certain. If he dared to deny it, she wouldn’t listen. A wonderful joy crept over her.

There was nothing evil about this man. There had never been anything evil about him. He had been angry and grief-stricken and he had lost his way. But he was finding it now.

He looked like a teenage-boy angel, no more than twenty or so, his face soft and unlined, carefree. His thick black lashes fanned out against his beautiful face. His mouth was soft and slightly curved, as if he’d fallen asleep smiling. She loved him so much it hurt. She was not looking at a half demon. She was looking at her guardian angel, and by God, he would be the protector of all Innocence soon.

That was his Fate. Not hanging. Not evil.

He had told her once that he hadn’t slept since Ian’s murder, sixty-six years ago, but he was sleeping now. Of course he was. They’d made love for a long, long time. There had been smiles and conversation, but only at first, because when he wanted to get physical, it was very physical. Her entire body flushed as she thought about his otherworldly stamina and the very unnatural, unbelievably endless climaxes. She’d kept finding him watching her so intently that it was wonderful and unnerving at once.

He had wanted to give pleasure, not take it.

Brie smiled, shivering deliciously.