Page 63 of Dark Embrace

She would die if he went to another woman now, after what had just happened, after what seemed to be happening between them. “Take me.”

He faltered, turned.

“I understand and I agree. You need power. Lots of it. Take it from me.”

CHAPTER TEN

“YE WANT ME TO USE YE?”

Brie trembled. In that moment, she could think of nothing she wanted more than to be in Aidan’s arms. She knew he wouldn’t hurt her. She knew he wouldn’t destroy her. She would go out of her mind with jealousy if he went to someone else, and it was damn clear that he needed power. The tension in the tent had become so thick that it seemed airless now. “You can’t go to someone else, not after what’s happened today.”

His gaze was hard, his expression disbelieving. “Yer mad.”

He was blocking his emotions, but not doing a great job of it. She felt desire seething from him, a huge, determined pulse trying to reach her. Brie could barely speak. “We both want this, Aidan. Why can’t you admit that, as odd as it is, there’s this powerful attraction between us, one that began with my empathy through time and you hearing my cries for help across centuries?”

She expected a denial of just about everything she’d said. He denied nothing. “Yer a virgin.”

Brie went still. Confused, she managed, “So what?” When he simply stared, as if torn between disgust and dismay, she added, “I’ll bet you’ve had your share of virgins.”

“Aye,” he snapped.

She almost cringed. She realized she’d hoped for a different answer. “I can’t stay this way forever.” She flushed. “And you’re my friend. Look at it this way—we need each other, even if for different reasons.” She realized she was bargaining with him to take her to bed. Apparently she had no shame, but she meant every word. It felt as if their journey had come down to this one moment. “It’s time,” she added in a soft whisper.

His eyes were hot, smoldering. “I willna use ye,” he said harshly, his temples visibly throbbing. “Ye can save yerself for the man ye love.” He turned to walk out but the moment he realized what he said, his shoulders stiffened and he faltered.

Brie ran after him and barred his way at the tent flap. They both knew who that man was. “Then this shouldn’t be a problem,” she whispered breathlessly.

Their gazes locked. “Ye need to save yerself fer yer husband,” he corrected harshly. His cheekbones were pink.

“No one saves themselves for their wedding day—not in my time.” She touched his biceps and he flinched. “You read my mind all the time, so you know how much I want you. You want me, too, even if I haven’t figured out why. You need power and Moray is hot on our trail. God only knows when he’ll pop up next and what he’ll be capable of. In my time, we call that killing two birds with one stone—or friends helping one another.”

He folded his arms, and his biceps and forearms bulged. “I’ll be the first to admit I dinna think I have enough power to defeat him. But I willna use ye. My mind is made up. I meant what I said earlier. Find someone else to take as a lover—it willna be me! But I willna leave ye alone tonight, Brianna.”

He was going to protect her at all costs, even the cost of his life, but he was still set against them becoming lovers. “Why are you so afraid to go to bed with me?”

He laughed. “I’m hardly afraid!”

“You think you’ll make love to me and that it will heal your poor, starving heart and black, withered-up soul!” she accused.

His fury pushed her back against the tent. “I have never made love to any woman, not in my entire life, not even before my fall! Fer the hundredth time, I chose this way an’ I like it.”

“That’s crap,” she cried. “You did not choose to have your son murdered before your very eyes and you did not choose to be haunted for sixty-six years. Have you ever considered the kind of life you could have again, if you let go of all your anger and rage? If you dared to heal? If you forgave the gods, who work in mysterious ways? Have you ever considered that you might be a happy man if you let go of your poor, dead son and a nearly impossible quest for vengeance?”

He leaned close, furious with her now. “Ye think if ye spread yer legs fer me, I’ll become that happy, good man?”

She knew she flushed. “Not exactly, but you need me. You need my affection, my friendship and my love. And yes, I think our making love could be very healing—for us both.”

“I will never forgive the gods, I will never give up my vengeance, an’ I will never be a happy man. Ian is dead!” he roared at her. “An’ the day I have my vengeance, ’tis the day our friendship dies! I am usin’ ye to help me with my son.”

She knew she’d hit a hundred nerves, but his words really hurt. She felt the ugly truth in them. If she communicated with Ian and set him free, she knew Aidan would send her home.

God, she was going to love him forever, she realized, aghast.

“Yer right,” he snarled. “When Ian is at peace, I’ll send ye back to yer time.”

“I hate that you’re reading my mind!” Was she too involved? Grandma’s ring was really hurting her now. She had come back in time to save him from hanging and to redeem him. To do the latter, she would have to heal him, and that meant setting Ian free. What she hadn’t come back for was a torrid love affair or a life-altering romance. She hadn’t gone back in time to fall irrevocably in love.

It was too damned late.