He could restrain himself in a multitude of ways. Except with her. Especially now that he knew how it felt to be inside her. How it felt to have her body beneath his, joined with his. Her soft moans would echo in his ears for the rest of his eternity, he was sure of it. And the way she milked his cock and quaked when she came…
If he hadn’t already been a damned man, he would certainly be one now. Ten times over, because he’d done a very devilish thing by succumbing to his desire for her.
Returning to the bedroom, he found her wiping her naked body with the towel he’d tossed aside earlier. Her hip was propped against the side of the bed. She pressed the large towel to her breasts, covering herself.
“Don’t,” he said as he reached for the plush, white material and dragged it away. He tossed it toward the bench. “Don’t hide from me.”
She stared up at him. “I’m a bit unnerved.”
“I know. I shouldn’t have said what I said.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “Are you cold?” he asked, one of his many concerns when it came to her, since he had little issue with temperature no matter what the extreme.
“No, I’m fine. You, on the other hand… You look as though you want to slit your wrists.”
He let out a hollow laugh. “I’m finding it difficult not to say everything that’s on my mind when I’m with you. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry you asked me to stay, because…? You didn’t mean it?”
His gaze locked with hers. “You know I did.”
She seemed to give this some thought, then squared her shoulders and said, “I’m glad you meant it. That tells me a lot. The problem is,” she added as her fingertips glided over his pectoral muscles, “I would stay. If it was at all
possible.”
“But, of course, it’s not.” He might be a fool when it came to her, but he wasn’t one in general. “It was a dumb thing for me to say, Jade.”
She inched toward him and pressed a kiss to his chest. “It made me happy to hear it. I can see by the look in your eyes that you think what we just did was a huge mistake. And you might be right. At the same time…” She swallowed hard. “I can’t imagine it not happening, now that I’ve been with you. And it’s not something I would take back, if I could. Ever.”
He pulled her to him, hugging her tight. “I crossed a line I shouldn’t have. But I wouldn’t take it back either. We do, however, need to be realistic. Me, in particular. I get carried away with you. I can’t explain it. And I’m sorry.”
“Please don’t put all the blame on yourself. I’m involved too. I make my own decisions.”
“I promise I didn’t try to sway you with mind games.”
She laughed softly. “I know. Nor did you have to. I told you, I take responsibility for my own actions.”
He sighed. Then, as he stroked her hair, he said, “You must be exhausted.”
“Yes I am.”
“But you will stay for the night?”
“And the slayers will come for me in the morning?”
“Yes.”
She was quiet for several moments, then said, “Will you tell Morgan there’s no hurry?”
He grinned, though she couldn’t see it. “Sheena?”
“Yes, my Lord.” She would take care of the request, Darien had no doubt.
Jade cringed in his arms. “Oh my God. She can hear us?”
“Vampire senses. Her study is on the opposite side of mine. Far enough away, but still…”
Jade slipped from his embrace. “How mortifying.”
“She’s very discreet, I assure you.”