Turning, she saw the rield bracelet dangling from Tarian’s fingertips.
“I thought you couldn’t make another,” she breathed, staring at the answer to all their prayers.
“I can’t,” he agreed. “But I was able to secure this one from Dominic before he was tossed into prison.” He wound the silver strand around his fingers. “You know how powerful these pieces are. He wasn’t about to throw it away.”
She reached for it, but he pulled his hand back. “No,” he said. “I’ll not give it away so easily twice.”
Melissa frowned, wondering what new game they were playing.
“The first time I gave you this bracelet I was filled with noble intentions. I thought myself to be an upstanding, moral man who would never stoop to manipulating a lover, no matter how dire the circumstances. I gave you this rield as a way to convince you I could be trusted, not because I thought it would ever matter that you wore it.”
“And now?”
He studied the silver twining around his fingers. “Now I know giving this bracelet away restricts my options. I might have to watch you get hurt one day. Hell, I might have to watch you die, knowing that if I hadn’t given you this rield, I could have saved you.”
“Every couple fears losing each other,” she whispered.
“You took a few decades off my life when Dominic had you under his power,” Tarian said. “I never want to feel that way again.”
“I can protect myself,” she replied. “And what’s more, you can be around to be my backup.”
He inclined his head, playing with the rield. “There’s another piece to consider. You nearly killed me when we fought. Without my magic I’ll be at your mercy.”
She bit back the smile that threatened. “I might be stronger,” she pointed out. “But you also weren’t really fighting me. Dominic might have been pulling the strings but I still remember every moment of that night. You only defended yourself, Tarian. You did everything in your power to avoid hurting me.”
“Always,” he breathed, taking a step closer.
“What if I promise to be gentle with you?” She rose to her tiptoes. One hand pressed against his chest to steady herself as her lips nearly brushed his.
“Trust,” he whispered against her lips. “This all comes down to trust.”
Melissa drew back slightly, meeting his gaze. Trust. She had to trust him not to abuse his powers, and he had to trust her not to take advantage of her immunity with the rield. It was a risk for them both.
Cool metal touched her wrist and she looked down to see Tarian clasping the bracelet over her hand.
“I love you,” he said.
A shudder ran through her. As often as she’d prayed to hear those words, nothing could compare to the reality.
“Be my mate,” Tarian whispered in her ear as he pressed a kiss to the sensitive skin. “Mine for all eternity.”
Tipping her head back, she closed her eyes. His lips trailed down her throat in a gossamer caress.
A startled cry escaped her when he caught her around the waist and twirled her backward toward her high-backed beige couch.
“I don’t care if you won’t give me the words,” he said, pressing her down onto the sofa as he watched her with burning eyes. “I don’t care if it takes me centuries to pry them from you. I know you love me.”
“Centuries, hmm?” She traced her fingers along his jaw.
He caught her fingers and pressed them to his mouth. “Though I do hope it won’t take quite that long.”
She smiled. “Are you so sure I love you, Tarian?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me why.”
He pressed another kiss to her fingertips before drawing her up into a sitting position. “Do you know when Abbey told me you were missing, I experienced a panic I haven’t felt since I was a young man?”
She arched a brow. “What does that have to do with me loving you?”
“Nothing. But it has everything to do with me loving you,” he replied. “I knew then you were important to me. And on the road when you could have run but came back to see if a child needed help, that’s when I knew I wouldn’t be able to forget you.” He turned her palm over and pressed his lips to the tender skin. “But it was when you stood up to your father in order to fight beside me that I knew I’d love you until the end of my days.” Tarian cupped her face between his palms. “How could I travel on this adventure with you, Melissa, and fall for you so completely, without you feeling anything in return?”
“Surely the universe isn’t so cruel,” she teased softly.
A smile curved his lips. “You love me. Whether you admit it or not.”
She reached out to press her hand above his heart. The sturdy thump beneath her fingers steadied her.
“I wanted to hate you when you showed up at Dominic’s ranch,” she said. “And then you insisted I stay with you, and all I wanted to do was escape.”
“I know.” He leaned closer, his lips brushing against her cheek.
“Then you changed everything,” she whispered. “I was never supposed to care for you, but I couldn’t help myself.”
“I understand completely.” His lips brushed against hers.
“You’re the last man I should love.”
“I’m not arguing.”
“So then why can’t I stop?”
He drew back to meet her gaze. “Because we’re meant to be.”
“I love you.” The words burst from her, no longer able to be contained.
Pleasure lit his face. “Again,” he demanded.
“I love you.” The second time was easier than the first. Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she cast a leg astride his thigh and shifted into his lap. “I loved you even when I didn’t want to.”
“At least we’re caught together.” His hands rose to her hips to stabilize her.
“This won’t be easy,” she said. “With your position, and my father…”
“Don’t you see, sweetheart? None of that matters. Not anymore. No one can separate mates.”
“Promise?”
“Forever.”
His lips claimed hers as she gave herself up to the pleasure of his touch. Everything was different now. He was hers. For eternity. Her mate.
She smiled against his mouth, unable to contain her joy.
“I’m going to have to apologize to Vivian,” she breathed, tilting her head back when he scraped his teeth against her neck.
“No doubt she’ll put us on posters as one of her success stories.”
“Fated Match. Find your mate anytime, anywhere,” she quoted.
“Even the most unsuitable ones.”
“In the most unusual circumstances.” She drove her fingers into his hair. “I don’t know what I would have done had you not walked into that agency.”
“Somehow we would have found each other.” Conviction burned bright in his gaze. “One way or another, you were always my destiny.”
He tumbled her back down onto the couch, not that she had any complaints.
Gazing up at her mate, she knew he was exactly right. No matter how many times the universe had screwed her in the past, bringing Tarian into her life more than made up for it.
“I love you,” she said, pulling him down to her. “Forever.”
He smiled as he kissed her, his touch promising what she already knew. After all her wrong turns, her luck had finally changed. Fate had given her the man of her dreams, and she didn’t intend on ever letting him go.
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About the Author
Victoria Davies’s love for writing started young. Luckily she had a family who encouraged believing in magic and embracing imag
ination. From stories quickly scribbled in bright pink diaries, her love of storytelling developed. Since then her characters may have evolved and her plots may have grown decidedly more steamy but she never lost her love of the written word. Writing is not only a way to silence the wonderful voices in her head, but it also allows her to share her passions with her readers.
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