Carpathian 13 - Dark Destiny

The pad of his thumb slid over her lower lip to trace the perfection of her mouth.
    Destiny's gaze drifted over his face for a long moment, lingered in the dark depths of his. "You don't ask for anything, yet you're asking for everything."
    "In your time, Destiny," he answered gently. "It will happen; we have all the time in the world."
    A faint smile curved her mouth. "Do we? You'd like me to believe that, wouldn't you? This isn't the first time the lifemate ritual has come up. You know, if what you say is true, it won't matter one way or the other if you say the words and bind us. You're already fixated." There was faint humor in her voice.
    His eyebrows shot up. Nicolae found he wanted to kiss her again. He was fascinated with the way her mouth curved and tempted him when she smiled. "I wouldn't say fixated."
    "Sticking to me like glue, then," Destiny insisted. A soft laugh escaped and immediately was choked off as pain slid over her fragile features. "Just do it. Get it over. Otherwise that idiot brother of yours will sit around glowering at me."
    "Vikirnoff does not glower."
    "Oh, yes, he does. He has those eyes and he gives me the 'get it together' look. It's annoying."
    "What is annoying is that you are noticing his eyes. I do not think there is any need for you to be noticing his eyes." He scowled at her.
    She stared up at his face, a slow grin spreading. "You are jealous. Oh, my gosh, you are totally jealous because I noticed your silly brother glowering."

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    "I am not jealous. And it is not that you noticed his glowering, it is that you noticed his eyes, which is an altogether different thing."
    "You are so jealous. That's too funny. As if I'd look at the silent caveman. It's bad enough that I have to put up with you. Just say the stupid words so I can go to sleep."
    "Destiny," Nicolae sighed in exasperation. "You are missing the point. This is supposed to be romantic.
    There seems to be something lost in the moment."
    "Romance? We are definitely, absolutely not having a romance." She looked panic-stricken.
    This time he couldn't resist. He leaned down and kissed her very gently. His lips lingered over hers, teased, feather-light for just a moment or two. Not long enough to get him slapped, just long enough for her eyes to go dreamy again. "What are we having?" There was amusement in his voice.
    She looked confused, staring up at him with a kind of hunted look that made him gather her closer. "Just say the dumb words, Nicolae. Let's see if it works."
    "Well then, if you insist, I can do no other." He was very obliging. "But I must insist on a little romance."
    Destiny narrowed her gaze. "I'm not always going to be lying here helpless," she warned.
    "I should hope not. Once was enough to give me heart trouble." His hands stroked her face, caressed the jagged tears in her throat. His voice was so tender, it sent liquid heat coursing through her body and little butterflies winging in the pit of her stomach.
    His arms gathered her even closer, cradling her in his lap. She closed her eyes as his face came closer, as his breath warmed the cold of her skin. Destiny felt her body turn to liquid heat. That warm breath felt like something she'd never thought she would find, not even if she lived for centuries. His lips were velvet soft, feathering down her cheek to the corner of her mouth. She felt tears burning behind her eyes. He was stealing her heart, and he wasn't stopping there. Her soul was craving him. Truly craving him. She hadn't thought she would ever have anything worthwhile for herself.
    Destiny. Her name shimmered in her mind. The way he said it was musical. He always made her feel beautiful even though she knew she wasn't. But he made her believe, whenever he was with her, or when he was speaking to her, that she was beautiful and worthwhile. That she could dream and hope. That she could belong. That someone saw her as a woman and not a monster.
    Her hands were shaking as she placed her palms against his chest to push him away. She couldn't handle this. She couldn't be with people after being alone for so long. She couldn't do it. But her hands just lay there helplessly. Her fingers curled into the silk of his shirt.
    For a moment his breath caught in his throat. She was giving herself into his keeping without a thought for herself. Nicolae felt humbled by her generosity. "I am not people, little one, I am Nicolae, and I