Carpathian 23 - Dark Storm

it . . .”
    “I get it,” she said hastily, color creeping up her neck and face.
    She tried to pull her fascinated gaze away from the impressive bulge in the front
     of his jeans. The material was stretched taut, looking as if at any moment it would
     give way. She’d never been so enamored, sexually frustrated or interested in a man.
     She’d even dreamt of him. The erotic dreams only added to her shyness with him.
    Very carefully, so as not to bruise the petals, she scooped up the flower and, cupping
     it carefully in both hands, she transferred it to the vee between his open legs. The
     sides of her hands brushed along his thighs. She could feel his powerful muscles and
     the tremendous heat emanating from his body. Her hands shook, so she deposited the
     flower quickly and placed her moist palms on her own thighs.
    “You say the words back to me,” he encouraged.
    She had listened intently to the accent and the words, but saying them aloud to him
     instead of Gary was intimidating. Not only that, but did she mean them? Was she his?
     She enjoyed being with him, was intrigued by him and felt safe with him. He had a
     sense of humor, was intelligent and was a walking god of sensuality. She didn’t feel
     alone anymore. Everything about him appealed to her—but could she trust it? Did she
     have the ability to hold a man like Dax? When this adventure was over, what would
     they do?
    Dax leaned toward her, his breath warm on her face, a whisper against her lips. “ Ainaak sívamet jutta , which means ‘forever to my heart connected,’ is exactly what you are. All these
     doubts of yours must be laid to rest. There is no other for me. You can turn me away,
     but you will be condemning me to a half-life. You possess the other half of my soul.
     You have only to touch my mind, Riley, and you will know me far better than others
     will know their partners in their lifetimes.”
    “Don’t you think this is happening too fast?”
    “I am not familiar with your society or culture,” he admitted, “but in mine, we have
     certainty. You are my other half. There can be no mistake. You restored my emotions
     and the color to my life. Your soul completed mine. My heart calls to yours. I crave
     the taste of you and I burn for your body. There is no doubt in my mind.”
    How could she not respond to that? He made her feel beautiful. Intelligent. The only
     woman in the world. She wasn’t ready to give that up. In any case, what did she have
     to go back to? Her parents were gone. There was nobody. But . . .
    She leaned closer to him, over the flower, her mouth scant inches from his. “I want
     to do this. I really do, but I’m not certain what you want of me in the future. I
     have no idea what your world is like, other than vampires, dragons and things with
     big teeth occupying it.”
    His gaze moved over her face, branding her, claiming her, burning his possession into
     her. “We’ll take it a day at a time until you’re comfortable. I’ll explain everything
     to you as we go along. Anything you’re not ready for, I don’t mind waiting. It’s important
     to me that you want me in the same way that I want you.”
    She studied his expression. He felt right to her. For once in her life she was going
     to let her heart overrule her mind. She bit her lower lip and nodded. Instantly his
     gaze dropped to her mouth. Her stomach muscles bunched and fingers of arousal teased
     her thighs. If he could do that to her with just a look, what could he do when he
     was really touching her?
    “Do you remember the words I said to you?”
    She nodded slowly, took a deep breath and jumped off the proverbial cliff, praying
     he’d catch her. “Tied vagyok.” Her lashes veiled her eyes. “Yours am I.”
    The flames in his eyes leapt, revealing desire bordering on lust. His chest rippled,
     all those delicious muscles beneath that thin cotton shirt of his. She felt as if
     she was free-falling through a storm of glittering diamonds.
    “ Sívamet andam. My heart I give you.”
    His eyes blazed fire. She felt his gaze burning right through her skin to her very
     bones, branding her. Her heart matched the rhythm of his. Her breathing followed his.
     She swore her pulse found his. She felt him breathing in and out. Felt the blood rushing
     through his veins. She heard his heartbeat in her head.
    “ Te avio päläfertiilam. You are my lifemate.”
    The moment she uttered the words, Dax poured into her mind. Warm.