Ghostwalker 07 - Murder Game

and desperate need. He'd never even imagined he could feel like that, and a part of him didn't trust such good fortune. She'd said she loved him, but he was in her mind, and there was something he couldn't quite put his finger on that shook him.

    He kissed her again, wanting to be whole, wanting all doubts gone, and not certain how to achieve that when he couldn't find the way through sex.

    "When I can walk, I'm going to take a long, hot shower," she announced.

    He bent his head to her breast, pulling the soft mound into his mouth. He suckled for a moment and then bit down, needing to leave his mark. She gasped, a soft little cry of protest, her body arching closer to him, but she didn't stop him, rather her hands caressed his hair while she held him to her as if she knew what he was doing.

    Kadan, standing in the doorway of the living room, watched Tansy through half-closed eyes. She sat curled up on the couch, legs drawn under her, long hair sliding around he r
    body like so much silk. As usual, she hadn't bothered with makeup and she was barefoot.
    She wore his button-down-the-front shirt and he could just see the outline of her breasts and the darker nipples through the thin material. There was something very satisfying seeing her in his shirt and knowing she wore little beneath it but his mark.

    If he crossed the room and took her to the floor, he had the feeling she'd be more than willing, even though she was exhausted. She sipped at her tea and flipped through a magazine, but her eyes, when she lifted them, to his face, had more violet than blue in them, and he suspected her mind wasn't on him—or the floor. Her brain was fitting pieces of the puzzle together. Or maybe it was on him and he was coming up short.

    "You okay, baby? I ended up being a little rougher than I intended." He rubbed his shadowed jaw and knew her thighs were chafed. He nee e d d her back with him; he was
    ABC Amber LIT Converter
    http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

    ABC Amber LIT Converter
    http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    not yet willing to have her go down that dangerous path again. Nor did he want her thinking she might do better than be with a man who had done nothing but bring chaos back into her life.

    "I'm better than fine." She smiled up at him, but there was something sad in her eyes and her smile was wistful.

    His heart did a funny twist in his chest, and deep inside, everything stilled. Even the way she sipped at her tea was sexy to him, and yet she seemed so far away, as if she was distancing herself. The one thing he couldn't have with her, the one thing he would never be able to live with—was distance.

    He leaned one hip against the wall, his eyes never leaving her face. "I can't remember ever having a home. I never expected to have my own woman or live in a house with her." He crossed his arms over his chest and regarded her without blinking, using his cool, catlike stare. "When this is over, are you going to marry me?"

    He had her full attention now. She blinked rapidly and her lips parted slightly. He had the urge to kiss her, but he stayed where he was, never taking his eyes fr m o her face.

    "You already asked e
    m that question and I said yes."

    "No, I told you we were going to get married. I bullied you until you said what I wanted to hear. I want to know if you're really going to marry me."

    Her tongue touched her full lower lip, the pouty one he often found himself starin g at.
    She remained silent, a little shell-shocked, and although he knew he shouldn't, he touched her mind, needing to know what she was thinking.

    She had been in a hospital for several months after a breakdown. It could happen again.
    What kind of genetics would she pass to her children—their children? Would he even want children with h r
    e ? And her father, what about him? She had to wear gloves almost all the time, would that become an embarrassment? What about her work? She loved being far away from people, where she could just exist in peace. What about his work?
    He was a born warrior and would never be happy doing anything else. How much time o
    w uld they have together?

    More than anything she wanted to be with him, but was it right for him? Could she do that to him? Be selfish and ta e
    k what he was offering her even though she had no idea what could happen…

    "Stop"

    Her gaze jerked up to his. She looked frightened.

    "Can you love me the way I am, Tansy? Can you live with a man like me? That's what