Immortals After Dark 12 - Lothaire

caught in a headlight.
    “Alrighty then, maybe something for Balery? You could cross her out of your book!” Again and again, the fey had helped Ellie try to understand an enigma like Lothaire. The other night, Ellie had admitted that she’d be a goner for him if he could tweak just a few things.
    Balery had replied, “You have to understand that he was born and raised in a world outside of the human realm, in a different time. Eons ago, he grew up in that ill-omened castle you saw, under the reign of a vicious despot—who was also his father. Even though Lothaire is one of the most intelligent males I’ve ever encountered, he has no wisdom about women’s feelings. None. Yours will be the first relationship he’s had with a lover, the learning curve precariously steep. . . .”
    Now Lothaire said, “Hag’s debt is not yet satisfied. In any case, I was talking about a gift for you .” Plainly frustrated, he muttered, “Just forget it. You’ll simply have to endure it when I bring you more jewels.”
    “Exactly how rich are you, Leo?”
    He’d grown to like it when she called him that, because the name was theirs alone. Just as she’d grown to love being called Lizvetta in his raspy accent.
    “ We are obscenely rich. Befitting a king and queen. I will always provide for you.”
    And only for me. Maybe she could secretly pawn some of her jewelry in the future, mail some cash to her family.
    He tugged on her hand. “The water’s warm. Join me for a swim.”
    Smile, Ellie. “You’ve got that look on your face. I’m about to get laid, aren’t I?”
    After making short work of their clothes, he reached for her, palms landing on her ass with a measured slap.
    She surprised herself by moaning throatily.
    “Indeed,” he rasped, kneading her spanked flesh as he lifted her, forcing her legs around his waist. “You are about to get laid . . . .”
    Some time later, with the waves crashing around them, Ellie screamed with pleasure, crying out his name like a prayer as she clung to his wet shoulders.
    Directly after, he gave a brutal yell and jerked his shaft out of her. Heaving his breaths against her ear, he pumped semen between their slippery bodies.
    So careful not to get me pregnant. That connection she’d felt the first time they’d had sex was missing now.
    When he finally released her, she drew away to wash off his seed, her eyes pricking with tears.
    “Lizvetta?” He grazed the backs of his fingers along her cheek. Such strength in him, yet he could caress her so gently. “Look at me.” When she did, his gaze seemed to burn with emotion. “Have I hurt you, love?”
    How could he make her heart melt so easily? When he looked at her like this, all her defenses crumbled. “No, it’s not that.”
    In a hoarse voice, he told her, “You are mine. Your life is with me. Do not fight this.”
    The tenderness in his tone made her want to throw her arms around him and admit how much she cared for him.
    But she forced herself to tell the truth. “Sometimes I have doubts—”
    “Doubts?” Like a shot, he coiled a length of her hair around his fist, his expression altered from longing to menace. “The time for doubts has ended . This is a done thing, Bride.”
    “Lothaire . . .”
    “If we were ever parted, I would bring you back to me,” he rasped. “There is nowhere on earth that I couldn’t find you.”
    From any other man, these words might be a promise about their future. From Lothaire, they were nothing more than a threat.
    Put it with the others.
    Snap!
    “Nowhere, Elizavetta,” he repeated, his eyes aflame. Such a contrast to his earlier heartfelt sentiments.
    It was as if two men stood before her, one who needed to love and be loved, and one who only wanted the Bride he believed was his by fate. Neither version knew how to love.
    “I do understand that, Lothaire.”
    Over the last couple of weeks, her rubber band had gotten so much play she had to wonder why it hadn’t broken yet.

44
    S he isn’t in love with me, Lothaire thought as he dropped Elizabeth off at Hag’s.
    This perplexed him exceedingly.
    He’d pleasured his Bride, spoiled her, protected her. He wanted to give her immortality and make her royalty. He was the most handsome male she’d ever seen.
    Yet she continued to hold something of herself back.
    It maddened him to no end! Why would she cling to her wretched family? To her old life?
    He had no answers—because he’d still dreamed none of his Bride’s