Lair of the Lion

a part of you. A woman doesn't pick and choose what she loves in a man. She loves all of him."
    His hands framed her face. "Do you love all of me, cara, even my wild side?" His voice was a low caress, playing over her skin like the touch of his fingers. Butterfly wings brushed along her insides.
    "I love every part of you," she whispered softly. "Your voice, the way you laugh, how gentle you can be. I love the way you love your people, the way you've dedicated your life to them."
    "And my wild side, beautiful one—do you love that part of me?"
    "Most particularly, signore, " she agreed.
    His thumbs trailed down her neck, her throat, slipping along the neckline of her gown.
    Isabella shivered as the pads of his thumbs rubbed her exposed skin.
    His gaze was moody, brooding, a dark quagmire of love and despair. He wanted her—
    desire burned fiercely in him. He had lived with the results of his legacy—Isabella had not.
    Still, she believed she saw matters more clearly.

    "Are you correct, amore mia? Do I place my entire faith in you and trust that you are capable of securing our future for us? There is no giving you up, no turning back, as much as I have tried to pretend that we could. Keeping you as my mistress would change nothing."
    She shook her head. "No, it wouldn't." Her voice was a shivery whisper. His fingers were loosening her gown, allowing it to gape open, spilling her breasts into the shadows of flickering firelight. The light and dark seemed to caress her curves, and the brush of his fingertips over her flesh sent heat curling deep in her very core. "What other choice do we have but to live our lives, Nicolai?"
    His hands framed her face again, his amber eyes alive with love, with tenderness. "I want to make a vow to you. I'll love you with everything in me. I'll bring you as much happiness as I can give you. But I cannot allow your death, not at my hands. You're more important than I am." His mouth found each of her eyelids, then drifted down her cheek to the corner of her lips. "Don't protest. Just listen to me. I've thought about this for a long time. Your life is in danger. You've accepted that, and you're willing to chance our love. But I couldn't live with your death at my hands. I can't, Isabella." He kissed her mouth, her soft, pliant lips, drawing strength from her, her endless courage becoming his.
    When he lifted his head, his amber gaze drifted over her face. "After our child is born, an heir for our people, when I see the beast grow stronger I'll end my life."
    She cried out, a shocked protest, but his arms tightened around her, crushing her against him, crushing her objections. "I'm placing my trust and faith in you, all of it, that your way is the right path for us, but you have to allow me this way out. You have to promise, give your word of honor, that you will raise our children to love this valley, the lions, their legacy. I won't have regrets, Isabella. Your life, our lives together, are worth it."
    She slid her arms around his waist, afraid to speak, afraid of saying the wrong thing.
    What could she say? She heard the finality in his voice. She had to guide them through the dark passages and into the light. There had to be a way. She was certain the key lay within her. And she refused to lose him.
    "I've been so alone, apart from life, not really knowing why I was so empty. You've filled all those empty places, cara mia. I sleep with you in my arms and have no nightmares. I open my eyes and look forward to each hour, to hear your laughter, to watch you move through my home. Your smile takes my breath away."
    She looked up at him, love shining in her eyes, complete acceptance. Nicolai kissed her again, allowing the fever to rise, allowing his possessive, passionate nature to the forefront.
    He wanted to look at her there with the firelight caressing her body. His hands made short work of her gown, leaving it lying in a frothy pool on the floor. He wanted nothing in his way, not the thinnest barrier. When she was naked, only the fall of her hair to tease him, he moved to stand some distance away from her.

    Isabella stood in front of the fireplace, her hair shining with blue lights. The shadows caressed her breasts, her belly, her legs. She watched his expression, saw the blossoming lust mixed with his love. She saw his breeches grow snug, taut, the material stretching to accommodate him. It was exciting to be entirely naked before him while he was fully clothed. Her nipples were