control?
Morgan tipped her head back, looked him square in the eye. “The amulet is one of a matched pair. I possess its mate.” In a sudden fluid movement, she leaped up, her mad raven eyes darting about the cave, growing frantic. “I lost my packs in the woods.” She rushed past him toward the cave opening. “We must retrieve them.” He caught her arm and she twisted against his hold. “Please.” Her agitation crinkled the skin across her forehead. “I will explain on the way.”
Annoyance bit him, but Ryan held his tongue. Not wanting to let her out of his sight, he kept his clamp on her wrist. Somehow, that slight contact eased his freakish longing for her. It proved that she was real, not island magic tricking his mind. He needed to touch her more than anything he’d ever needed in his life, for more reasons than he cared to admit.
“Cart me off to the Fomorian hideout and toss me in as breakfast,” he murmured under his breath.
“Pardon me?” Morgan’s eyebrows peaked.
“Nothing,” Ryan growled. He hooked a waterskin over his shoulder, snatched up a short spear and knife. He wanted to snag his dead boar if an island predator hadn’t already poached it. The anticipation of roasted boar meat set his mouth watering. Ever since he’d spied the angry beast two days ago, he’d been ravenous for fresh pork. Hell, anything resembling the meat he used to eat before the Fomorian blight destroyed animal life on Earth was a boon to his constantly rumbling stomach. Already, after two weeks, he’d gotten used to eating on a regular basis again after a year of scarfing whatever scavenged food his coven found in their travels from one hideout to another in New Angeles.
In jittery silence, he led Morgan out of the grotto. Holding the branches of the leafy shrubbery aside, he guided her through the hidden entryway. Cloying flowers and grasses permeated the air, caught in Ryan’s throat. Uncertainty spiked the syrupy aroma on his tongue.
Leaves clung to Morgan’s hair and he reached to pick them out. Her eyes followed his movements, narrowing as if he meant to strike her. Slowly, he feathered his fingers down her silk smooth cheek. He wanted to touch every inch of her, just as he wanted to do from the moment she invaded his dream. Now, she stood before him in the flesh, wearing his T-shirt, alluring as hell. So very alive, he feared turning his back on her, afraid he’d find his fingers touching air, his eyes gazing upon a mirage.
“Did you tell the truth about the dream? You spoke to me.” She shook a finger at him. “What did you say?”
Did she honestly believe they hadn’t shared the dream? Druid or not, dream connection or not, she was pure trouble, and he had a difficult time burying his paranoia. He also had a tricky time reconciling his lack of trust with his desire. For the first time in his life, he wanted to believe in someone he simultaneously desired. There was a first time for even that, right?
On impulse, he bent his head as if to kiss her. A hairsbreadth separated their lips, and he breathed in her fresh, shallow exhale that contained her entire essence blowing into his soul. He nearly yielded to his hunger and tasted her pinched lips. Easing back, she flipped her hair over her shoulder, and he met her insolent expression. Lust arced through him, stunning him with the blow to his system. Hell, he never believed dreams came true. Especially in the life he led, and certainly not in the last two nightmare years.
Until now.
“I said I would find you.” His lips grazed her velvety cheek. “When my work was done,” he whispered in her ear. Her hand landed warmly on his chest, holding him back. Despite her attempt to restrain him, he doubted she’d put up a fight if he wanted to take her now. She sure as hell hadn’t resisted in their dream, not that they’d gone beyond touching and kissing.
“Damn.” He gritted his teeth. Dreams weren’t real! The sorceress radiated strong magic,
Morgan tipped her head back, looked him square in the eye. “The amulet is one of a matched pair. I possess its mate.” In a sudden fluid movement, she leaped up, her mad raven eyes darting about the cave, growing frantic. “I lost my packs in the woods.” She rushed past him toward the cave opening. “We must retrieve them.” He caught her arm and she twisted against his hold. “Please.” Her agitation crinkled the skin across her forehead. “I will explain on the way.”
Annoyance bit him, but Ryan held his tongue. Not wanting to let her out of his sight, he kept his clamp on her wrist. Somehow, that slight contact eased his freakish longing for her. It proved that she was real, not island magic tricking his mind. He needed to touch her more than anything he’d ever needed in his life, for more reasons than he cared to admit.
“Cart me off to the Fomorian hideout and toss me in as breakfast,” he murmured under his breath.
“Pardon me?” Morgan’s eyebrows peaked.
“Nothing,” Ryan growled. He hooked a waterskin over his shoulder, snatched up a short spear and knife. He wanted to snag his dead boar if an island predator hadn’t already poached it. The anticipation of roasted boar meat set his mouth watering. Ever since he’d spied the angry beast two days ago, he’d been ravenous for fresh pork. Hell, anything resembling the meat he used to eat before the Fomorian blight destroyed animal life on Earth was a boon to his constantly rumbling stomach. Already, after two weeks, he’d gotten used to eating on a regular basis again after a year of scarfing whatever scavenged food his coven found in their travels from one hideout to another in New Angeles.
In jittery silence, he led Morgan out of the grotto. Holding the branches of the leafy shrubbery aside, he guided her through the hidden entryway. Cloying flowers and grasses permeated the air, caught in Ryan’s throat. Uncertainty spiked the syrupy aroma on his tongue.
Leaves clung to Morgan’s hair and he reached to pick them out. Her eyes followed his movements, narrowing as if he meant to strike her. Slowly, he feathered his fingers down her silk smooth cheek. He wanted to touch every inch of her, just as he wanted to do from the moment she invaded his dream. Now, she stood before him in the flesh, wearing his T-shirt, alluring as hell. So very alive, he feared turning his back on her, afraid he’d find his fingers touching air, his eyes gazing upon a mirage.
“Did you tell the truth about the dream? You spoke to me.” She shook a finger at him. “What did you say?”
Did she honestly believe they hadn’t shared the dream? Druid or not, dream connection or not, she was pure trouble, and he had a difficult time burying his paranoia. He also had a tricky time reconciling his lack of trust with his desire. For the first time in his life, he wanted to believe in someone he simultaneously desired. There was a first time for even that, right?
On impulse, he bent his head as if to kiss her. A hairsbreadth separated their lips, and he breathed in her fresh, shallow exhale that contained her entire essence blowing into his soul. He nearly yielded to his hunger and tasted her pinched lips. Easing back, she flipped her hair over her shoulder, and he met her insolent expression. Lust arced through him, stunning him with the blow to his system. Hell, he never believed dreams came true. Especially in the life he led, and certainly not in the last two nightmare years.
Until now.
“I said I would find you.” His lips grazed her velvety cheek. “When my work was done,” he whispered in her ear. Her hand landed warmly on his chest, holding him back. Despite her attempt to restrain him, he doubted she’d put up a fight if he wanted to take her now. She sure as hell hadn’t resisted in their dream, not that they’d gone beyond touching and kissing.
“Damn.” He gritted his teeth. Dreams weren’t real! The sorceress radiated strong magic,
Similar Books
