He lifted the small figure with a gentle touch and set it back on its feet. He caressed the side of that serene face with wonder, the metal and glass bending away from him to allow him the simple touch. He smiled, full of hope and anticipation the likes of which he hadn’t experienced in centuries. “I wonder who you are?”
Chapter Three
“Please.”
Akane rolled her eyes. He wasn’t going to give up, and she was beginning to understand that she really didn’t want him to. Still, it wouldn’t do to give in too easily. “Nope.”
Bleary blue eyes begged her to give in. “Please. I need.”
She sighed. “Fine.” Akane allowed some of her inner fire to seep below her skin, the pale human flesh taking on a reddish glow. “Lay down, and don’t say a single word.”
“But—”
“Ah!”
“But—”
“Shane.”
He pouted like a sulky, sick child. “Fine.” He flopped down face first on the bed, his broad, naked back daring her to lay hands on it. “Just…please.”
He’d showered once they’d reached the bedroom, removing the metal and glass from his hair and skin, changing into nothing more than a clean pair of silk boxer briefs that hugged every inch of him. His body was on display for her, his finest work of art, but he was so exhausted neither of them could truly appreciate it. His muscles were sore, burning from work at the forge, and he’d begged her for a massage.
Akane agreed only after acres and acres of prime real estate had walked out of his bathroom in nothing but his underwear. Damn, the man was fine.
She delicately perched on his ass and placed her hot hands right between his shoulder blades. His groan of appreciation was low and deep, sending shivers through her. Gods, she wanted this amazing man more and more all the time.
What was she going to do? If she allowed Shane any more leeway he’d truly Claim her. His Sidhe half would demand it the moment they had sex, and she wasn’t certain it was something he could prevent. Once Claimed, it wouldn’t be long before he spoke the Vows that would complete everything, Binding him to her through a display of power and ferocity only the Sidhe seemed to possess. Bands of light would surround him, lethal to any who dared approach him save his chosen mate. He’d speak the Vows, and once done, those bands of light would spear into her, binding their life forces together for all eternity. She’d watched as Duncan and Moira spoke their Vows to Jaden, gasped in delighted wonder at the display of power the two exposed in front of the entire Gray Court. Oberon himself had been there, a cold, perfect otherness that was in direct contrast to the warmth and love that surrounded the new Malmayne-Blackthorns.
And now, if something happened to Jaden, Duncan and Moira would die, forever lost to the world as their souls yearned for something they could never touch again.
She didn’t want that for Shane. She didn’t want that bright, beautiful spark extinguished, his light lost to the world forever. But being a Blade, and one of Robin’s hand-picked assassins, meant she could be killed at any moment, dragging the bound Shane with her into the abyss.
“It’s too late, you know.”
“Shh.” She began kneading his shoulders, letting her warmth seep into him. His voice was slurred, not far from the sleep she needed him to have. He was exhausted to the bone.
“The Claiming has begun. If you try to leave me, I’ll get mate sickness.”
Her hands paused. “What?”
His shoulders shook. The son of a bitch was laughing at her. “It’s too late. It was too late long before our lips touched, but now that they have?” He shrugged, the movement wiggling her where she was seated on his butt. “I know I’ll develop mate sickness if you disappear on me.”
“I thought that only happened if we have sex.”
One bleary eye opened long enough to wink at her. “Oh, we will have sex. Trust me.” His eye closed again. “But I’ve tasted you. I know, beyond a shadow of any doubts you might still have, that you’re my mate.” He shivered under her. “Please, Akane.”
Her hands began to move once more, her brain going a mile a minute. “I thought Claiming occurred after sex.”
“So did Duncan and Moira, but they both got mate sickness after Jaden left. Hate to tell you this, love, but all it takes is a single kiss.”
“Shit.”
His shoulders tensed. She dug her thumbs into a particularly bad knot, smiling when he gasped. “It’s not like I asked you to eat asparagus every day for the rest of your life, you know.”
She shuddered. “How did you know I hate asparagus?”
“When Da offered you some you acted like you’d smelled a seriously nasty fart.”
She chuckled. “Well, at least you don’t smell like asparagus.”
“Don’t taste like it, either.”
She might have taken that as an invitation if he hadn’t sounded so sleepy. She felt safe telling him at least part of her fear. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Ditto.” He snuggled down into the bedding, nearly asleep. “I’m a lover, not a fighter.”
She snorted another laugh. “Go to sleep, Jethro.”
“Mm. Akane.” And with that, his breathing evened out, her name a soft sigh on his lips.
She gingerly lifted her hands from his skin, unwilling to wake him now that he was finally asleep. “I’m in big trouble.” She couldn’t stop herself. She curled up next to him, her body heat high for her chilled man, and guarded her greatest treasure as he slept.
Something warm was cuddled up to his back. Shane could feel the heat pouring off the animal and sighed. Sal had crawled into bed with him once again. How the salamander managed to get into his studio he’d never know, but it wasn’t the first time and he doubted it would be the last. “Fucking animal.”
The bed shifted, and Sal leaned over him, panting heavily. “Woof.”
Shane froze. He opened his eyes to find the kind of tongue he wouldn’t mind having all over him lolling out of a mouth he was already addicted to. The heat had been Akane, not the salamander. “Good morning, a ghrá.”
Akane sat back, looking astonishingly prim despite her tangled curls. “What does that mean?”
Shane stretched all over, curling his toes in pleasure. It was nice feeling, waking up to the woman of your dreams. “What do you think it means?” He stared up at her, daring her to admit she already had the answer.
Her brow furrowed. “I have no clue. I’m a New Yorker, remember?”
He chuckled. “In that case, do you really want the answer?”
She opened her mouth, but something about the look on his face must have stopped her from giving the automatic response she’d intended. “I don’t know. Do I?”
He cupped her cheek, running his thumb across those kissable lips. “If I were you, I would.”
One brow rose arrogantly. “Good thing I’m not you.”
He pulled her down for a good-morning kiss, enjoying the cinnamon and spice taste that exploded on his tongue. God, the woman tasted incredible. “Good morning.” He let go and waited for her to run for it.
She cleared her throat, her expression dazed. “Um. Yeah.” She shivered delicately. “I have to go to work.”
She started to crawl out of bed and Shane bit back a grin. “Break some legs.”
She paused. “You did not just say that.”
“What?” He grabbed hold of her wrist, feeling the rapid beat of her heart through the delicate skin.
She shook her head and pulled on her arm half-heartedly. She was learning. “Seriously. Ruby’s in danger. I have work to do, damn it.”
He’d expected more rage from her, but her protest was weak, her tone more thoughtful than pissed. “I would never endanger Ruby or try and stop you from working. You know that.”