Now he was damn good at finding information other people wanted to hide.
He hadn’t gotten far when he heard Duke’s Jeep in the distance.
Tira.
The relief was almost painful. But on its heels came doubt.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his now-uneasy stomach.
Would she stay?
Though he hadn’t said anything to anyone, Nic knew his time was running out.
He was going to die. Tira had seen it and she hadn’t been wrong yet.
For years, he’d been throwing himself into danger without fear because he’d known it wasn’t his time to die. Not yet.
But he couldn’t say that anymore. He felt it, like a hand on his back. Always there, pressing him forward, urging him closer to the end.
For years, he’d said he didn’t care so long as he lived the time he had to the edge. And he had. He hadn’t let fear dictate any part of his life. The only regret he had was Tira.
His death would be hardest on her because she’d seen it already. At least twice.
And when he was gone, he knew she and Duke would shatter too. Unless he helped them form a bond now that could withstand his death.
But he still wanted her.
And she was coming home.
With his heart pounding almost painfully in his chest, he put the laptop aside and walked to the window by the door. He watched her park the Jeep in front of the house, watched her sit in the car, staring at the slowly brightening horizon.
Was she praying? Thinking? Was she going to get her stuff and run?
She couldn’t. He couldn’t let her go. Not now.
He could barely see her face in the hazy light. But when the sun finally broke over the hills, he watched her leave the car, her expression calm as she walked toward the house.
Or was it?
He couldn’t read her. Duke was much better at reading people than he was. The guy might not know what to say most of the time, or even care to say anything, but he knew what people were thinking, even when they didn’t.
Nic tended not to look below the surface. Usually because he didn’t want to see what people were hiding.
By the time Tira reached the porch, Nic realized what he thought was calm was actually determination.
His heart stuttered. She was leaving. Gods damn—
She opened the door as he stepped away from the window, ready to beg her to stay.
She had to stay.
He forced the demand back down his throat and took a deep breath as her gaze met his.
The look in her eyes…
Something had changed. He didn’t know what but a yawning pit opened in his stomach.
“Tira. What… Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Where’s Duke?”
He frowned. Her voice held a tone he hadn’t heard in years. At least not directed at him.
“At Kyle’s. Ti, what’s going on? Where were you?”
She nodded, her gaze dropping for two seconds before meeting his again. “I love you. You know that, right? Even though I haven’t said it, you know, don’t you?”
That pit kept growing. “Ti, what—”
“I went to Uni’s Temple. I wanted three days. I didn’t think that was too much to ask, but Nortia would only agree to one. Sunrise to sunrise.”
Vaffanculo. Nic thought he knew where she was going with this. “Sweetheart, what did you ask for?”
“You understand, don’t you?” She bit her lip, her expression falling as if he’d told her she’d done something wrong. “Why I had to.”
She moved closer and kept coming even when she reached that invisible barrier she’d never crossed before with him. He sucked in a deep breath then couldn’t seem to release it.
“You won’t turn me away, will you, Nic?”
“Tira, what—”
She lifted her hands, so slowly he couldn’t help but freeze, their gazes locked as he waited for the touch he craved.
The only woman he’d ever wanted to touch him held her hands centimeters from his face.
“Do you love me?” Her gaze burned into his.
“With all my heart, Tira.”
Her hands shook as she finally pressed her palms to his cheeks. They both drew in sharp breaths as her cool flesh met his overheated skin.
The look on her face was sheer joy and her wavering smile was a revelation.
“We have one day, Nic. She released me from my Gift for one day. No consequences, just twenty-four stolen hours. I don’t want to waste a minute.”
His body moved before his brain completely processed her words. Wrapping his arms around her, he brought her flush against him. His cock had already started to thicken by the time he put his mouth over hers and kissed her.
Blessed Goddess, he wanted to savor every sensation firing through his body. The silk of her lips under his, the rise and fall of her chest against his.
His eyes closed so he could taste her better. Desire, heat and desperation. He couldn’t remember if this is how she’d tasted so many years ago. Didn’t know why he even thought of that other than the fact that she felt different.
She’d been so slim the first time he’d held her when she was eighteen. A beauty with a hint of curves to come but tiny and breakable. Too fragile to release his full desire.
Since then, she’d filled out the promise of those curves. With her arms wound around his neck, her full breasts nestled against his chest. His hands latched on to her hips so he could lift her off her feet.
He wouldn’t drop her, he’d never drop her. He just needed to hold her.
She sighed into his mouth, a surrender if ever he’d known one.
And his brain simply cut off all higher functions. Such as thought and reason.
He knew only one purpose.
Get inside her. Make her his.
With one arm wrapped around her, he used the other to loosen her jeans. He didn’t have to tell her to take her shoes off. She’d already toed them off herself. When he pushed her jeans down her legs, they slid right to the floor.
He didn’t hesitate to rip her underwear off. He’d buy her as many more pairs as she wanted. All sky-blue silk to match her eyes.
Though they’d never match the softness between her thighs.
He moaned as he let his fingers glide through the moist lips of her sex. Wet and hot. For him.
“Nic.” She moaned his name, her mouth breaking from his to settle on his neck, nipping and sucking. His cock throbbed in his jeans, frustrated by the imprisonment. “Please. Hurry.”
“Yes.” He could only say yes. To anything she said.
He knew what she wanted. What he wanted.
He opened his eyes, his fevered brain spotting exactly what he needed.
Taking two steps forward, he pressed her back against the front door. With solid oak at her back and his body plastered to her front, she was trapped.
Thrusting his hips against hers, he nestled his cock between her thighs, let himself rest there for two brief seconds before he shoved the denim over his hips and freed his cock.
Warm air brushed against overheated skin, making his balls tighten. Her hips tilted the slightest bit forward to brush her sex against the tip, causing them both to shudder.
Mindless desire threatened to sweep him under and he wanted to take her hard and fast. Make her his completely.