My thumb moves down to her full lips, and I slide it over the bottom one, tugging it gently, revealing her straight white teeth.
“I didn’t believe it. It didn’t make sense.” Dropping my hand, I remember that day vividly.
This gorgeous, incredibly sexy girl who couldn’t have been more than eighteen captivated my mind completely. She walked around that tiny shack in Algiers in that swirling gypsy shirt with her long arms uncovered, her hair in a high ponytail… I felt like my entire universe shifted to revolve around her.
“Imprinting doesn’t make sense,” she says leaning toward me. “But I love it.”
“I love you.” I’m not ashamed to say it now, after fighting her pull for nearly six months.
I lost myself in working with Derek, doing everything in my power to either find a cure for his vampirism or to find a way for him to control it. To live a life where he could tolerate what he’d become, where he didn’t have to kill. It was hard, but it kept her out of my mind.
When Derek finally faced Lilith, when he finally learned that Sloan was her ultimate tool for revenge against him, both in killing Alison and in taking away his mortality—when he finally killed that bloodsucker and was reunited with Melissa, I didn’t have anything left to shield me from Mariska’s pull.
Patrick has Elaine. They’re a match that makes perfect sense, and they haven’t stopped touching each other since the day they met. This innocent girl, however… this virgin… I ran as far away from her as I could get. All the way to my uncle’s horse ranch in the middle of nowhere Montana. Of course, Elaine brought her straight to me. Fucking telepaths.
“I’m glad you finally let me catch you.” She glances up at me with a naughty smile. Her fingers trace the lines on my stomach.
Taking that hand, I pull it to my lips. “I’m getting pretty old. I don’t run as fast as I used to.”
That makes her laugh, a soft musical sound that lights up every nerve ending in my body. “As long as you never get to old to love me like you just did, we’ll be good.”
“I’ll fuck your brains out,” I growl, and she laughs louder, diving into my arms and pushing me back on the bed with a kiss.
Sliding my hands into her hair, I hold her face a moment, listening once more to the voice in my head saying I need to let her go. My soul might be inextricably tied to her, but she’s not a shifter. She isn’t bound to me.
I’m not easy on her. I’m demanding and rough. I’m not a gentleman. I’m a cowboy. My work with Derek and Patrick is dangerous, and at any point she could become a target of some revenge-seeking undead fucker. It’s a fear all three of us live with every day, and for Melissa and Elaine, it’s too late. They’re known quantities in the paranormal world.
“It’s not too late for you,” I say, finishing my thought aloud. “You could still walk away. Have a normal life. Be safe.”
Her laughter fades as her body stills. She studies me with serious eyes, golden eyes like the sunset over the mountains in Montana. Eyes that speak one word to me every time I’m lost in them—home.
“You must not know me very well, Mr. Knight.” She’s sliding forward, up my chest. Petite seductress. “It’s way too late for that. I couldn’t leave you if I tried.”
“I won’t stop you if you decide to go.”
“Stuart William!” Her bossy voice nearly slays me. “You’d better stop me. Otherwise, I will put a spell on you!”
The fist in my stomach unclenches at her words. I can’t help it I start to laugh. My head drops back against the pillow, and I look up at the ceiling of my condo in Princeton. I want to take her away from here. I want us back out west, making love under the big sky.
She’s up on an elbow looking down at me. “What’s so funny?”
Pushing up, I tackle her onto her back, holding her firmly beneath my body. She doesn’t even try to escape.
“You have no idea of your power, little gypsy.” Dipping my head, I kiss her neck. She moans, and I’m about ready to flip her over and spank that perfect ass. “You don’t need a spell for me. You’re already mine.”
Want more paranormal?
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ONE INSATIABLE, everywhere Nov. 15, 2015!
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Books in the One to Hold seres are:
Derek & Melissa: One to Hold, One to Protect, One to Save
Patrick & Elaine: One to Keep
Kenny & Slayde: One to Love
Stuart & Mariska: One to Leave, One to Take
Marcus Merritt & Amy Knight: One to Chase, “Runaway”
Paranormal Romances:
Derek & Melissa: One Immortal
Stitch & Mercy: One Insatiable
All are stand-alone novels.
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