“Wow. He could’ve even tried to keep her from going back in time.”
Roland shook his head. “He knew she would be happier with Robert, that they were meant to be together.”
“And she’s gone now? Is that why Étienne offered condolences?”
“Yes, Bethany went back to the Middle Ages seven years ago. So Marcus will never see her again.”
Sarah lay back down. “No wonder he looks so somber whenever he isn’t ragging on you.”
“He still grieves.” Rolling onto his side, Roland slid down until his face was even with hers on the pillow. “I admit that I was one of those who thought him foolish for not pursuing her when they met again.” He touched her face, gently drawing his fingers down her temple and over her cheek.
Sarah’s heart clenched. He was looking at her as though beholding something precious.
“But I understand now. He loved her enough to place her happiness above his own.” He brushed his lips against hers in a tender kiss. “It’s how I feel about you, Sarah. I want you to be happy. It’s why I’ve tried not to pressure you into staying with me after we apprehend Bastien.”
Sarah bit her lip. She had noticed that he hadn’t once asked her to stay with him. “I thought maybe you were feeling ambivalent about it.”
“Ambivalent?” He pressed his forehead to hers. “I love you. I would spend eternity with you if I could. But barring that, I would settle for every remaining minute of your mortal life, then pray you’ll be reincarnated so that I may find you again.”
“I want to have my blood tested.” She knew now she would leap at the chance to spend eternity with him and could not yet bring herself to abandon that hope.
He stared at her, his gaze penetrating. “And if it confirms you’re human?”
“Your scientists are working on a way to mutate the virus in vampires and turn them immortal. Maybe they’ll find something before I get too old.”
“If you were old when you were transformed, the virus would reverse the damage aging had done to your body and you would become young again.”
“Cool!”
“But those scientists have been trying to turn vampires into immortals since before the arrival of modern science, Sarah. The outlook is pretty bleak.”
He seemed determined to burst her bubble.
“Then I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you and laughing with you and will do my damnedest not to let it get to me when you stay hot and I wrinkle like a prune.”
Roland wrapped his arms around her and hugged her so tight, Sarah could barely breathe. “I promise I’ll try to be less antisocial in the future.”
Sarah hugged him back, throat tightening. “And I promise I’ll try not to refer to you as my boy toy when I look old enough to be your grandmother.”
Chuckling, he rolled her to her back. “Shall I also promise to give you at least one orgasm every day for the rest of your life?”
Sarah smiled as he settled his large, warm body between her thighs, his erection teasing her center. “Only if you start right now.”
He dipped his head, lips slanting over hers, tongue dipping inside to send fire burning through her.
She was breathless when he drew back slightly, eyes glowing, and gave her a wicked grin. “It would be my pleasure.”
In the next instant, he glided down her body, kissing, licking, and nipping, until he reached her core.
Sarah threw back her head and sank her fingers into his hair. “Oh, yesss.”
Chapter 16
Roland fastened the Velcro tabs on his bulletproof vest, then donned a shoulder holster that housed a Sig P226 9mm. The many pockets of his black cargo pants he filled with extra clips and numerous throwing stars. His favored sais were slid into sheaths attached to each thigh.
Pulling a leather strap over his head, he settled it on one shoulder so it draped across his chest like an ammunition belt, then filled the small slits in it with a dozen throwing knives.
His thoughts were chaotic. The cold deliberation that usually overtook him before a fight had completely deserted him.
Bending, he slipped more knives into his boots.
He could feel Sarah watching him and knew without looking up that she was sitting on the foot of the bed, worrying her lower lip as she had been the entire time he had been gearing up.
Once he had packed on as many weapons as he could without hampering his mobility, he straightened and glanced over at her. “Come here, love.”
Rising, she moved to stand before him.
Roland picked up the smaller Kevlar vest he had found and began strapping her into it. A shoulder holster with a Glock 9mm followed.
“Have you changed your mind?” she asked hopefully. “Am I coming with you?”
“Hell, no.” He didn’t want her anywhere near that place.
“You’ve been training me all week, Roland. And I’m an excellent shot.”
“We’ve already discussed this.” Several times.
She rolled her eyes, looking vaguely disgruntled. “We didn’t discuss it. I suggested I may be of some help to you and you gave me the finger.”
“I did not give you the finger.”
“You may as well have. You shot me down so quickly I didn’t even have a chance to list all the pros.”
He started filling her pockets, back and front, with extra clips and throwing knives. “I don’t care if you have a hundred pros. They won’t outweigh the con.”
“Which is …?”
“You getting killed,” he snapped, patience fraying. “Damn it, Sarah, you are not going with us, so would you just drop it?”
He saw her frown as he adjusted her holster and told himself to get a fucking grip. What the hell was wrong with him? Why was he shouting at her? She was just trying to help.
“If I’m not going with you,” she broached softly, “then why are you arming me to the teeth?”
“I want to make certain you’re as safe as possible while I’m gone.” He knew the fight was going to go down at Bastien’s lair but still felt riddled with anxiety at the thought of leaving her.
She was so small.
So fragile.
So very mortal.
“Chris’s men arrived an hour ago,” she pointed out, “and are positioned every two yards around the exterior of the house. A dozen more are patrolling the grounds and there are three stationed at the gate.”
He scowled. “I don’t know or trust any of those men.”
She pursed her lips. “Well, Chris should arrive at any minute and is going to stay inside and guard me himself until you return. You trust Chris, don’t you?”
“Not entirely.” He examined her black-clad form judiciously. She needed more pockets.
When he reached out to adjust her shoulder holster a third time, she captured his hands in her own and held them still.
“Roland, look at me,” she commanded quietly.
He met her hazel gaze.
“What is it?” she asked, studying him carefully. “You aren’t usually this antagonistic or abrupt. At least, not with me. So … talk to me. Is it Bastien? Are you worried something might go wrong tonight?”
“No, it isn’t that.” He gripped her hands tightly, memorizing every cherished feature. “It’s just … different this time. And I’m not handling it very well. I’m sorry.”
Her expression lightened a bit. “That’s okay. How is it different?”
He forced a smile, though he knew it was a lame attempt. “I’ve never had anything to lose before. I think it’s making me nervous.”