“I make my own decisions.”
“But you can’t change who you are on that level.”
He nodded, conceding, but he half wanted to push the subject to see the flare of pink in her cheeks and the way her chin stuck out ever so slightly when she argued a point.
Her attention shifted back to the shelf where there was also a pen he’d had on him when he’d fled Thornton’s farmhouse and a stack of birch bark he’d cut into squares.
“What are these?” She reached a hand toward the birch.
“I, uh, wanted to write down my thoughts. I’ve never had enough privacy before.”
“Oh.” She withdrew her hand.
“You can read them if you want.”
“That defeats the purpose of privacy.”
“Perhaps, but you came here, despite having to walk near the place where your brother died, to see this side of me. I wrote down things I’ll never say out loud, so if you want to know my thoughts, this is your chance.”
Instead of picking up his makeshift journal, she leaned over and kissed him.
Unable to help himself, he lifted a hand to her nape to discourage her from ending the kiss and pulling away. Her sugary venom coated his tongue, the heat of her a pleasure itself. Nerves as distant as his toes came alive with the need for more of her touch. He indulged, wrapping his other arm around her lower back and pulling her closer. Not that she needed the encouragement. She ran her hands over his head and across his shoulders. Her fingers tickled down his sides to his waist, a gesture he mimicked, drawing a whimper from her throat.
As she reached under his shirt and caressed his skin, he clamped his hands over her wrists and broke the kiss.
“What’s wrong?” A blush rose to her cheeks.
Oh, how he loathed to admit the reason for his hesitation. “I want more.”
“So do I.”
“But…”
“But?”
He searched for words. Came up dry.
“If you’re worried about your scars—”
“I’m not.” He removed the leather straps holding his knives to his torso, gripped the bottom of his shirt, and pulled the black material over his head.
“Fair is fair.” She lifted her own shirt over her head.
A dark red bra enclosed the swells of her breasts.
“You’re staring,” she said, a smile in her voice, and leaned forward. “Feel free to take it off.”
He ran his hands over the silky material, her body heat soaking into his skin. “Show me how.”
Her eyes widened ever so slightly. “You’ve never…?”
“No,” he said, his mouth dry.
To his surprise, her smile widened. “Good.”
“Not the reaction I expected.”
“I admit, I wondered, considering your life up to this point.” She reached behind her back and the bra loosened. Leaving the garment in place, she lifted a hand and cupped his neck. “Better to have a clean slate than one with more bad memories.”
“Do you have some bad memories, Lex?”
Her smile faded. “Yes.”
Eyes closed, he turned his face toward her hand and kissed her palm. “How am I doing so far?”
“Nothing like the others.”
“I’ll take that as a good thing.”
“Most definitely.”
Easing the silk straps off her shoulders, he pulled the bra free of her body. He paused, bent, and smothered her breasts with kisses. She dug her fingers into her hair.
He scraped her skin with his fangs, remembering the liquid heat of her venom when she bit him at the motel. If biting wasn’t a part of demon sex play, he’d be surprised. The only thing that had ever brought him half as much bliss was her mouth on his.
She stiffened. “Jett.”
He removed his face and hands from her body. Had he screwed up that quickly? No, he doubted that. What, then? Did she harbor some pain from her past experiences? “I love touching you.”
“There’s something I may need to tell you. I’m not sure if you know.”
“I’m listening.” He pressed his lips to her throat.
“No, you’re not.”
“Sure I am.” He nibbled.
Her words came out breathless and he held her tighter in satisfaction. She said, “In Dearly, I bit you during my nightmare.”
“Yes. I was just thinking about that.”
“Love biting is common, and isn’t supposed to hurt when done right—”
“Excellent.” He brushed his lips along the length of her throat to her shoulder.
“You can’t bite me.”
He met her gaze. “Why not?”
“Mutual biting is how the permanent mating bond is formed between demons. It’s a chemical and psychic reaction caused by the mixing of venom and blood.”
“What?”
“My bite by itself did nothing.” She took his hand and ran her fingers over the spot she’d bitten. “And I can bite you again. Most courting couples engage in one-sided bite play. Just don’t return the favor unless you want to be stuck with me.”
“Lexine.” He grasped the back of her neck and pulled her to him. “Message received—don’t worry. But I could never be stuck with you. I can only dream of being so fortunate.”
He kissed her, easing her onto her back. Of course, if he did bite her, that would take care of her poacher prophecy once and for all, saving her from that fate and selfishly claiming her from all others in one quick bite. Would she hate him if he dropped his mouth to her shoulder that very moment and…?
“I bet I know what you’re thinking,” she murmured.
“Oh?”
“Don’t, Jett. You’ve only just started your training, and—”
“That’s not for you to worry about.”
“It would be if I was your mate, and besides, I don’t want a pity mating because of a dream, especially from you.”
“Pity? No. Don’t think for a moment I’m here, at all, out of pity.”
“What, then? Lust?”
He grinned. “Only partly.”
“And the other part?”
“Maybe I’m simply an arrogant oaf who thinks he deserves the chance to treat you better than the so-called males you’ve been with before, even though I don’t know how to take off a bra.”
She pushed him over onto his back and trailed kisses down his chest and stomach. Her thighs pressed against the weapons around his waist and he removed the guns, leaving only the twin blades he never wanted out of arm’s reach.
He kissed and touched every part of her, taking his time as she explored him in return, but he left her jeans in place, the restraint making his hands shake. This moment, by itself, was too much, too warm, too perfect, to rush past.
However, the sun eventually sunk lower behind the mountain, demanding his attention. He groaned.
“Hmm?”
“We should head back. I don’t want to say good night to you in a rush when Lark shows up.”
She lifted her head from his shoulder. “When will I see you again?”
“I’m not certain.”
The acceptance on her face went straight to his chest. “Lex, I’m sorry.”
“No, don’t be. I’ll be waiting. Tell Lark he better not make me wait too long, or I’ll have to hurt him.”
“I bet you would.” He took her mouth in a long, deep kiss. When would he see her again? It would probably be weeks. Would she really wait for him?
He had no choice but to wait and find out.
Chapter Fourteen
Jett rolled to avoid Lark’s blade, grasped a low pine limb, and swung himself into the tree. He expected Lark to follow, but the Guardian took off running in the other direction through the dark forest.
“What the hell?” Jett leaped to the ground and gave chase. He caught up with the other demon after a hundred feet and shoved him against an oak. “You’re dead. What kind of a move was that?”