She felt Matthias’ fingers on her wrists, felt his grip tighten slightly. She still couldn’t hear his thoughts.
“Do it,” he whispered, his voice soft in her ear but sounding a million miles away.
Taz looked at the bison, which grazed just outside the trees. It stopped chewing and paused.
“Look at me.”
It raised its head and looked at her.
“Come here.”
Matthias’ fingers tightened but he didn’t stop her.
Could he stop her, even if he wanted to?
The bison walked toward them.
“Stop.”
It stopped about fifteen feet away, watching them.
Finally, Matthias whispered in her ear. “Let it go, Taz.”
She watched the bison watching them.
“Go.”
It turned and walked into the trees.
Taz opened her eyes in time to see its tail twitch as it disappeared into the woods.
She turned to Matthias. His eyes were closed, and his face looked pinched. “Did I…” she asked, unable to continue.
He nodded and pulled away, rubbing his temples. “Oh my God. I had no idea you were that strong.”
She put a hand on his shoulder. “I couldn’t hear your thoughts.”
He nodded, his eyes still closed. “But you could see through my eyes.”
“Yes.”
“And you could control the bison. Through me.”
“Yes.” He still wouldn’t look at her. “Matthias, what’s wrong?”
“You latched on to me, and I was just there for the ride.” When he looked at her, she saw his eyes were bloodshot. She reached out to him, and he caught her hand, kissing it. “It’s okay. I probably shouldn’t have started with something complicated like that. It’s my fault.”
He tried to stand, stumbled, and she caught him. He regained his footing and kept her hand in his. “Come on. Let’s go get dinner.”
It was nearly dark, she realized with surprise. How long had they been there?
The others were relieved when they reappeared. Albert and Robertson sensed something happened but didn’t ask.
Taz squeezed Matthias’ hand and was pleased to feel him return the gesture. She sat across from him at dinner, talking with him and the others. When she stretched her foot under the table, he pushed his close and they sat like that, touching, for the rest of the meal.
Chapter Twenty-One
The others sensed their shift in behavior and followed at a discreet distance back to the cabins. Inside, Taz leaned forward to kiss Matthias. He gently pushed her away.
“Not yet.”
He made sure the door was securely locked. He kicked off his shoes and sat, cross-legged and fully dressed, on the double bed. He patted the bed in front of him. “Come here.”
She sat, kicking her shoes off first.
“Relax,” he whispered. “Lean against me.”
She did, finding it easier to trust him this time.
As he put his arms around her she resisted the urge to reach out to him with her mind.
“It’s okay, go ahead. I want you to. Gently, please.”
She tried, remembering how she’d looked through his eyes earlier. Maybe she could use the same imagery.
“Why can’t I hear your thoughts?”
“Because you haven’t figured out how, yet. You’re still afraid to open up to me. You should be able to hear my thoughts, as powerful as you are.”
In her mind she stood in the darkened room, looking around. The windows were before her, revealing the inside of their cabin. She turned to a door at the far end of the room in her mind and made her way to it. It was large and heavy, the doorknob old and ornate.
He read her thoughts. “Open it,” he whispered.
In her mind she reached for it. She hesitantly traced the handle, then wrapped her fingers around it and pulled. A blazing glow too intense for her to look at flooded her mind.
Her back arched and she cried out, but felt his arms around her, holding her.
“It’s okay, Taz. It’s all right. You’re safe.”
But that wasn’t in her ear—it was in her mind.
She backed out of the doorway and slammed it shut, heart pounding. She couldn’t do this.
“Yes, you can,” his voice whispered in her ear. His arms still held her, protecting her. “Trust me, Taz. You have to learn how to trust me.”
He was right and she knew it. She reached for the door handle again. He wanted her to do this, and he wouldn’t have her do something dangerous. Robertson trusted him, and he would never let her come to harm.
She had to learn to trust him.
She closed her mental eyes against the glare and opened the door, feeling the warmth of his thoughts against her face.
“It’s okay, Taz. I’ve got you.”
She felt his strength and couldn’t take it, closing the door again. This time controlled, gently.
“That’s a start,” he whispered. She collapsed against him on the bed, spent, drained.
How does he do it? How does he touch my thoughts without going crazy?
He pulled her to the bed with him, rocking her as she trembled. “It’s okay,” he soothed. “It’s okay…”
She must have slept because when she opened her eyes, his arm was protectively draped around her, and he’d pulled the sheet over them. They were both still dressed.
“Hey,” he whispered. “You okay?”
She nodded, instinctively pressing herself against him. His body seemed to fit perfectly against hers. “That was intense.”
“Yes, it was.”
“Is that what it felt like when you started reading my thoughts?”
“I’ve been doing it a lot longer. Not just yours, but I can read yours easily because of…what you did for me.”
“You said you didn’t know if I could read minds.”
“I didn’t, not for sure. Not until tonight. After I realized how powerful you are, I assumed you could. I needed to see if you could do it without an established physical…connection.”
She rolled to face him, eyes closed. She kissed him, hoping he wouldn’t pull away.
He didn’t.
She thought about how warm his emotions had felt, knowing a lot of that was about her, his intense feelings. And she wanted him.
Really wanted him.
Pressing against him she kissed him harder, moaning when his hands worked under her shirt to the waistband of her jeans.
She helped him remove his shirt while he parted her from hers, and they kissed, bare-chested, exploring with lips and tongues, passion so strong both could barely breathe.
“I want you, Matthias,” she thought, trying not to make it a command. “I really, really want you.”
He smiled. “Anastazia, your wish is my command.”
They slipped out of their pants. She thought he would take her then, but didn’t. Instead, he ran his hands over her body. He felt smooth and strong, and his fingers explored every contour and curve as if he’d known her his entire life.
She gasped when his tongue traced delicate circles across her belly. He trailed lower, working his lips down her flesh, his breath hot on her skin. He gently pushed her legs apart with his hands. Softly, he blew on her clit, making her whimper.
She wanted him. Needed him.
“Please,” she whispered. “Don’t stop.”
She felt the heat of his breath on her just before he flicked his tongue up and over her clit. She closed her eyes and moaned. This was better than she’d ever imagined it could be.