Free Blood Oath by Kit Tunstall Page B

you anything yet.”
    “Why not?” She bowed her head. “Are you
ashamed of loving me?”
    “Never,” he said forcefully, “but you must
choose me.” With a gentle hand, he nudged up her chin. “It wasn’t my place to
burden you with my emotions.”
    She shook her head. “I don’t understand. If
we’re destined to be together…” She trailed off, unable to accept so absurd a
concept. Sure, she was attracted to him, and felt a deeper emotional connection
with him than any man in her past, but destined lifemates? What an archaic
concept. It was almost as ridiculous as arranged marriages.
    “Destiny orchestrates what should be, but no
one can force love if none is felt.” He stroked her cheek. “We must all be free
to choose what our heart wants.”
    She swallowed. “You’ve chosen me, have you?”
She winced at the hint of skepticism in her tone.
    He didn’t seem offended. “I was certain we
belonged together, but meeting you removed my last trace of doubt.” Demi
sighed. “You haven’t been raised as I have, to expect our union. This is too
much to spring on you. Rest now, and we’ll talk later—whenever you’re ready.”
    Once again, he moved to step away from her,
but Anca locked her arms around his neck. “Don’t leave.”
    “But—“
    “Come inside with me.” She laid her cheek on
his chest. “I won’t pressure you to talk about anything, if you don’t want to.”
    “What do you want from me?” He sounded
confused, not annoyed.
    “Just hold me, Demi.” Anca held her breath,
waiting to see if he would agree. Again, she wondered what had happened to her
decision to be sensible and avoid any deepening relationship with him. Perhaps
she was just emotionally overwrought from meeting her father and longed for
comfort. Anyone would do.
    Liar , her heart whispered.
    “If that’s what you want,” he said after a
long pause.
    “Yes,”
she whispered. She dropped her arms and took his hand to lead him through the
wooden doors. As he fell in step behind her, she knew what had happened to her
previous plan. His complete forthrightness about his feelings had left her
without defenses. Before his revelation, she had wanted him, but now, her
desire was even more intense.
    As they entered the chambers assigned to
her, Anca sensed the night ahead would change everything. The thought
frightened her, but it was also exhilarating. Giving herself to Demi seemed
like the most natural thing in the world, and she forgot about her fears as he
closed the door behind them and took her into his arms.

 

     

     

    Chapter 7
     

    Demi held her against his chest without
speaking or moving. Anca could hear the rhythm of his heartbeat echoing through
her ear, until it mingled with her own inside her head. She closed her eyes and
let him support her. She yearned for his touch, but having him hold her was
almost enough.
    She changed her mind when he nudged up her
chin and claimed her lips. At five-eight, she was tall, but he still topped her
by half a foot. He had to dip his head to kiss her, and she stretched her spine
to meet him.
    His lips were soft against hers, coaxing her
into responding to his touch, but never demanding. He traced the plump contour
of her lower lips with his tongue, and she buried her fingers in his blond
hair. Anca parted her lips to urge his tongue inside, but he ignored the
invitation.
    Instead, he trailed his tongue down her chin
to her neck. She closed her eyes and tipped her head backward as he breathed a
trail across the column of her throat, to the bend of her neck where it met her
shoulder. She pressed her lower body more firmly against his as he opened his
mouth and breathed against her skin.
    Her nipples hardened as his breath caressed
her skin. She parted her legs and thrust her hips forward so she could straddle
his thigh with her pussy. She rubbed it against his leg.
    Demi flicked his tongue across her skin in
teasing darts as one of his hands moved past her hips. He cupped