Free Deliver Me from Darkness: A Novel of the Paladin Warriors by Tes Hilaire

deepened the kiss, taking everything, soaking up her essence, and giving in return the only thing he could ever offer her: mind-blowing pleasure. He had nothing else. The man he’d been, the Paladin, had been lost long ago. Long before she was born. Long before she was even a thought in her parents’ minds. She must have been in His, though. The One God chose the soul that would perfectly match that of the Paladin during the ceremony that initiated them into the order. Sometimes the bond mate would be revealed soon thereafter, but often it was decades, sometimes centuries, before the mate was sent down to earth for them. Only when the time was right, when the mate was most needed.
    But Roland had needed his mate ninety-four years ago. Not now. Talk about a major FUBAR. The Big Man wasn’t known for His mistakes, but as far as mistakes went, this one was colossal.
    Anger roiled through him, overshadowing his continuing need. Roland rallied against it, burning through it with the intensity of the kiss. So sweetly she yielded, how hot her tongue was against his, how erotic the little murmurs and gasps that rose in her throat. If he could be addicted to something, it was her.
    Mine.
    Only she would never be his. A vampire and a Paladin? No one would allow it. The council would do everything in its power to keep him from completing the bond. Like, say, calling again for the end of his existence.
    Remember this, remember me when you’re taken from me and the others are fighting over you. Remember and know that none of them can be to you what I am.
    She jerked away, her hand flying up to her mouth.
    He expected her to run now. Damn. She should run. All he wanted to do was drag her to him again. Instead she stood there, perfectly still but for the slim fingers that traced her swollen lips, as if she couldn’t bear the loss of sensation her abrupt withdrawal had caused. If hers burned with the same need as his did, then she probably couldn’t.
    Her chest heaved. Her pupils were wide, their focus flickering between his own eyes and the mouth that had been crushing hers moments before. A pink tongue slipped out, tasted the bow of her top lip, then retreated with a guilty flush to her cheeks.
    He couldn’t help but enjoy her obvious discomfort. If the colors swirling in her essence were any indication, she still didn’t know whether to run or throw herself into his arms again.
    Her chin came up, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “What was that?”
    God she was beautiful when she was angry.
    He was unable to tamp down the smile that curved his lips. “That, my dear Karissa, was me being weak.”
    “How dare you.”
    Yes, how dare he? It was a good question. He dared because she’d been made for him and him alone. And now that he’d had a taste of the paradise she offered, God help—yup, Him too—anyone who said otherwise. He couldn’t tell her that, though, and she expected an answer. Besides, sometimes the simplest answers were best.
    He arched an eyebrow in retort. “You didn’t seem to mind so much.”
    Her cheeks went from baby girl pink to lobster red, and she folded her arms across her chest defensively. “I thought we had a deal.”
    “Really…I don’t recall making any sort of deal with you.” No. There had been no deal. The only deal he was willing to make was to enjoy as much of each other as possible before he was forced to let her go, which, interestingly enough, he’d decided would be when he was dead.
    She took a step back, as if deciding the three feet of space wasn’t enough. She was right.
    “With the rooms.” She made a back and forth swishing motion with her hand. “Ships passing in the night and all that.”
    He closed the distance, reaching out to finger a curl that had drifted down across her shoulder. Soft, silky. She drew in a quick breath. There was desire in her eyes hidden under the embarrassment, anger, and uncertainty. She couldn’t quite hide the want that made her drink in every