Free A Warrior Wedding by Teresa Gabelman Page B

said you were dying.” Slade’s eyes shifted for a split second, but it was enough for Jill to see.
    “When Hunter said he smelled death, you remained quiet. To me, that’s saying more than words ever could.” Jill looked toward the empty ledge; everyone had slipped away.
    “You are not going to die.” Slade grasped her chin, pulling her attention back to him.
    Jill stared at him for a long moment before saying anything, as if memorizing his features. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Slade.” She kissed his chin, her eyes going back to his. “And don’t expect me to wait around doing nothing until that time comes because I can’t do that.”
    He remained silent, but she could see the storm brewing behind his eyes.
    “Today with my brother was something that I needed, and now with you here in my childhood swimming hole, it’s made this day complete.” Jill cupped his cheek. “I’m going to enjoy whatever time I have left instead of living in fear and hope for whatever is to come. It is what it is.”
    With each word she spoke Slade’s eyes turned dark with anger, but she only spoke the truth and he knew it.
    “So, now”—she gave him a smile filled with mischief—“I double dog dare you to double back flip off the vine and if you fail, you owe me a full day of being my sex slave.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him.
    “I’m not finding any of this funny, Jill.” Slade’s grip tightened on her. He even shook her a little. “You can talk all you want about dying, but I will do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen. First by getting you out of the water.”
    Deep disappointment ravaged her, tears beat against her eyes, but she held them back. “Then we have a serious problem.” She pushed away from him with her weakening strength to swim back to shore, but he grabbed her foot, pulling her back to him.
    “No, you have a serious problem.” Slade’s mouth slammed down on hers. He stopped suddenly as he pulled away. “Because even if you end up hating me, you will survive this, as will Pam.”
    “I could never hate you.” Jill once again pushed away. “But I’ll never let you change me if it means you will lose everything, and that I will fight you about.”
    A flicker of shock registered before his eyes narrowed. “You need to stop eavesdropping on other people’s conversations.”
    Jill shrugged while she swam backwards. “Seems it’s the only way to find out the truth.”
    “I’ve never lied to you.” Slade swam toward her with predatory ease.
    “Keeping information is seen by most as lying.” Jill still swimming backwards swam a little faster.
    “Seems someone didn’t wait around long enough for me to tell her the news.” He snatched hold of her feet, pulled her toward him, and wrapped her legs around his waist. “As a matter of fact, she was out breaking the law hotwiring cars.”
    Jill held on tightly as he walked them out of the water and up the ledge. “Hotwiring that piece of junk isn’t breaking the law.” Jill rolled her eyes when she heard Adam in the distance still bitching about her taking his car. “But that still doesn’t excuse you from lying, Warrior.”
    Slade didn’t set her down once they reached the top, but held her even tighter. “I’ve told you before I’m a very stubborn male. If I say you will not die, you will not die because no matter what I have to do, fuck the risks, I will do. Nothing will take you from me, Jillian ‘soon to be’ Buchanan, is that understood?” When she didn’t answer, he smacked her wet ass. “I asked you a question.”
    “Hey!” Jill jerked with a glare.
    “Do you understand?” His voice remained hard as he waited for her answer.
    “Understood...” Slade always knew when she was lying, so she acted fast to throw him off. “...Master,” she added with a sexy twang to her voice.
    “I don’t believe for a second you meant that.” Slade set her on her feet.
    “I’ll make you a deal.”