“He’s my brother,” she pointed out. “I’ll deal with him.”
“No, when you want to tell him, we’ll do it together, Liv,” he insisted, his tone sharp.
Releasing a breath in frustration, she pulled away from him and snared him with a lousy glare. “Why?”
“Because I’ve had to watch him treat you…” He looked away then met her gaze. “…
unfavorably
for months, and I’m not doing it anymore,” he barked, his voice steeped in anger. “I’ve waited for you, Liv. I’ve waited a
long
fucking time. I’ve stood by and watched him…” Running his fingers through his hair, he released a breath. “I heard him scream at you during the first Guardian meeting you attended. I’ve never wanted to kill anyone with that ferocity—not even the men responsible for killing my family and making me an orphan.”
His eyes now glowed, his body practically shaking with rage, his demon an inch from the surface of his lovely exterior.
“Every cell in my body told me to avenge you against your own blood, and while every cell in my damn body told me to kill him, I had to sit back and watch—for
you
. I’ll rip my own heart out of my damn chest before I sit back and let you face him alone.”
She’d intended to defend her brother. The words were about to tumble from her lips, yet all she could think of was the angry Cain that stood before her, and the overwhelming conflicting emotions in his admission: rage, remorse, desire.
“Okay,” she said. She closed the distance between them, and softly grazed her fingers down his chest.
Instantly, his eyes lost their animosity and calmed. His muscles relaxing, he laid his hand over hers then lowered his head and shook it before his eyes met hers again. “I’m sorry, darling,” he said. He gripped her hand, pulling it to his lips and kissing it. “Sorry for losing it again.”
A soft smile tugged at her lips. “I love you,” she blurted. She had intended to finally justify her brother’s tantrums, but instead she’d been overcome with love. Her male cared little for her brother the alpha or status within the pack, but cared deeply for her.
He kissed her, cupping the back of her head, and pulling her lips toward his. His tongue lapped against hers softly. When he released her, there was a broad charming smile plastered across his face.
“You know, when I lose my temper, sometimes you should try to get upset with me…or at least pretend.” He feathered several soft kisses on her cheek, drifting down toward her neck. “When will we ever fight if you’re so accepting of my irrational moods?”
She laughed because there was too much truth in his statement. “Yeah, well, I can say the same.”
Suddenly, her laugh died, and she turned serious. “Cain, I love my brother. You can’t kill him,” she said firmly.
Pulling away from her neck, he chuckled dryly. “I would never kill your brother, darling. No matter how much I want to. I know how much he means to you. I’d love to rearrange his attitude.”
“He’s just temperamental—”
“Yeah, to my
mate
, and that ends now.”
“He’s a good man, Cain. I wish you could see him the way I do.”
Sighing heavily, he said, “I’m grateful to him. I never understood until…you told me everything he’s been for you: a father, a mother, a brother. I’m glad you had him, your own brother, to raise you. Hell, of all people I
can
understand that, I would’ve had no one if Lucas hadn’t taken me in, but he tries to control you and mistreats you in the process.”
“He’s controlling, overbearing and intrusive, but he’s never raised a hand to me in anger, ever. I know it’s hard to believe but he’s loving and caring. Until recently, he never raised his voice at me and that had more to do with his situation,” she said, referring to him denying his female, Jocelyn, “…than anything else.”
“I know, but it doesn’t make it right,” he said. “He won’t be happy about us, Liv. You know that, right?”
She nodded, then her gaze fell away from his.
He lifted her chin with his index finger, forcing her to focus on him again. “You are mine, Liv. I’ve waited for
you
, not for his acceptance. I’ll fight for you if I have to. I meant everything I said. I want to mark you so bad my soul aches. Nothing would gratify me more than you bearing my brand. I want to marry you in that church you mentioned. I know your brother’s approval means a lot to you, so I’ve held back today because I don’t want you strolling back home bearing my mark without talking to him first.”
“But you can’t wait any longer and neither can I. I trust you—”
“I’ve waited too long. I might turn when we—”
“So, turn. I couldn’t care less,” she cut him off. “It doesn’t matter to me whether you mark me. I love my brother, but this is you and me. You’re my male and as far as I’m concerned I don’t have to consult with anyone to bear my male’s mark.”
“You care and you’ll be miserable if you don’t discuss this with him—”
“You’re right, but there’s no more waiting, Cain. If it happens, it happens.”
He smiled. “You are a beautiful contradiction, darling, naïve and vivacious, shy yet stubborn, beautiful and strong and I love you for every bit of it.”
“Well, well, I don’t know whether to be insulted or flattered,” she commented, her voice tinged with sarcasm.
“Flattered,” he said automatically. “Can’t you see beauty in contradiction?”
His lips lingered too close to hers for her to summon the strength to formulate a response. He traced her lips with his tongue then ran his fingers through her hair, wrapping it around his wrist and pulling slightly, tilting her head back. His lips then trailed down her neck as his other hand ran up and down her back, trailing fire and ice with a single touch. Desire melted within her, pooling at her center. He pressed her closer. She felt every muscle and every tendon as she drew her hands down his chest toward his neatly outlined abs.
He pulled her away slowly. “Darling,” he urged. “I think I asked you a question.”
“You’re a tease,” she said breathlessly. “So I can’t remember the question.”
He chuckled; his breath hit her in waves. “Dancing,” he said. “I promised you dancing.”
A second later, they were in Fira, and she’d never been more disappointed. The cool breeze made her shiver as soon as he pulled away from her. He ran his hands up and down her shoulders briefly then turned her toward the small capital of the island. Draping an arm around her shoulders, he led her forward. The narrow pebbled streets were cramped with tourists: some loud and rambunctious, some couples lost in lust. Both made her wish they’d never left the comfort of her home.
He leaned into her ear and whispered, “Where’s the best place to dance?”
He wouldn’t let it go. She couldn’t be mad because he was honorable, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Olivia pulled Cain toward the first bar she spotted with blaring music. As they passed over the threshold, a new song started, one of her favorites. She began swaying to the beat, shifting her hips, letting the music guide her. He grabbed her hand, let her tread forward and spun her, then he placed his hands on her hips, pressing her back toward his chest as he swayed with her.
She’d forgotten what a good dancer he was.
He turned her quickly, so she faced him. His hand pressed firmly on the small of her back, crushing her body to his. The suddenness made her breath hitch, but not for long.
A second later, his lips pressed against hers; his tongue spreading her lips apart then invading her mouth, forcefully exploring her. Their kiss was over as quickly as it’d been initiated.
He led her to the bar. “The usual, Mrs. Thaler?” he whispered in her ear.
She nodded, still unable to speak and smiled. There wasn’t much about her he didn’t know now and vice versa. He knew what she liked and what she didn’t. It fascinated her as deeply as it comforted her. Small details like those allowed her to, in reflection, look favorably upon the time they’d spent as friends when they should’ve been mates.
The bartender placed their drinks on the bar top. Cain handed over his card without a glance at the bartender, then grabbed her drink and handed it to her.
“To my bride,” he said, tapping the edge of his drink against hers. “Need to get you a ring.”
“I don’t need a ring. Everyone will know once I’m marked.”
“Not mortals,” he pointed out.
Mortals?
An immortal mating was much more significant than any mortal marriage. There were no divorces, no annulments, no “we were drunk and in Vegas” or irreconcilable differences. It was truly till death do they part or forever.
Her expression must have given away her thought because the next instant he said, “Humor me. I’m the typical four-hundred-year-old demon, and I don’t fancy reading lust streaming off of men—immortal or otherwise.”
“No one is interested in me—”
His eyes sparked. “Ah, right, another thing I love about you. You’re humble, maybe too humble.” He paused; his eyes scanned the room before they met hers again. “I’ve read lust streaming from every damn man we’ve passed and it was for you, darling.”
“That’s not true.”
He raised an eyebrow, suspiciously. “Are you saying my abilities as an empath are lacking?”
Smiling, in a teasing tone, she said, “I would never—”
“That’s what you’re implying.”
“I would have noticed if men looked at me,” she insisted.
“You only see what you want to see, but for fun and because we still need to finish our drinks before we head out to the dance floor, how about we test my abilities?”
She took a sip of her martini then asked, “How do you plan to do that?”
Before she finished her sentence, he grabbed her drink, and placed it on the bar top. He tucked her body against his; her hands immediately went to his hips. His heat engulfed her, filling every crevice, spiking her temperature to new heights. As he trailed his hand down her spine, her heart thumped louder and louder until she heard it above the sound of the roaring music. He bent slightly, tucking his head in the crook of her neck, running his tongue along her pulse. She was hot, too hot, and she wanted him, then and there.
“You want me, Liv,” he whispered huskily.
Hands fisting the sides of his shirt, she moaned, “Tease.” He chuckled against her, then slowly moved away without releasing her to look into her eyes, his expression mischievous and amused. “I’m only trying to demonstrate my mad skills.”
“That doesn’t prove anything. You’ve had lots of practice, and I’m your mate. Destiny…” Her words fell away when his expression hardened.
Taking a long swig of his drink, he finished it then placed it on the bar and ordered another.
Noticing the change in his mood, she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I haven’t been with anyone since I met you,” he said, his expression torn. “But I’ve felt guilty about…”
He left words unspoken, yet he projected his feelings. She felt guilt and remorse but still couldn’t grasp the reason why. “Why…”
“You’ve been alive for more than a century, and I never searched. You were in the same state, sometimes in the same city…”
Her heart swelled with the thought: her mate, guilt-ridden for never searching for her…as if it would’ve made a difference. She ran her hand down his cheek, loving the roughness of the blond stubble against her palm. “Even if you’d searched, you may have never found me. You found me when fate decided it should be. We’re together now, and that’s all that matters.”
She spoke the words from her heart.
Chapter 19
As the night wore on, it had become breezy, drifting warm air through the bar. They each had two drinks as they talked, laughed and danced.
Thus far, it had been the most memorable day in Olivia’s life. A day when she realized dreams did in fact come true, a day when the love of her life confessed his love for her, and hopefully soon it would be the day she gave the greatest gift she could give him in return, herself. Whether he knew it or not, he was already in possession of her heart and soul, but her body had never been touched, until today it had never been kissed or caressed.
A slow melodic song sounded through the speakers, Cain pulled her body against his in an inescapable hold, swaying with her to the soft beat of the music. Her hands crossed behind his neck, her fingers in his hair.
The song sounded familiar, too familiar. He ran his hand down her back, his fingers lingering over her skin. She shuddered loving a simple touch.
It happened every time. No matter how insignificant the graze, whether his arms wrapped around her or whether it was a soft caress to her cheek, her body imploded with desire.
He sang the lyrics slowly and wonderfully against her lips. His voice drifting through her, comforting her.
As the song continued to play, in those enduring moments suspended in time, nothing existed but them, and the lyrics he uttered. His eyes never left her, seemingly as captivated by her as she was by him.
Too soon the song ended, replaced by yet another dance mix, but neither moved. They were still hanging in their moment, preferring to remain in each other’s arms.
After a long moment, he leaned down, and grazed his lips against hers. The softest, sweetest kiss.
A soft smile spread across his lips, that glimmer in his eyes shining bright. He tightened his arms around her, the arm around her waist and the one around her back, then he buried his face in her neck. Her hands in his hair, she trailed down his back.
“Home,” he whispered.
“Home,” she agreed, then he led her toward the exit.
Moments later, they materialized in her living room. She pulled her head away from the comfort of his chest to stare into his too blue eyes, but he didn’t release her and she didn’t release him. Instead, he leaned toward her and pressed his lips against hers, a beautiful kiss. Despite the hunger and fierceness in his eyes, the kiss was soft, sweet and sensual.
His lips then roamed down her cheek and lingered over the throbbing pulse along her neck. There, he whispered, “I crave you.”
He’d held back for too long, kept buried his desires as she had. With that simple declaration, she knew he’d given in, made the decision to have her, all of her. Finally. It was about time he gave into what they both longed for.