She leaned into him, yielding as the intensity of the bond between them grew hot and demanding. Whatever she'd accidentally done to him in the alley, she'd sealed them together in a way he never thought possible. Their souls already linked, all that was left was for their bodies to become one as well.
"Stay with me, and he'll never hurt you again," he whispered against her lips. "I swear it."
"You can't stop what comes, Jule. Only I can," she replied. "I can't stay more than tonight."
Her words lit his blood on fire, and he eased her back against the couch, their magics swirling around them.
* * * Yully slept deeply until the next morning and awoke rested. The bedroom in the cottage was chilly with the door to the living room closed. The first thing she felt was the bond to Jule, who was in the next room. It was warm and sweet, like a summer rain. Their lovemaking seemed to cement what was between them. Without touching him, she still felt the ebb and flow of energy.
Her father would notice her absence.
Yully rose and dressed herself, preparing herself mentally to tell Jule she had to leave him. Her hand rested on the doorknob. Their bond felt permanent, and she had no idea what to do about it. She opened the door. He reclined on the couch, shirtless. Her eyes fell to his frame, and she took him in with hunger and appreciation. He looked up as she exited the bedroom. His gaze was calm and intense, and she flushed beneath his scrutiny.
"You're leaving," he said before she could speak.
"I'm afraid I must."
"I brought your car."
A heavy silence fell, and she met his gaze finally. She wasn't sure what she expected from him, but she was relieved to see he was neither angry nor sad. Desire rose within her, and she suppressed it with effort. Her body ached to feel whole again, as she had last night in his arms. She felt the sense of being centered for the first time in her life and knew it was because of the man before her.
"It wasn't the last time," he said with a small smile.
"Jule …" she said with a frown.
"I told you once, sweetheart. I'll always come for you."
"Yully. My name is Yully Hughes."
"Nice to meet you finally, Yully Hughes." He rose with feline grace from the couch and approached, hand outstretched.
She took it, and he pulled her in for a hug that made her sigh.