"I'd never put you in harm's way. As long as I'm wearing this" - he pointed to the silver cuff on his arm - "I will no' lose control of myself."
"What does that do?" She eyed it suspiciously. "Where'd you get it?"
"The... witches." He seemed to have just stifled a shudder. "The inscription on the cuff makes it so that I will no' change involuntarily."
"I thought you told me you'd never ally with the witches."
"My cousin has since married one, and I approached them about this. I did it for you."
Against her will, she felt herself softening. She knew what that must have cost him. "How long have you had it?"
"About ten months. Why?"
"How'd you stay away from me during the first two full moons?"
10
"I figured out a way," he said with a shrug.
"Did you... hurt yourself?"
"Would you care?"
"I'm not unfeeling, MacRieve."
"I figured it out. That's all you need to know."
By using other women? Lucia could just imagine his clan bringing females to satisfy him. She didn't even want to contemplate why the thought burned her, like acid seething on tender skin. "Are you sure that cuff will keep you from going all... wolfy?"
He raised a brow. "It's worked for the better part of a year." When she still looked doubtful, he added, "They put a House of Witches guarantee on it."
Then it would work.
"Wolfy, is it? And what do you know about my turning?"
"I asked around when I figured out I was your... mate."
He stood, crossing to her. "Well, let's hear it."
"Basically, you'll lose your mind, turning animalistic, hunting me down until you claim me repeatedly, biting my neck and marking me as your possession. Nothing will stop you - no cage can hold you. Did I miss anything?"
"Aye, Lousha." His gaze raked over her and his voice deepened. "The fact that you're going to like it."
Merely talking about marking her flesh made Garreth grow hard as steel. It was a burning need within him. "Do you want to know the rules or no'?" At her glare, he said, "Now, I'm sure you want your bow back. And every indication from you says you want my... knowledge. So you're going to let me have my way with you each night we're aboard. And also whenever there's a storm with lightning to disguise yours - "
"It won't happen! Does what I need or want count for nothing in your mixed-up idea of a relationship?"
"Aye, if you'll admit what you truly need and want. My Instinct's screaming that you need me, that you ache. I sense it in you - hell, I'm sensing it right now. I canna rest until I ease you."
"I didn't ask for this! For you - "
"You ask for it every goddamned time you're near me, beauty." He closed in on her, until their bodies were only inches apart. "Doona ever doubt that."
She gazed up at him, lips parted, her breaths shallowing.
"Do you know what it's been like to scent your desire for me? I'm lured by it, wanting it so badly, and then you lash out at me. Can you imagine the frustration, Lousha? I've got a year of it pent up inside me." He leaned down, and against her neck, he murmured, "Or what it was like to find my female after so many centuries and then to be a heartbeat away from being inside her?" At her ear, he said, "I canna count how many times I re-imagined that night, fantasizing I'd sunk into your trembling body. In my mind, I've claimed you a thousand times. And from your expression, lass, I am no' the only one who's imagined us together."
"No!" she cried, even as she stared at his lips and moistened her own. Her hips had begun subtly rocking toward him. Her hardened ni**les were jutting points against her red shirt. "Let me go!"
"Damn you, Lousha!" He twisted away, launching his fist at the exterior wall, punching a hole straight through. "What do you want from me? Tell me why your words never match your actions! Why you respond so sweetly, then grow afraid?" He exhaled, regretting his show of temper. "It's making me crazed."
She backed away. "I can't. Because you wouldn't understand."
- Soothe her. Be gentle. She knows fear. -
Lucia looked woebegone and fragile. And as much as Garreth talked a big game, the Instinct was driving him not only to claim her, but also to please her.
When she dropped her head into her hands, his brows drew together. "Come now, doona fret like this." He curled his forefinger under her chin, lifting her face. "Vow to the Lore that you never want to see me again. And I'll go," he said. "That's all you have to do to end this running." What a gamble.
What a lie...
25
Say it! Lucia's lips parted to answer, to tell MacRieve that she wanted him gone from her life, never to return. To tell him she didn't desire him and never would.
But everything he accused her of was true. He touched her and judgment was lost, discipline gone so easily she knew she never had a chance of denying them anyway.
Damn it, tell him you hate him! No words came out. When she glanced away, he said softly, "Face it, lass. Respect my will in this. I'll be inside you this night."
"I'll fight you."
"Ah, we both know you'll melt for me. One kiss and you're mine."
He leaned down to kiss her ear. Not the ears... Her ni**les budded even harder. Even as she wanted to arch her back to rub them against his chest, she murmured, "Impossible."
Before she could protest, he'd lifted her in his arms.
"MacRieve, no!"
After kicking the balcony doors closed, he carried her to the bed.
"I can't do this! I won't do this."
Once he set her down, she scrambled to the head of the bed, curling her knees to her chest. "I won't let you make love to me."
"Ach, woman!" He raked his fingers through his hair. "You want me as much as I want you."
"Assuming that's true - "
"It's true."
" - I can't. Not now."
"It's no' your time of the month. I know that."
"Ew." Valkyrie didn't have periods. "You're the only one here with a monthly cycle, werewolf."
He scowled. "Then what?"
"Have you ever heard of the Skathians?"
He thought for a moment. "Aye. Man haters. Like the Amazons but crueler. And with arrows."
She raised her brows at that. "I happen to worship the great huntress Skathi." Worship, but sometimes I hate her.