Diana frowned. “How long could that possibly be?”
“A while. Though when we’re at my home you’ll be more secure, so we won’t have to share a chamber. Doona worry. I’ll take the chair.” He nodded at the big chair near the window.
“Um, okay. Thanks.” Was she happy about that? Strangely, she didn’t feel the relief she’d expected. In fact, she didn’t know what else to say, and suddenly the room felt very tiny. “I guess I’m going to go shower.”
CHAPTER NINE
What the hell have I gotten into? Diana’s mind tumbled over itself as she tried to relax beneath the gentle fall of water, the thin stream leaving a lot to be desired in the pressure department.
One day she had a nice stable life and the next she had a destiny that involved fleeing from demons while she tried to figure out the mystery of her past.
It sounded crazy. She shivered despite the heat of the shower. This mess felt like a carrot being dangled in front of her starving rabbit self. Finally, a chance to figure out the nightmares that had stalked her to this day. All she had to do was get past some demons. No big deal.
Just like the wildly attractive man now pacing in the room beyond the door. What was she supposed to do about him? She didn’t date much because of her workload, and she’d certainly never been around a man quite like him.
His past was tragic, though how he dealt with it was admirable. She felt strangely comfortable in his presence, despite their short acquaintance—as though he could actually protect her from this nightmare.
Diana sighed, shut off the water, and grabbed a towel from the rack. She swept the curtain back from the old clawfooted tub that had been converted into a shower. She shivered as she stepped out of the tub onto the tile floor, then immediately slipped in a puddle.
A curse broke free of her lips as she tried to catch the shower curtain and scrabbled for purchase. The curtain rod snapped, clanged like falling steel pipes, and her curse bounced off the walls of the small bathroom.
Damn. She’d probably alerted the cavalry.
She swore again as Cadan burst through the door and caught sight of her sprawled on the ground. She clutched the towel to her chest; it barely covered the essentials.
He strode toward her, concern in his dark eyes, and swept her up.
She gasped as he pressed her against the wall, his strong hands gripping her upper arms gently. The heat and roughness of his palms burned into her skin, and she thought inanely of the towel that threatened to slip off. Her sanity wavered under the intensity of his gaze. She barely knew him, but her body didn’t agree with that sentiment.
“Are you all right, lassie?” His voice was rough with worry, his dark brows drawn over eyes that burned with some intense, unrecognizable emotion. Anger, lust, something else? Whatever it was made it almost impossible to drag air into her failing lungs.
Kiss me. Rational Diana slipped to the back of her brain. She raised her hand to his chest, biting her lip when the muscles tightened beneath her palm.
“Diana,” Cadan whispered roughly, emotion in his voice that she couldn’t recognize. Maybe he couldn’t either.
He cupped the back of her head with a callused palm, lifting her face to his. She pushed futilely against his chest. No, I shouldn’t want this.
But she couldn’t make herself speak the words. Didn’t want to speak the words.
He drew her to him, her token resistance a fly that he swatted away. His eyes darkened, a storm within them, and he glared at her before crushing his mouth to hers.
A moan escaped her as she felt his mouth close warm and firm over hers. She struggled to resist, but when his tongue pressed against the seam of her lips, she parted them, eager for the heat of his invasion.
His tongue stroked hers, sending a lightning bolt of pleasure through her body straight to her pussy.
“Ah, lassie, you taste sweet,” he murmured against her lips.
She stood on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, sinking her hands into his hair. Her movement caused him to groan, a dark sound of delight that made her shiver. Encouraged, she bit his lower lip, laving it with her tongue as she held it fast.
He gripped her hair with his fist, tilting her head for better access, and wrapped one strong arm around her waist to yank her against him. The move pulled her up against his chest until she could feel the ridges of muscle in sharp definition. He took control again with his mouth and his hands. The things he could do with his tongue made her shiver and the strength left her legs.
Finally. She was darkly thrilled to have her hands on such a magnificent male. She’d wanted this for so long, but had never found anyone who made her feel anything more than vague apathy. But he, stranger though he might be, felt like what she’d been waiting for.
Running her hands down his strong neck, she tentatively began to explore the muscular contours of his shoulders and chest. How could he possibly be built like this? It wasn’t natural. Normal humans didn’t have such a perfect combination of muscle and lean strength. Her hand inched toward the hem of his shirt, intent upon feeling the heat of his skin against her flesh.
Cadan shuddered. “That’s it, love.”
He trailed his lips lightly across her cheek to her throat. She gasped as she felt his warm mouth close over the sensitive spot at the curve between her shoulder and neck. Heat shot through her veins, and she felt a throbbing deep in her center.