“That is not good enough, Gabrielle. Say it.”
She swallowed hard, afraid she might get sick, not because her body didn’t want his. In fact, she was growing warm. Too warm. Her breasts ached and she was damper than ever between her legs. But quite frankly, her terror was escalating with every word he said.
“Yes.”
Impatience crossed his face. His fingers tightened, pulled her a breath closer. Her hands landed on his chest and she gasped at the heat pouring off him.
“Yes, what?”
She stared up into that pure green. No gold flecks. No hazel. All burning green. She took a deep breath and threw herself straight into the wolf’s jaws. “I give my body into your keeping.”
Her declaration was met with silence. He stared down into her eyes for what seemed forever. She was terrified he would take her up on her offer. She was just as equally terrified that he wouldn’t.
His fingers went to her chin. “I am very close to the darkness. Too close. I know nothing of modern women. I will expect complete loyalty from you. Complete honesty. And obedience.”
She forced her gaze to remain steady on his. She would not lie to him. “I will give my complete loyalty to you. I will give you complete honesty. I cannot promise obedience.”
Something moved in his eyes. Something hot and wild. Something that sent heat curling in the pit of her stomach.
“You are afraid of me.”
“Yes.”
“Of giving your body to me. I will not take a woman who does not want me. To do that would be pushing myself completely into darkness. I cannot make it through another rising without completing our binding. It is best you put yourself in the ground now and stop tempting me.”
She took another breath. “I do want you. That doesn’t mean I’m not afraid. I am. I’ve never had sex. I don’t know the first thing about pleasing you or what I’m supposed to do. That doesn’t mean I don’t want you. It means I’m embarrassed and inexperienced.”
She clenched her teeth. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t stand there and convince this man to take her body without love. Without care. She started to turn away from him, but his hands prevented her from moving.
“Look at me.”
She knew better than to disobey him right then. His tone was back to an almost snarl. Her gaze jumped to his, and her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t read his expression, but her heart stuttered as his thumb slid very gently over her cheek. His touch was at complete odds with his tone.
He was beautiful in an entirely masculine, savage way. She found herself trembling. His touch, as light as it was, as sweet as it was, felt like a brand against her skin. There was a part of her that screamed at her that she was betraying Gary. The man she loved. The man she had planned to spend her life with. The other half of her screamed she had betrayed this man. She’d left him to complete darkness. To dishonor.
“I cannot merge my mind with yours,” he said, and this time his voice was as gentle as his touch. “I cannot risk seeing him there.”
“I know.”
“That means you have to talk to me.”
“I know.” Her voice was a thread of sound. “I’m so scared, Aleksei.” Her gaze clung to his. She knew she was willing him to keep her safe.
He suddenly leaned down and wrapped his arms around her back and thighs, lifting her easily into his arms, cradling her against his chest.
“There will be no going back from this. Once I make you fully mine, there will be no room for anyone else.”
“I know,” she said again. She couldn’t find air to breathe. Those two words were all that would escape through her pounding heart and burning lungs. She circled his neck with her arms, not knowing what else to do. “I’m really, really afraid,” she admitted.
“He will not be with us,” he continued, his green gaze blazing down into her eyes. “Not in your head. Do you understand me? When I am inside you, there is only the two of us there. Not him. You think of me. You say my name when you give me your surrender.”
That was a decree. More, an ultimatum. She recognized it for what it was. She bit at her lower lip nervously. She didn’t think any other man would dare to enter her mind when she was with Aleksei.
“Gabrielle.” He growled her name in warning.
“No one else.” She whispered her agreement.
It was just sex. Hopefully really, really good sex. She was saving him from the darkness. He needed her. He needed her to save him. She’d worked in a laboratory since her eighteenth birthday. She’d been in college at twelve. Then her masters. Her doctorate. She’d never had the chance to be with boys. To date. To experiment. To think she was in love. To know.