Deeper than the Night - By Amanda Ashley Page 0,49
rang in his ears as he stood up and left the cavern.
He watched the last rays of the setting sun vanish beneath a cloak of twilight. Head tilted back, he stared into the heavens, overcome by a yearning for home, for that which was familiar and forever lost. Two hundred years he had lived on this planet, and he was still a stranger. Two hundred years since he had allowed a woman to hold him, to love him.
He felt her presence behind him, caught her scent on the wind stirring through the pines.
"Alex?"
"Go back into the cavern, Kara. You're not safe with me."
"I'm not afraid."
"I am. I can't be near you and not touch you. I can't touch you and not want to make you mine."
"It'll be dark soon," she reminded him. "And then. . ."
Slowly, he turned to face her. "Kara, you know what I am. How can you want me to touch you?"
"I love you." She shook her head. "I love you. Nothing else matters." She grinned up at him, hoping to erase his sour expression. "I've been your wife since yesterday, and I'm still a virgin. Don't you think it's time we remedied that?"
"Past time," he agreed.
It seemed he was gone for days, but in truth it was less than an hour. Surely the fastest anyone had ever traveled down the narrow mountain road and back again.
Kara felt suddenly shy as Alex swung her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. The heat of his gaze lit the candles on the wall, and then he was lowering her to the bed, stretching out beside her.
"Don't be afraid," he whispered.
"I'm not," she replied, but it was a lie and they both knew it.
"Kara, we don't have to do this."
"No, I want to, really . . ."
Alex took a deep breath. Perhaps he was rushing her. He couldn't blame her for being anxious and uncertain. With a sigh, he slipped his arm around her and drew her close. He felt the tension thrumming through her, could almost hear the fierce pounding of her heart.
"Relax, Kara. I'm just going to hold you, nothing more." Gently, he rubbed his knuckles over her cheek, his movements slow and soothing.
"I'm sorry."
"It's all right, Kara. It's better this way. When this mess with Barrett is over, I'll take you home."
"What do you mean?"
"This isn't going to work."
"Alex . . ." She started to rise, but he held her in place.
"It won't work between us," he said quietly. "I was a fool to think otherwise." He stilled her protest by placing his hand over her mouth. "No matter how much alike we are, Kara, I'm afraid it will never be enough to overcome our differences. I think you'll always be a little afraid of me, and I can't live with you, knowing that. I don't blame you for the way you feel. It's natural to be afraid of what we don't understand."
Kara took his hand from her mouth, pushed his other arm away, and sat up.
"You idiot! I'm not afraid of you. Don't youthink I know you won't hurt me? Honestly, Alexander Claybourne, sometimes you make me want to scream!"
He stared up at her, his brow furrowed. "I don't understand."
Kara let out a huff of exasperation."Men! The only thing I'm nervous about is . . . is that I've never . . ." She shook her head, wondering why it was so hard to say what was on her mind. "I've never gone all the way before, you jerk, and I feel stupid because I'm so nervous, and I don't know why. I know what's involved, I know how it's done, I've just never done it! And I'm afraid you'll be disappointed . . . ."
Her voice trailed off and she looked away, feeling incredibly stupid.
"That's what this is all about? You're afraid you'll disappoint me?"
She nodded, too embarrassed to meet his gaze. She was supposed to be a grown woman, but she suddenly felt as if she was fifteen years old and out on her first date.
"Kara . . ."
"I love you, Alex," she whispered.
Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her onto his chest. "And I love you. Never forget it. Never doubt it for a minute. I love you . . . ."
Cupping her face in his hands, he kissed her gently. And that kiss burned away all of Kara's doubts and fears. She loved him. She wanted him. And he was there.