Toxic Game (GhostWalkers #15) - Christine Feehan Page 0,97

Damn it, Shylah, whatever this is, we’re in it together.”

She wouldn’t even look at him, instead, she stared at the ground, the tears refusing to stop. Desperate, he did the only thing he could think of. He caught her hair in his fist, pulled her head back and his mouth took hers. He didn’t expect a response and at first, he didn’t get one, although the chemistry between them exploded in his mouth. Her taste was on his tongue. Addictive. Fiery. So hot he needed more.

Then she leaned into him, her body melting into his, all soft, pliant. Her arms slid up his chest to circle his neck and her mouth moved beneath his. Instantly, he knew he was losing control and he wanted to. He wanted to crawl inside of her. She set him on fire. His skin, his cock and his soul. All of him. Every inch. He hadn’t known kisses could do that until he experienced kissing Shylah. He hadn’t even been into kissing that much. It had always been more for the woman, but now, he devoured her.

When he lifted his head, she pushed her forehead against his chest. He held her, his arms tight around her, trying to tell her without words that no matter what, he would be there for her.

No matter what. He glanced down at the top of her head. Sweetheart. You don’t have to look at me, but are you experiencing symptoms? Do you have a headache? What is it?

Her body was warm, but it was hot in the forest and the rain hadn’t cooled things down. If anything, they were sweaty and muggy. In the trees they’d been protected somewhat, but the wind wasn’t in the least cool and on the roof, she would have felt like she was being blasted by a furnace. They’d just run, that would heat their bodies as well.

He felt her head move. She was nodding, but she still didn’t look at him. Exhaustion. Fatigue. Whatever you want to call it. I can barely lift my arms up. It came on fast. And my body hurts, all my muscles. I’ve never felt like this before.

She’d never been sick. Shylah didn’t get viruses. His heart skipped a beat and then began pounding. She wasn’t supposed to get sick. Trap had said they were both infected, but they were fighting it off. She wasn’t supposed to get sick. He hadn’t allowed himself to think of that possibility. He tightened his arms around her as if that would save her. It didn’t matter that he knew they’d both been infected. He wasn’t prepared for her to get sick.

“All right, sweetheart. Let’s get back to the house. We were up all night and traveling back and forth, all those miles separating us from the MSS village … It’s tiring. Isn’t that what you keep saying to me?”

She nodded her head, still very close to his chest, close enough that he felt the deep breath she took. He knew the moment she got herself together. He knew Shylah Cosmos was the woman for him. In the absolute worst of circumstances, she would stand. He let her step away, but he reached for her hand.

“I think we should get married.”

She tilted her head to look up at him, but her mouth curved into that smile that always teased every one of his senses. Amusement. She could feel it and give him that same sense of playfulness and joy that she seemed to have in abundance. “I think you’re a little crazy, Draden.”

“It makes sense.”

“It makes no sense. Why would we get married?”

“Because when I die, I want to go out as your husband.” He’d put the idea out there because he knew she’d smile, but once he voiced it, he found he wanted to marry her.

She walked in silence for a few minutes, not shooting him down, but clearly giving it some thought. “Do you think we have time for that? We’re in Indonesia. Even if we got married, would it be legal?”

He grinned at her. “We’re going to be dead before it matters, but I think yes. I’ve heard it can be done.”

“We’re not really thinking of doing this, are we?” She looked up at his face as they walked.

Draden pulled her under his shoulder, needing to feel as if he were protecting her. He loved looking down at her face. Shylah was back to being herself, that woman who accepted who and what she was as well as who