able to decapitate one demon that way didn’t mean he could do it again. Maybe this bizarre strength was temporary as his body completed the mating to become immortal. “Listen, Evan. I’m not sure what’s happening to you and how you’re changing, but I think we need to set a couple of parameters here.”
Was that amusement in his eyes? “Interesting. Tell me how I’m changing.”
She’d wanted to talk about parameters, but maybe they should discuss this. “I don’t really know, but it seems like new ‘immortal pain-in-the-ass’ testosterone, or whatever male demons or vampires have, is flooding you and changing you a bit. I’m sure it will abate.” She hoped. Forget the fact that it was sexy and intriguing. She’d better set him straight now.
“Hmm.” He ran his free hand down her arm, the touch electrifying. And possessive. “Different theory. The illness I had as a human changed me, and now that I’m getting healthy, and believe me, I feel healthy again, maybe I’m going back to my default setting. This is the real me, Tabitha.”
“I’m not certain what that means,” she admitted, acutely aware of the strength he now possessed as well as the fact that they were in bed together. Intimacy wound around them, through her. She swallowed, trying to hide the sudden sense of vulnerability.
“You never have to fear me. I promise.” He tugged her down and rolled on top of her, heat and male pressing her to the mattress and stealing her breath. “I understand that we’re both in new worlds all of a sudden, and we can navigate it all together. But you need to understand, I’m not relenting on this one fact. We are a team, and that’s how we’ll proceed forward.”
“A team has a leader,” she said, her gaze dropping to his mouth.
“We can divide the tasks,” he said, grinning. “I remember the early days before my mom passed away, and my parents created a plan together. She handled school and he handled sports. She handled health and church, and he dealt with the money. They worked well together.”
She blinked. “That sounds like a good family. I’m sorry you lost them.”
His face softened. “You are a sweetheart sometimes. You don’t have family?”
The idea hurt. “No. There’s nobody.”
“Wrong. There’s me. You and me.” He kissed her forehead, his lips heated. “Are you mine, Tabi?”
Whoa. Wow. “Um.” A jolt of awareness and want took her by surprise. His? Her thighs softened. “This isn’t turning out like I thought.” Yeah, her voice went hoarse and needy, and her core started to ache. For him. Only for Evan O’Connell, a male it appeared she couldn’t control.
His grin held steel. “I figured. Why don’t you tell me what you’d planned?”
That was the problem. She never planned—or hardly ever. “Well, I guess I thought you’d be grateful I’d saved your life and then I’d kind of protect you from afar and do my thing.” It was difficult to concentrate with his hard body over her.
He shifted his weight, settling his rigid cock between her legs. Only the thin material of her panties separated them. She bit back a moan.
By the flaring of his eyes, he felt it against his chest. “Is that how things usually go with immortals?”
She snorted. “No. Not at all. Didn’t you notice that either Dage or Max could’ve taken both of us out if either of us had threatened Emma? I’m sure the queen can fight, and I’m also sure the queen has never needed to fight.” She paused. “But—”
“No but. I’ve had more fighting experience than you have, and it appears I’m stronger.” He frowned, for the first time losing the arrogant glint in his eyes. “We’re going to have to watch that and make sure I can control it. I’d never want to hurt you. Or anybody else, really.”
Relief swamped her. Evan was back. The one she knew. “I agree, and I’m willing to stay here until you feel comfortable with your new powers. We’ll work on it until you’re sure you’ve got it under control.”
“Tell me about the Popovs so I can handle them,” he said.
Damn it. The Evan she’d known was so not back. “I’ll handle them.”
He brushed his nose across hers, both hands sliding her camisole up her ribcage. “If I haven’t been clear, I apologize. You are no longer handling anything by yourself.”
The thrill that took her was because of his warm hands and not the thought that she wasn’t alone. That this big, strong, badass of a gentle