again.”
“You’d be putting both yourself and the baby in danger!”
Breathing hard, she glared at him. “Let me see if I’ve got this right. You’ll be actively courting weeks of continued danger that I’m supposed to accept without question, because… what, I’m supposed to be happy that you want to date me—later—at a time that is more convenient for you and your coven? But when I want to assert my right to take back control of my life, you get to dictate that it isn’t okay? You say you want a negotiation, but I’m not buying what you’re putting on the table.”
He roared, “You can’t defend yourself—you haven’t any training yet!”
“Well, I’d better go back and start getting some, hadn’t I?” She wanted to touch him so badly it almost broke through her resolve, but she stiffened her spine and held her ground. “You want time? Great. You’ve got your eighteen weeks to clean up your shit, and then I’m coming home. And if you think you’re good enough to take out this mysterious bad guy of yours, then you’re good enough to keep me safe while I’m there, so maybe this will be what you need to shake something loose. It will sure as hell be your opportunity to step up.”
“I’m too angry to talk right now,” he said over his shoulder. His voice had gone hoarse. “Get the fuck out of my face.”
Her lips tightened. “Right. I’ve got a plane to catch anyway.”
“Don’t go,” he whispered.
She had planned it all carefully. She would fly in only to see what he had to say. She wouldn’t stay, she wouldn’t weaken and sleep with him again no matter how much she was tempted, and she would be back in her wonderful turret bedroom before dawn.
But now she hesitated. What if this was the last time she saw him? He would be pushing harder than ever to finish what he had started before she returned to Atlanta.
Not stopping to second-guess the impulse, she flung herself at him. He pivoted, and arms like iron bands closed around her.
He knew her body so well already. He knew how to shape himself around her, how to tilt her head back, how to plunder the depths of her mouth until they were both shaking. He kissed her as if he almost hated her.
“I could stop you,” he said against her mouth.
“You could try.” She strained to hold him tighter. She knew his body too, and God, it felt so good to feel his larger, muscular frame taut against hers. “But I don’t see how confining me is going to get you any closer to a first date.”
“Goddamn you.” He leaned his forehead against hers, eyes closed.
“Well, goddamn you,” she told him. “Because if you think the next eighteen weeks of worrying about you are going to be easy, you can think again.”
They stood together, breathing quietly, in sync. She could tell when, gradually, his anger eased. She put a hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat underneath his broad, hard sternum. He was a difficult man, but she knew a few things about him now, and he had a strong, good heart.
Underneath it, his Power shone dark and smooth like the depths of a bottomless lake. After starting to wrestle with her own unruly Power, she had begun to understand a little of what he must have gone through to achieve that even, polished balance.
Then he said more gently, “Thank you for the eighteen weeks.”
“I’ve got my first appointment with my new doctor next week.” She cleared her throat. “We’ll work out a schedule of visits. I’ll let you know when the first ultrasound is.”
Because that would begin the eighteen-week countdown.
Chapter Eighteen
It was his turn to nod. “I’m still furious. Don’t expect me to be rational if you need to talk further.” His voice turned husky. “But I really want you to stay.”
God, she was so tempted. Just throw everything to the winds and wreck herself on him.
She shook her head. “I just… I can’t.”
Oh, who the hell was she fooling. She had already wrecked herself on him. She might make it sound like she had a good game going, but inside she was a twenty-car pileup.
Would leaving right now save her the tiniest bit of anguish if he was killed in Atlanta before they could see each other again? Or would she be haunted by the time they could have had if she had only opened herself up to it?
She only realized she was opening