Reaching up, he clasped her hand and pressed her palm to his lips. He closed his eyes as he kissed it, then just held it there. “I don’t want that to be who I am,” he murmured despondently.
“That isn’t who you are.”
Opening his eyes, he lowered their clasped hands to his thigh. “It’s just going to get worse, Emma. You know it is.”
Leaning in close, she held his gaze. “If it does, we’ll face it together.”
He shook his head. “This isn’t the life I want for you. Always waiting for the next outburst, the next psychotic break. Watching me lose every bit of myself that you fell in love with.”
“That isn’t going to happen.”
“Emma,” he said, his expression tortured, “you have to face the reality of my future. I’ve been with the network for almost four years. They were studying the virus and seeking a cure long before they found me. And they’ve made no progress since then beyond finding a sedative that can knock me out. The chances of us having a happy ending together are infinitesimally small.”
She swallowed hard, everything within her rebelling against his forecast. “I’ll take those chances if it means I’ll have more time with you.” When he would’ve spoken—another protest no doubt—she again touched his lips. “If it were me, would you walk away?”
He recoiled slightly as though appalled by the mere thought of it. “What?”
“You heard me. If I was the one infected with the vampiric virus and I was the one in the video we just watched, would you walk away?”
He stared at her helplessly. “No.”
“Why?”
He exhaled a sigh of defeat. “Because I would want every moment I could have with you.”
“Then what would you do instead?”
“Fight like hell to keep you sane.”
“Exactly.” Moving over, she settled herself sideways on his lap and pulled his arms around her. “You’re strong, Cliff.” She held out an arm, flexed her biceps in an exaggerated show of muscle, and arched a brow. “I’m strong, too.”
His expression lightened. “Yes, you are.”
“Together, we can do anything. We can fight this. We can beat this. Even though you may think it’s futile, we have to give Melanie and the other doctors more time.” She pressed a tender kiss to his lips. “I know it’s hard, honey, and that things may get worse. But I’ll be here to help you through it. All of it.” She kissed him again. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Those eyes of his brightened further as he dipped his head and claimed her lips in a longer, deeper kiss.
Heat swept through her as his tongue met hers, stroking and teasing.
The fear that had plagued her all week fell victim to the need to feel him against her, to assure herself he was still here, that he was still hers.
Shifting, she straddled his lap.
I thought I’d lost you, she wanted to say but didn’t, knowing it would merely spawn more guilt. “Cliff,” she said instead, “I need you.”
“I need you, too,” he uttered, voice gravelly with desire. Clamping his hands on her ass, he rose. A breeze buffeted her as he sped to the bedroom and lowered her to her feet. He blurred. The sound of cloth tearing filled the room as she felt a tug.
When Emma glanced down, she discovered she was naked with her clothes scattered on the floor around her. Looking up, she met his burning gaze. “Hell yes. Now do you.”
He was bare in seconds, and together they tumbled to the bed. His touch was rough, carrying a hint of desperation that matched her own. But it only made her want him more as she writhed against him, hands exploring. She moaned and urged him on, just wanting him to fill her. But Cliff made her wait while he stroked and teased her until her breath came in short gasps and she balanced on the precipice. Then he plunged inside, his long hard length stretching her and eliciting moans of pleasure as he drove deep, again and again, his luminous amber eyes catching and holding hers until she threw her head back and cried out in ecstasy.
Cliff growled as he came hard, pouring his heat inside her.
Their harsh breaths filled the silence as he braced himself on his elbows, burrowed his arms beneath her, and hugged her close for many long minutes.
Then he made love to her again, their coming together slower, gentler, and full of affection as they took their time exploring each other anew.