belong to you. She had loved when he’d said it. She had no idea what a lifemate was, but it had sounded hot and sexy when he’d given her that title. A woman above all others to him. That was how she took it because she’d wanted to believe she was special to him. And she’d wanted desperately to belong to him.
She didn’t do one-night stands. She didn’t hook up. Intimacy meant something to her, as did giving the gift of her body to someone. She made no judgments on others, but she wasn’t wired that way, even when she’d wished that she were. What else had he said? He just stood there, watching her like the predator again. Waiting for her to figure it out.
“Say it. In English. Whatever you said last night,” she ordered softly. She wouldn’t be afraid or intimidated by him no matter how big or dangerous he appeared.
“I offer my life to you. I give you my protection. I give you my allegiance. I give you my heart. I give you my soul. I give you my body.”
The blue eyes never wavered. “And I did give you all of those things. I meant every word. For me, there is no taking it back. For you, there is no way to take it back, either. We’re bound together.”
She wanted to shake her head, to deny what he said, but she was an intelligent woman—most of the time—when her hormones weren’t ruling her, and right then she felt the pull of him, the threads binding them together. She might walk away physically, but she knew she would suffer for a lifetime if she did. No one else would ever satisfy her. She would think of him day and night and need him. Crave him.
“There was more.” Because she needed to know.
His gaze remained absolutely steady. “I take into my keeping the same that is yours.”
He made the statement in that voice, the one that melted her. The one she couldn’t resist. But this time she understood. He wasn’t touching her, frying her brain. She understood. Her heart stuttered. He’d done that. Somehow in the night between his touch, his possession and his vows, he’d managed to take into his keeping her body, heart and soul. She kept her gaze on his.
“Your life will be cherished by me for all my time. Your life will be placed above my own for all time. You are my lifemate. You are bound to me for all eternity. You are always in my care.”
She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue. He took a step toward her and she stepped back, lifting one hand to ward him off. “No. Stop. I have to think.”
He shook his head and walked toward her. “There is nothing to think about. This decision was made last night and again this evening.” He sounded implacable. Fierce. Unafraid. Certain.
How could he be so sure when she was freaking out? She had been certain until that moment he had pushed at her mind, trying to force her to obey him. It was a small push, but she’d caught it. She had the same reaction when anyone tried to manipulate her. Her actions the night before and again this evening had been out of character for her. He hadn’t exactly denied compulsion, although she hadn’t felt it being used on her and she would have . . . wouldn’t she?
He just kept coming until he had her back against the half wall, the hand she’d put out to ward him off smashed right against his chest. He captured that hand and held it tight against him, right over his heart.
“Do you feel that, Charlotte? Do you hear that? My heart beating? Do you feel the rhythm of your heart?” He put his other hand over her heart, fingers stroking caresses over the curve of her breast.
“It isn’t fair,” she whispered.
“What isn’t fair?”
“Owning me with a touch.” Her whisper was barely audible and her gaze slid from his blue eyes down to his hand covering hers on his chest.
“You still do not understand, sielamet.” He lifted her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “You own me. Body and soul. I would never harm you. Not under any circumstances. Whatever you feel for me, I feel even more for you. You make my body come alive. You gave me everything. When a man has had nothing at all, when he’s lived long in a dark, gray void and a