Dark Challenge Page 0,60

about the ways of your people."

"Our people," he corrected gently.

"My people are the ones I live with, share my life with. For instance, my brother, the one you tried to kill."

"If I had tried to kill him, cara mia, he would be dead." He raised a hand to prevent her indignant interruption. "I am not saying he would not have taken me with him; he very likely would have. But he was not really trying to kill me either. It was more a matter of being sure. Darius was not going to turn his beloved sister over to a stranger who was unable to protect her. It was a test."

"Darius was testing you?" she repeated slowly. "This is some kind of male thing I should understand? Approve of?"

Julian moved so quickly he was on her before she had time to run. He never gave a warning, never twitched a muscle. He simply was there, his body crowding aggressively close, his hand spanning her throat, his thumb feathering back and forth along her delicate jaw. "Desari, cara, we have no choice but to learn each other's ways. We are bound together. I would like to be able to say the pretty words you want to hear. That I was wrong to force your obedience - "

"Tried to force," she corrected with a flash of her eyes.

Julian bent to brush his lips across the tempting satin of her forehead as amusement crept into the deep gold of his eyes. "Tried to force. That is true. I am fortunate that my lifemate is so powerful. Still, piccola, I was well within my rights to see to your safety. I can do no other than ensure your well-being. Our people cannot afford to lose even one woman, Desari. The total extinction of our race is nearly complete. Our women are our only hope. I will admit that I do not always follow the laws of our people, but in this I have no choice, and neither do you. Your safety and health must be placed above all else. The other woman you have traveling with you must be guarded as well."

She swept a hand through her hair. "Are we meant only to provide children for our race, then? That is the sole reason for our existence?"

"No, cara, your existence is to bring joy to this world, as you have done for so many centuries. God would not have graced you with such a voice, such a powerful tool for peace, had he not meant for you to use it. But" - Julian shrugged his broad shoulders, his thumb tracing a pattern along her neck - "in time, that would be the hope, yes, that you and I would provide our race with more female children. I am uncertain what kind of a father I would make, as I never imagined myself in such a role, but I never thought I would find or be a lifemate either."

Something close to humor flickered for a moment in her eyes. "I cannot say you are a total success in that area." But his praise of her talents had warmed her, as had the drawling caress in his voice, the admiration in the depths of his eyes, the depths of his mind.

His hand found the nape of her neck and drew her inexorably to him as he bent his head to hers. His mouth descended with infinite slowness, then fastened to hers so that he could taste her sweetness. She felt her heart leap at his touch, and her body went into instant melt down. She felt his great strength, the desire surging through him as the heat arced between them. His mouth moved to tease the corner of hers, to blaze a trail of fire along her jaw, her chin.

"I am, however, quite good at one or two other things," he murmured with casual confidence. His teeth nibbled at her chin.

"Is this supposed to get you out of trouble?" She asked it with her eyes closed, savoring the touch and feel of him. All at once it seemed imperative that they be alone.

"I should not be in trouble. I am as new at this as you are, Desari. Up until now I have spent my life entirely alone." His lips skimmed the silken column of her neck. "Trying to fit into this situation is as alien for me as it is for you. If your need is to be with this family unit, then I can do