Ivar's Escape (Assassins of Gravas #2) - N.J. Walters Page 0,53

Her voice was hoarse.

If she wanted a fight, he’d give her one. “Make me.”

Chapter Fourteen

Maybe if I ignore him, he’ll go away.

Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen. Staying under the covers was preferable, but he wouldn’t leave until he had his say.

I can do this.

She had no other choice. Drawing on all the strength she possessed, she pulled a blanket of calm around her and rolled out of bed, grateful she was fully dressed except for her boots. “What do you want?”

He walked slowly toward her, his gaze sweeping her from head to toe. Her entire body quivered. “You’ve been crying?” It sounded like an accusation.

She flinched when he stroked his fingers over her cheek. “It’s nothing.”

Back in the medibay, he’d been flat on his back in bed. Now he towered over her, making her even more aware of his muscled arms and chest. It would be so easy to lean against him, to rest her head on his chest and listen to the firm beat of his heart.

“I know what you’re doing.” His deep voice seeped under her skin, warming her. It wasn’t fair how her body responded to his nearness.

“What I’m doing is trying to sleep. I haven’t gotten much lately.” Be professional. Keep it impersonal.

“That’s my fault. Thank you for staying with me.”

Who had told him? Could have been anyone since it wasn’t exactly a secret. She forced herself to shrug. “Someone had to watch out for you. I have a stake in your arriving home in one piece.”

His jaw tightened and a muscle flexed. Didn’t like that, did he? Too bad. She needed to keep the distance between them.

He stroked his thumb over her jaw. It would be smarter to step away, but she couldn’t seem to make her legs obey. She yearned for his touch, for the gentleness and caring he’d brought into her life.

Emotions make you weak.

That had been drilled into her since she was a child in training to become an assassin. But she loved her brother and Sass. That emotion had been used to manipulate and control all of them.

Now it gave Ivar something to use against her.

“So you were just doing your job?”

“Right.”

“Liar,” he whispered as he leaned down. His lips hovered over hers. She swallowed heavily, her mouth dry.

Move away. Now!

Her legs refused to listen. She rose on her toes and pressed her lips against his.

Hadn’t she already cried over him, let him go once? Why was she doing this?

Because there was no other choice. For better or worse, she loved him. It made no logical sense, but she didn’t care.

“Delphi.” He said her name once before dragging her against him, his arms banding around her, holding her as though he’d never let her go.

Yes! She allowed the fantasy to consume her for a brief moment of madness. Their tongues tangled—exploring, tasting, sharing, and taking. She burrowed closer, drawing his heat into her chilled body.

He lifted her right off her feet and stepped toward the bed.

“Stop.”

He halted, still holding her.

“What are we doing?”

“I would have thought that was obvious.” His sexy smile went straight to her core, bringing with it an aching need.

“The sex was great.” Understatement of the millennium. “But it can’t go beyond that, so why bother?” One of them had to keep their head.

He heaved a sigh and set her down on the bed, going to his knees in front of her. “Why can’t it go beyond that?” He fingered one of her curls before combing it behind her ear. “You told me you loved me. I didn’t imagine that.”

Just lie. She opened her mouth. Then shut it.

He lifted one of her hands and pressed it against his chest. “Kismara,” he began.

“What does that mean?” She knew it was some form of endearment.

“It means heart. You’re my heart, Delphi.”

No, she couldn’t listen, couldn’t start to believe. “I know you think that now, truly believe it. But once you’re home, you’ll realize it was only sex. Yes, you care. You’re a good man. But you didn’t have any memories and I was there.”

The muscles under her hand turned to steel. “So you’re saying it was only proximity? Or maybe the moment? You don’t love me?”

“It’s not about me.” She withdrew her hand and peered over his shoulder at the wall. “It’s about you not knowing who you were.”

“So you think I’m weak.”

Startled, she jerked her eyes back to his face. His nostrils flared as he took several deep breaths. “No, you’re not weak at all. You’re strong. You