He grinned. “Because I have something more important to do."
She raised an eyebrow, amusement giving way to speculation in her eyes. “More important that tracking down a killer?"
"Very much so."
He caught her hand and pressed it against his chest. The heat of her fingers, combined with the heady richness of her scent, stirred him in ways he'd never thought possible. Not just his body, but where it really mattered—his heart, his soul. If this wasn't love, then he sure as hell didn't know what was. But whatever it was, he wanted it, now and forever.
"Does my lady acknowledge the power of the moon?"
She took a sharp breath, her gaze widening in surprise. But deep in the green of her eyes a joyousness bloomed, and the power of it shimmered right though him. And he knew, right at that moment, that if there was ever one thing in his life he'd done right, then it was this. And he would never regret it, no matter what happened between them.
She took another deep breath and released it slowly. Then she said the words that were the beginning of the end for his moon-spun hold on her. “It is the power of the moon that binds us as one."
The air seemed to stir around them, and energy crackled. Desire and something else, something more ethereal, shimmered between them, warming the night. Warming him.
"Does my lady acknowledge my moon-gifted claim on her?"
She moved a little closer, so that every inch of her supple body seemed pressed against his. “I acknowledge the claim of the moon. I acknowledge the rights it has given you."
He raised her fingers to his lips and kissed each one slowly. Energy zapped between them each time his lips met her skin, making his mouth tingle and his body ache. Or maybe the ache, the magic, had nothing to do with the moon and the power they were raising, but was simply the result of having her so close.
"Then by the right of the moon, and the power she has given me, I hereby renounce my claim on you. For this night, and for the remaining nights the moon has ceded me rights to."
The air seemed to thrum, to burn, at his words. A vortex of power whirled around them, snatching at their clothes, their hair, and, just for an instant, the very breath from his mouth. Then it was gone and all that was left was the two of them.
She rose on her toes and kissed him slowly, softly, and it was unlike any kiss he'd ever shared with her. It was so filled with glorious promise that it shook him to the core.
"Thank you,” she said eventually, “for giving me the choice. For taking that risk."
He raised a hand to her cheek and ran a finger across her lips. “Now we have the chance to uncover whether what lies between is real, or simply the moon madness."
"It may be mad, but I doubt the moon has anything to do with it.” She hesitated, raising an eyebrow. “Do you think it's real?"
Though her expression was serious, amusement played with the corners of her lips, as if she already knew the answer to her question. And maybe she did. Women were always more intuitive than men when it came to the emotional stuff.
He let his hand slide around to the back of her neck, holding her still as his mouth brushed hers. “Yes,” he said against the teasing, luscious warmth of her lips. “I do believe this is real."
And he kissed her, trying to impart all his feelings, all his wants and desires, in that one simple action. He knew it was never going to be enough. Knew that the words themselves would have to be said—that after all these years, she deserved to hear them, even if she knew in her heart and could feel his emotions in his kiss.
And they had to be said now, while he had the time, just in case something happened to one of them. Fate had snatched her from him once. He couldn't risk it happening again without at least telling her the truth.
He pulled back from the kiss and gently cupped her cheeks between his hands. “There's something you need to know. Two things, actually."
She raised an eyebrow again. Her eyes were shining with happiness, and the glow shimmered right through him. “And what might those things be?"
"The first is the fact that I think I love you."
"Well, good, because I think the feeling might be returned."
Relief, tension, and happiness unlike anything he'd ever experienced filled him. Just for an instant, he felt like a kid who'd been given every Christmas present he'd ever asked for. He grinned. “And the second is an apology."
"For what?"
"For being such a coward at Rosehall. For never telling you what I was feeling, especially that night when you said you loved me."
"Then I have to give you an apology—for going to Jontee. For never having the courage to follow my heart—"
He stopped her with another kiss. “Enough of the past. Let's just agree to the fact that we both made mistakes, and concentrate on the future from now on."