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"If I thought you were ready, I would show you right this minute just how much I still desire you" His voice was low and hypnotic as his fingertips traced her face "If I did not shts that are bo you mind, I would complete the bond with you I would step out of this room, ask Auriel to leave, and then I would show you with my hands, my lips, my breath, and my body, just how verybetween us I ahei hurt you and took a piece of your innocence"

She cowered at his words but he kept going

"Not for the reason you think, Mina I hate that he took your innocence because I wanted your first experiences to be incredible I was so angry over the kiss because I wanted your first kiss to take your breath away The first tiers to be the ones dancing across your skin because I knew that if it was ust Your body would have heated with desire, not anger The first mouth and teeth to taste your flesh should not have been out of the desire to hurt, but out of an indescribable need and reverence to claiive you pleasure My love, I as first but because you did not get to experience them for the first time the way you deserve"

Alina did not knohat to say How did one respond to a declaration so raw and full of e her into his arainst his chest, just over his heart His ar, so safe In that moment she wished that she would never have to leave his embrace, that she could just live wrapped in the security of his strong fraain

"I will never allow harain You are ain"

He finally forced her back into the bed, co her to sleep As she drifted off she realized that, in her emotional state, in her need to be reassured that Vasile still wanted her, that they had failed to talk about her parents But the ht about it, the more she felt like they had not so ether She would have asked him about it if she had been able to keep her eyes open and her brain awake, but she was useless against her body’s need for rest So she gave in, hoping that the reason she feared Vasile had not answered her was not correct

Romanian Proverb18

Fereste-mã, Doaur

God defend me from my friends; from my enemies, I will defend myself

"Will you please sit by the door while I step outside to speak with my wolves?" Vasile asked Auriel hat he hoped came across as sincere politeness

"Of course, Alpha I atch after her; I will protect her with htly taken aback by the passionate answer, but he simply nodded and then with one final hesitation he walked out of the cottage

Nicu, Ion, and Alin aiting for hirim looks on their faces did not inspire any kind of confidence that they were any closer to finding Serghei than they had been when they arrived

"How is yourhis eyes

Vasile’s jaw tightened as he thought about Alina’s reaction to her s That is enough for thisup on his desire not to discuss hisfurther

"Her parents are in the gathering hall The e helped take care of the place Her home has been cleaned"