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"A little"

"Toss the bandage out the "

She did, letting in a cold gust of wind Without his shirt on, he felt every degree in the drop of temperature

"Will that work?" she asked

"Not witharound with blood on you"

The next thing he knew, she was kneeling on the seat beside hiloves to wipe away the blood on his chest

"You’re already healed"

"I heal fast It’s necessary for the job"

Shehim up, herSynestryn Protecting hulove to her mouth and wet a spot to scrub away the dried blood Then, as if she realized what she’d done, she stammered, "I-I’m sorry I should never have put h She was so prim and proper "Honey, the e kissed, I’d say it’s a bit late to worry about that Hell, I’ve fantasized about things involving your mouth that would make you blush"

And just like that, she did, and quickly changed the subject "You called those things that attacked tonight sgath"

"Sgath are one type of Synestryn There are lots All butt-ugly All deadly"

She finished the job, went back to her side of the truck, and the cotton glove went out the"And you fight theht"

"What would I do? I mean, someone who planned to continue her association with you?"

That rin "Association? Sounds like our naether You think that’s e have going here?"

"I don’t knohat to call it, and you shouldn’t ht"

"I’m sorry, sweetheart You sure have I should be reeted hiest It was barely past o and in that time, she’d been attacked, lost a friend, and joined herself to Neal in a way she couldn’t possibly understand

But he did He knehat her commitment meant to him and what it would mean if she decided to walk away still, even the fear of dying couldn’t stop hi his purpose in life He was united with a woman who could wield his power--one he orn to protect so she could bloay the deether they would be unstoppable And not just on the battlefield

The brief glih her adoptive mother had loved and cherished Viviana, she’d still felt alone It was as if she knew she was part of soer than herself She’d tried to fit in as a child, and as an adult, she’d found people who accepted her for her quirks But it had never been enough

Neal didn’t just accept her; he reveled in her Everything about her was fascinating--fros under her skirt Her love for ancient Sentinel artifacts only added to her appeal

He wanted to be part of her collection A per, there was nothing he could do to stop himself Without her, he would die Noto spend what little ti her that he was the kind of

She was quiet as they drove Every fewon his power, as if she were testing the waters Knowing that if he said anything, it would only discourage her, he kept quiet, pretending he didn’t knohat she was doing

Slowly, her atte the crushing pressure inside Neal He couldn’t reood

Despite how much he needed her, despite how s rose above all else He promised himself he wouldn’t push her for more At least, not yet Let her discover her newfound power on her own so she wouldn’t balk at accepting it

Two hours later, Neal was regretting his decision to let her find her oay He kept getting glis she felt and wanted

He was at the top of the list As proper as his Viviana seemed, she was all hot, passionate wo fantasies of her hands on his bare skin, stroking his lifeht up staring

Apparently, she liked the way he looked, which worked for him He’d never really paid much attention to the texture of his skin or the play of shadow over his h her eyes--the way it turned her on--wasit hard for him to keep his hands on the wheel

All he could think about was how good it felt to slide his hands up her thighs until the sreeted him

By the time they pulled into the driveway of the Gerai house, Neal was shaking with lust He was careful to keep it froh he knew that worked against his need to bind theether She wasn’t ready for his desire yet She was still dealing with too much It would be unfair of hiiven him more than he’d ever hoped to have

Neal pulled his shirt back on before braving the cold He found a key tucked behind the porch light and let them into the small fars for a fire were laid and ready to go Nealthe fridge for food

"Is this your house?" Viviana asked when he returned with sos

She was curled up on a corner of the couch nearest the fire She still wore his leather jacket, which made her look small and vulnerable

Protective instincts rose up in Neal, and he had to fight the urge to reach for his sword and bare his teeth against an invisible threat

"No It’s called a Gerai house, naroup of humans who keep it stocked with food and supplies"