As her words sank in, he felt himself pale. "Do you understand what I said?"
"You were blunt enough. "
"You're supposed to tell me to go to hell. "
There was a short pause. "Well, we do not have to proceed. "
No rancor. No begging. No disappointment - it was all about him and where he was at.
How could she be so. . . kind? he wondered.
"I don't want to hurt you," he said, feeling like he wanted to return the favor.
"You won't. I know you are still in love with your mate, and I do not blame you. What you had with her is a once-in-a-lifetime love. "
"What about you?"
"I have no need or desire to take her place. And I accept you just as you are, in any fashion you choose to come to me. Or not, if that is the way it must be. "
Tohr cursed as a part of his pain unexpectedly eased. "That isn't fair to you. "
"Yes, it is. I am happy to simply have time with you. That is enough - and more than I could ever have expected out of my fate. These past few months have been a complicated joy that I wouldn't have traded anything for. If it must end, then at least I've had what I did. And if it goes further then I am luckier than I deserve. And. . . if it puts you in some small way at peace then I have served my only purpose. "
As she fell silent, that quiet dignity of hers slayed him, it truly did. And it was with a sense of utter unreality that he walked over to her, bent down and took her face into his palms.
Rubbing her cheek with his thumb, he stared into her eyes. "You are. . . " His voice broke. "You are such a female of worth. "
No'One put her hands up to his thick wrists, her touch soft and light. "Listen to my words and believe them. Do not worry about me. Take care of your heart and your soul first - that is what matters most. "
Kneeling in front of her, he worked his way in between her legs, filling the space he created with his body. As always with her, he felt both awkward and at ease being so close.
With his eyes, he traced her face, that beautiful, kind face. And then he zeroed in on her lips.
Moving slowly, he leaned in, not really sure what the hell he was doing. He had never kissed her. Not once. For all he knew about her body, he knew nothing of her mouth, and as her eyes flared, it was obvious she had never expected the intimacy.
Tilting his head to the side, he shut his lids. . . and closed the distance until he met a whole lot of velvet.
Softly, chastely, he pressed in and pulled back.
Not enough.
Dipping down again, he lingered at her mouth, brushing, plying. Then he abruptly broke off the contact and shoved himself to his feet. If he didn't stop now, he wouldn't at all, and he was already running late for Wrath and his brothers. Besides, this wasn't about a quick sex session.
It was more important than that.
"I have to get dressed," he told her. "I have to go. "
"And I shall be here when you return. If you want me to be. "
"I do. "
Turning away, he wasted no time in throwing his clothes on or gathering his weapons, and as soon as he nabbed his leather jacket, he had every intention of going right out the door. Instead, he stopped and looked at her. She had her fingertips up to her lips, her eyes wide and full of wonder. . . as if she had never felt anything even close to what she just had.
He went back to the bed. "Was that your first kiss?"
She blushed in the most lovely pink, her eyes dropping shyly to the carpet. "Yes. "
For a moment, all he could do was shake his head at everything she had been through.