Haunted by Your Touch

end.”

Lowering her head, she kissed him slowly, tenderly, loving him even more in that moment. With their identities now exposed to the world of lycans, she had expected him to insist on their immediate relocation. Staying here for her mother, for her… It was more than she had ever hoped. Breaking their kiss, she murmured, “And after that? Then what?”

“Well.” A deep breath escaped him. “I want—no, I need to go home.”

“Home? Where’s that?”

“Ankara.”

“Where’s that?

“Turkey.”

She’d always wanted to see the world. Only her mother’s illness had cut short that dream, but there was something in the way he spoke, in the tension of his body beneath her, that made her think a friendly jaunt down memory lane was not what he had in mind. “Why do you want to go back there?”

“I have a cousin there who needs killing. I should have done it a long time ago.”

Lily stared down at him with wide eyes. She’d almost lost him. And herself. She did not relish risking life and limb again. Not so soon at least. She shook her head fiercely. “No.” Then again, louder. “No.”

“He has to be stopped, Lily. You gave me back my life today. Showed me that there are things worth living for. Risks worth taking.” His thumb grazed her cheek. “How can I go merrily about life knowing such a threat lurks out there, working its evil? For you… for us, I can’t do that.”

Looking deeply into his intent gaze for several moments, she nodded. He was right, of course. She was not the only one who needed Luc. The world needed him, too. And the world needed her. She was a part of this now. She would help.

Swallowing down the tightness in her throat, she gave a single hard nod. She would go anywhere with this man… this dovenatu. She’d already determined that with her decision to remain a lycan. “Let’s do it, then.”

He scowled. “There’s no ‘us’ in this. I won’t risk you. You’ll be somewhere else. I haven’t decided where yet, only that it will be someplace safe. I’ll find a way to make sure you’re protected during each moonrise—”

Her chin lifted. “You’re not leaving me. You signed on for eternity, and that’s what you’re getting. If there are bad guys out there to vanquish, we’re going to do it together.”

He opened his mouth, clearly prepared to argue more, then stopped. Closing his mouth, he smiled crookedly. He brushed the hair back from her neck. “I guess I need to get used to this us thing.”

“Yeah, you better.”

“And a bossy woman.”

“That, too.”

“And trusting that you can handle all this.” He waved a broad hand, his expression sobering. “My world isn’t all roses and champagne, Lily.”

“It’s my world now, too. And the one I want.”

He released a heavy sigh and she tensed, prepared for more arguing, anything to convince him that they needed to be together, no matter what. And then his next words penetrated.

“Very well. Guess I should legitimize this and marry you. It does sound as though you’re committed to the thick and thin part already…”

Her heart squeezed. Despite his teasing tone, he stared at her starkly, his heart in his eyes. Beneath her palm, his chest did not even lift with breath. He held himself tense, waiting.

“Luc.” At his growing smile, she cried his name louder. “Luc!” Tossing her arms around his neck, she launched herself against him, sending him back into the bed.

He breathed then, his hard chest expanding as his arms wrapped around her.

And she breathed, too, the air releasing from someplace deep inside of her. Her first breath of life with him. She closed her eyes tightly. The first of many breaths.