Tempted by Midnight
Page 31
“I’m not your obligation, Lazaro. I won’t be your burden or a regret you’ll carry around forever.”
“No, you won’t,” he agreed solemnly. “But will you be my mate?”
She stared at him for a long moment. Then slowly, she shook her head. “No. No, I can’t do that. You’re only saying it because your honor compels you to.”
He swore a harsh curse. “Melena, listen to me. See me. I know you can read my intent, so open your eyes and hear me out. I love you. I want you in my life, by my side. Forever, if you’ll have me.”
“What about everything you said before? You didn’t want another mate under your protection. You didn’t want that responsibility ever again.”
He blew out a bitter laugh. “And as you so accurately pointed out for me, I was being a coward and an idiot.”
“I don’t think I said you were an idiot,” she murmured, looking up at him from under her long lashes.
“Well, I was. And as soon as I realized that, I came after you.”
“Because you were worried about me. You knew I was in danger and your blood wouldn’t let you stay away without trying to help me.”
“No, Melena. Because I love you.” He stroked her cheek. “And because I realized the only thing worse than loving you and dreading that I might know the pain of losing you in the future, was the idea of losing you now. Before we’ve even begun to know what we can have together.”
He leaned over her on the bed and kissed her tenderly, deeply, with all the love in his ageless heart. “I love you, Melena.”
“And I love you,” she whispered. She held his gaze, her own so open-hearted and trusting, it took all of his control to keep from crushing her in a fierce embrace. “You’ve saved my life three times now. If I’m going to be your mate, that means you’re going to have to let me save you sometimes too.”
“Oh, love,” he murmured. “Don’t you know? You already have.”
“No, you won’t,” he agreed solemnly. “But will you be my mate?”
She stared at him for a long moment. Then slowly, she shook her head. “No. No, I can’t do that. You’re only saying it because your honor compels you to.”
He swore a harsh curse. “Melena, listen to me. See me. I know you can read my intent, so open your eyes and hear me out. I love you. I want you in my life, by my side. Forever, if you’ll have me.”
“What about everything you said before? You didn’t want another mate under your protection. You didn’t want that responsibility ever again.”
He blew out a bitter laugh. “And as you so accurately pointed out for me, I was being a coward and an idiot.”
“I don’t think I said you were an idiot,” she murmured, looking up at him from under her long lashes.
“Well, I was. And as soon as I realized that, I came after you.”
“Because you were worried about me. You knew I was in danger and your blood wouldn’t let you stay away without trying to help me.”
“No, Melena. Because I love you.” He stroked her cheek. “And because I realized the only thing worse than loving you and dreading that I might know the pain of losing you in the future, was the idea of losing you now. Before we’ve even begun to know what we can have together.”
He leaned over her on the bed and kissed her tenderly, deeply, with all the love in his ageless heart. “I love you, Melena.”
“And I love you,” she whispered. She held his gaze, her own so open-hearted and trusting, it took all of his control to keep from crushing her in a fierce embrace. “You’ve saved my life three times now. If I’m going to be your mate, that means you’re going to have to let me save you sometimes too.”
“Oh, love,” he murmured. “Don’t you know? You already have.”
