Chapter 7 Conditions

• I don’t even know why I said it. Or where it came from.
• But I meant it.
• I’d come to the realization that I wanted to wed her, the moment I’d nearly lost her into the river.
• And now, looking at her, tempted by her, I knew I wanted her more than anything.
• The look on her face might have been the greatest thing I’d ever seen. I wished I could’ve bottled it to replay it every time I felt down.
• The laugh that escaped me was irrepressible.
• Her green eyes were as rounded as precious gems. Her mouth openly gaping, and her entire stature had lurched forward to stare at me in astonishment.
• Then she had the gal to ask me if I wanted her to solidify the alliance between our fathers.
• Oh, no. I looked at her calmly as I considered that. It may do just the opposite.
• It was unlikely that either of our fathers would appreciate what I was proposing.
• My father had specifically said it was unsafe.
• He thought it could put her in danger.
• My gaze roved over her as I debated that.
• I could hurt her. I knew I could. My hunger for her did make numerous things beneath my skin writhe in response to her. Screaming that she was my mate. Every inch of my flesh yearned for her.
• I wanted to breathe her in, to take advantage of her wondrous scent and taste her spirit, taste her as only an Eternus could but seeing her as she was. Vibrant, spirited and full of life I vowed that moment that I would never do it. I didn’t want to see her change.
• I didn’t want to see her hungering to be fed on.
• Could I control myself? Would I be able to keep from hurting her indefinitely? I knew the answers to those questions.
• I had always wanted to protect her. That meant more to me than anything else.
• Even my desire for her.
• And I knew the secret that only my father knew. The secret my mother had carried to her grave.
• It meant that feeding on Fiere’s spirit wasn’t the only way I might kill her.
• And the urges of the Eternus were not the only ones I had to fight.
• Which, I supposed, was the reason my bond to her was so strong.
• “Is this to strengthen your rule as King of the Eternus allied with the Pyre Realm?”
• “Not in the least. I don’t want the crown. If I had my way, Archer would be the one ruling. That may be the case anyway, if you agree to be mine. I would go and support Roger ruling Pyre and become his next successor with you.”
• She frowned slightly. Her expression flickering.
• I realized that it might sound like that was all I was trying to do.
• Get in line to rule Pyre.
• I’d told Roger on many occasions that my hobbies were hunting, practicing weaponry and living free. I didn’t want bound, down by the weight of a crown.
• But I won’t have much choice when the time comes.
• All of that would be decided by our fathers. Not by us, anyway.
• I wanted to take myself out of the decision-making equation. Hoping that may lessen her fears that I was just out to use her.
• I’m not.
• “You know I don’t like boring decisions.” I gave her a pointed look. Knowing she’d heard Archer and I arguing just such a thing on many occasions.
• Archer’s response was always. “They’re only boring if you’re not bright.”
• A pointed jab at me.
• Which he liked to get in whenever possible. Devious as a brother, as he was.
• “Then what do you want?” She blurted. Peering at me suspiciously.
• I caught her upper arms and drew her toward me. “I should think that very obvious by now, My Girl.”
• She shivered in my hands. A hungry shudder that only a woman does, when she’s becoming aroused. My gaze narrowed on her. Knowing that I could gentle her to my touch tonight.
• Have her as starved for me as I am for her.
• And I wanted to.
• The temptation was nearly irrepressible.
• I was fighting the animal inside me. I was fighting my Eternus blood humming through my veins and buzzing in my ears. I was fighting male need to take a woman. Everything that could be stirring me this moment was alive and burning beneath my skin.
• But I was fighting to contain it all. Willing myself to walk her to the door and send her on her way.
• It’s what I should do.
• It’s what I need to do.
• Not tonight, Jackson. I told myself.
• Then one of her small, soft hands slid from the waistline of my pants, up over my abdomen and higher to stroke the rising swell of my chest.
• “I want you, Fiere.” I slid my fingers along her arms. Watching the path they slid with great interest. Seeing how her skin bumped the trail they burned.
• “But if-then why...”
• “Do I call you, ‘Baby Girl’?”
• “Yes.”
• “Why?”
• She shrugged.
• “Because it drives you wild.” I admitted to loving her fury. “Because I see you as something to cherish, something that should be protected. Because...you’re mine...”
• She gave me such a look of confusion that I nearly chuckled again. “You can’t stand me!”
• “No. You annoy me on occasion but more so, because you distract me when you’re around.”
• “But you’re always meaner when I try to leave!”
• “Because I don’t want you to go.” I sighed.
• “You make no sense.”
• I was laughing inwardly but working hard to keep my expression composed. “I want you, Baby Girl. I think about it constantly. You distract me when you’re around, but I’m bored when you’re not. I’m jealous of every minute you spend with Arch.”
• “Archer is my fr-”
• I shushed her with a finger to her lips.
• “I know what he is. Doesn’t change how I feel.” I patted my chest. “I want you for myself.”