Born in Blood (The Sentinels #1)(89)
Author: Alexandra Ivy

He chuckled softly. “Shouldn’t you be thanking me as well?”

She snuggled against him, her heart skipping a beat as his lips found a sensitive pulse just below her jaw.

“Did you want a medal?” she teased.

“Hmm.” He nibbled down the curve of her neck. “I was thinking of a more personal thank you.”

“Perhaps that could be arranged,” she husked, already picturing Duncan spread naked across her bed while her tongue traced his washboard abs.

The things she intended to do to that hard, male body…

Her delicious thoughts were abruptly interrupted by an unwelcomed realization.

Oh… hell.

As Duncan had just said, it was over.

Her father was dead, the chalice had been returned to wherever it came from, and she was no longer in danger.

With an uncanny intuition, Duncan pulled back, his eyes narrowed as he sensed her distress.

“Callie, what’s wrong?” he asked, giving her a warning glare as her lips parted to dismiss his concern. “And don’t you dare try to tell me it’s nothing.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Bossy.”

“It’s part of my charm. Tell me what’s bothering you.”

She might as well. He would nag her to death if she didn’t.

“Now that the necromancer is dead, you’ll be returning to your old life,” she said, her voice deliberately stripped of emotion.

She wouldn’t pressure him into staying.

Or beg to be taken with him.

Only he could decide what he needed to make him happy.

Surprisingly, his expression eased, a tiny smile tugging at his lips. “Will I?”

“Of course.” She plucked at the sheet that covered her, belatedly realizing she must look like hell with her hair sticking up like a porcupine and her body wrapped like a mummy in her hospital gown. Not that it would make Duncan stay even if she was dressed like a movie star. He wasn’t that kind of guy. Still, she did have her pride. “You have your family. Your job—”

“Actually, I’ve taken a new job,” he smoothly interrupted.

She widened her eyes in shock. “A new job? But … you love being a cop.”

He shrugged. “I love carrying a gun and telling people what to do.”

She shook her head, not about to be fooled by his light tone. This man had devoted his life to his career. He wouldn’t just toss it aside as if it meant nothing.

“Duncan.”

“Ssh.” He pressed a finger to her lips, something that might have been contentment shimmering in his hazel eyes. “Wolfe has made me a Sentinel. Or at least I’ll be one once I’m done with my training.”

“A Sentinel?”

“It’s perfect,” he assured her. “I still get to use my skills as a cop, and from now on I won’t have to hide my ability to read auras. It’s my best asset.” He smiled with wicked promise. “Well, one of my best assets,” he corrected, his finger stroking the lush softness of her bottom lip. “And more importantly, no one will be your guardian but me.”

She studied his face for any hint of hesitation. As desperately as she longed to have him become a part of her world, she would never forgive herself if he came to regret his decision.

“And this is what you want?” she pressed. “What you truly want?”

He framed her face in his hands, regarding her with a tender devotion that chased away any lingering doubts.

“You are what I want, Callie Brown.”

“Oh, Duncan,” she sniffed, feeling as silly and emotional as one of those girly girls she’d always mocked.

He kissed the tip of her nose. “There is one downside, I’m afraid.”

His teasing tone kept her from freaking out.

“What’s that?”

“The Mave mentioned something about me being a liaison between Valhalla and the civil authorities.”

“I think that’s a brilliant idea.”

He lifted his head with a grimace. “Liaisons are supposed to be diplomatic. I have as much diplomacy as a rabid badger.”

“True.” She reached up to push a strand of golden hair off his forehead. Her touch sheer possession. This man was hers. Hers, all hers. Joy exploded in the center of her heart. “I can give you lessons.”

The wicked smile became downright sinful. “Really?”

“Yep.”

The hazel gaze slowly meandered downward, lingering on the neckline of her oversized gown that revealed the top of her br**sts.

“It’s going to take the proper incentive.”

Breathe, Callie, breathe.

“And what incentive would that be?”

He brushed a gentle hand through her hair. “First I’m going to need a place to stay while we work on my lessons.”

“I do have an apartment I would be willing to share,” she offered.

“Perfect,” he breathed, gold beginning to shimmer in his eyes. A sure sign of his arousal. As if the hard thrust of his erection pressing into her hip wasn’t enough of a hint. “And we’ll need a private getaway,” he continued. “Maybe a small cabin in the woods where we can be completely alone.”

Completely alone with this man? Yes, please.

“That can be arranged.” She wiggled until she was lying on her side, her hand slipping beneath his T-shirt to stroke over the hard muscles of his stomach. “Anything else?”

He peered deep into her eyes. “Just one thing.”

“What?”

“Love me.”

She melted into a puddle of goo, wondering how the hell she’d ever survived without this man in her life.

“With all my heart,” she vowed, tears glistening in her eyes.

“Callie. My beautiful Callie.”

With a groan he kissed her with a stark hunger even as his hands stroked her with a gentle restraint, as if she were a fragile object that might shatter at his touch.

On the point of assuring him that she wasn’t an invalid, she was halted when he gave a sudden chuckle, speaking against her lips.

“Oh, I almost forgot.”

She plunged her fingers into his hair, not particularly interested in talking.

“Forgot what?”

“We’re having dinner with my family on Sunday.”

Her shriek could be heard throughout Valhalla.

“Duncan!”