Page 22 of Contested Crown

“I don’t know,” Cade said helplessly. “You were going to be killed by that werewolf, and I couldn’t let that happen.”

When I caught his chin, forcing his eyes up, I saw helplessness, as though he was still reliving the fight. “How does someone become a consort?”

“We have sex, and while we’re having sex, I give you a piece of my magic, a first spell that belongs to you, that promises you something.”

“Size and strength for Tyson,” I said slowly.

“Exactly,” Cade said. “That magic belongs to you forever, and it ties us together, making my magic yours. I haven’t given you that promise. You haven’t accepted entering into my service.”

Swallowing, Cade began to draw the magic out of me, and it was a loss so great that I hurt all over again, despite the healing spell.

“But I still didn’t blow up, and you were able to heal me.” I put my hand on top of Cade’s where it lingered on my chest, his tattoos curled in thick sleeves on his arm.

“I was,” Cade agreed. “It’s only ever worked onmebefore.”

“Do you think?—”

Cade lunged forward and kissed me.

ChapterEight

My hand tightened on his, still pressed against my chest. I couldn’t help myself. After so long of looking at him, watching him, but being unable to touch, I wanted more. I wanted everything he had to offer and then some.

He devoured my mouth, his tongue sweeping inside without question, and I let him press himself forward, let him climb onto my lap, his knees on either side of my hips.

He pulled back, gasping, moving his free hand to my cheek, where he rubbed against the stubble.

“Cade—” I said his name helplessly, the questions attached to it running away from me.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for weeks,” he said, his breath warm.

“You want to kiss me.” I raised my own hand to his neck, tracing over a line of tattoo that had crept up from underneath his shirt. “Why?”

Cade flushed, his pale skin going pink, and he started to draw back, but I gripped his hand tighter, keeping him close.

“I just mean—what does this mean for us? Last time we did anything, you were pretty clear I was your employee.” I tried to keep my words neutral, but it was almost impossible. I wanted him so badly, but at House Bartlett, he had been so clear about what we were to each other.

The weeks of his depression hadn’t clarified anything. When I had been pulling him from motel to motel, I might as well have been dragging a corpse.

“You were never my employee,” Cade said harshly. When he looked up, his eyes were fierce. “You made that clear. You wanted to be my partner when we’d only known each other a day.”

“And now? What are we now?” I wanted to press up against him, sniff his neck, and rub myself into him. But I couldn’t. I’d already given him my heart—he held it in his hand.

I couldn’t give more of myself; I couldn’t let him have every piece of me, not when I wasn’t sure what I was getting back.

A cold thought whispered that when his magic had been inside me, it felt better than having a pack.

“I already told you,” Cade said. “I… care about you. And I know you care about me. We can call that whatever you want. Partners.” Cade swallowed. “Lovers. You’re the only person in my entire life that cares about me, and I… reciprocate.”

“You reciprocate?” I said doubtfully. “Very romantic.”

But my heart was beating so fast. I wanted to throw myself into him, take him and make him mine. I wanted to spread him open, give him everything he hadn’t had.

But I knew better. Siobhan’s words echoed in my head.When he finds out who you are, he’s going to kill you.

A new, pernicious thought burned in my chest. What if he never had to find out? What if I could just drop who I was, drop my past, and behis?

“Well. You made it clear your idea of romance was barroom brawls. If you prefer, we can go find a bar, and you can get beat up again.” Cade sniffed but didn’t try and pull away.