Deliver Me from Temptation (28 page)

She crossed to him, wrapping her arms around his taunt body. “You fool. You think I didn’t know that? You think I don’t understand?”

She pressed her head into his shoulder, her fingers playing with his shirt. “I felt that way too. I didn’t want to believe you, but then when I did, I didn’t want to love you because someday I was going to age, get old and die, and you? Well you were going to keep on living. Without me.”

He scoffed, glancing up at the dark studio. “I can’t live without you. I think we’ve proved that.”

She slapped his arm. “You would have gone on. I know you would have. You’re too strong to have given up.”

Too strong to become a monster, she meant. Was he?

“Maybe.” But he could have only held out so long as he believed that someday He would release him from his duty and let him be reunited with his mate. And considering how close he’d been to finding Mike…

“No maybes.” She laid a hand on his heart. “You’re His warrior. Through and through. Trust me, I know.”

He swallowed, closing his eyes, drawing deep breaths through his nose. She was touching him. And damn but wasn’t that a tear that had just escaped from his eye?

Delicate fingers settled on his cheek, touching the wet spot, and his skin tingled, the bond he knew was there, waiting to be formed, humming in the recesses of his mind.

Mark
her, claim her.
But he was scared to move, afraid that no matter how real she felt, no matter how much he wanted to believe, that the moment he opened his eyes again the vision, dream, whatever the hell it is, would end.

She gave another light touch on his chin, applying slight pressure as she tipped his head toward her. “Look at me, Logan.”

He couldn’t resist her, so he didn’t. And this time Logan opened his eyes to look beyond the inhuman beauty, beyond the full lips, the long straight nose, her eyes…so blue, bluer than before, like the Caribbean Sea. To see something else. Something about
her
.

It was an awakening. He could see her both as she was now and as she’d been before. She was still the same Jessica, but the passion he saw in her was no longer a mere reflection of what she could be; it was the true beauty and warmth of her soul. Logan might be able to call on His light, but she
was
His light.

And with that realization came understanding. Her soul may have been made for him, but she hadn’t been ready to be a Paladin mate. All that had occurred, her sister’s death, even the events leading up to her own, happened so she could learn to understand and overcome her human nature. For without that knowledge she would never have been a good protector for mankind.

Or the partner he needed.

Still, it was a great sacrifice for her to make.

“Can I see them again?”

She didn’t respond, just turned, letting the gauzy material slip from her shoulders to reveal her upper back.

He traced the scars, wondering at how they glowed even more beneath his touch. Eventually they’d fade, only visible in His realm, but the fact that his touch brought out the light within her was just another proof that she’d always been meant for him. Time, distance, life, or death couldn’t change that.

He sighed, finally feeling. And what he felt was peace and joy and yes, damn it, a painful need.

“You know you could have waited for me. Time does not have the same meaning there.”

It would have been him who suffered their time apart. Not her. And probably the easier choice. A Paladin’s life was not champagne and roses. There were hardships, sacrifice. Even with his brothers, even with his bond mate by his side, he knew his time on earth would be filled with almost as much bad as good.

But someone needed to fight evil.

“I know, but I figured…”

“You figured what?” he asked, pulling her garment back over her shoulders and twisting her back around.

Her mouth parted, her eyes sparkling as if the sun were dancing on the water. She licked her lips. “I figured you missed me.”

“God, Jessica, you have no idea how much.”

“Besides, this, you…” She traced her hand down his chest, causing him to moan as she ended the movement with a taunting dip into his jeans, “Well it just wasn’t Heaven for me without you there.”

And then she reached up, lacing her other hand behind his head and she pressed her perfectly warm, living, lips to his.

This book came from more than just my own soul-bearing pounding at the keyboard. There are all kinds of people who helped along the way from conception to completion. From my family, who put up with more frozen dinners than they ever should have had to, to the handful of new Facebook friends who came to the rescue when I needed some good, honest BETA feedback, to my wonderful editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, who kept my sights on the goal (something far better than good enough), along with the wonderful people at Sourcebooks responsible for getting this final product into the readers’ hands. This book wouldn’t be what it is without their help and support. All mistakes are my own; anything that shines is because of them. Thank you.

Daphne Award–winning author Tes Hilaire started creating whole new worlds to escape upstate New York’s harsh winters before finally fleeing to sultry North Carolina. Her stories are edgy, exciting, and bring a hint of dark fantasy to paranormal romance. And no one ever has to shovel snow. For more information visit
www.teshilaire.com
.