Destiny United (12 page)

He ripped the tags off one of the dressed and held it out
to her. “Put this on.” It was the red halter top dress one size smaller. He
turned around and started to leave then stopped abruptly. “And Aila.”

She looked up at him.

“Don’t you ever underestimate yourself in my presence
again.”

He was out the door in one big step and she was alone.
Her jaw dropped. Never had anyone commanded her not to be afraid. They’d felt
sorry for her. They’d made excuses for her. But no one had ever declared her
strong, beautiful, and smart, and then forced her to prove it. Her body
shivered from head to toe.

One foot in front of the other
,
she repeated to herself walking toward the cashier. She obliged him and wore
the red dress, though she would have preferred heels to her cowboy boots. She
could hear the girls whispering behind her about a hot guy with long dark hair and
jeans that hugged his photo-worthy ass.
Oh! They’re
talking about Marcelo
.
A twinge of jealousy had her hissing in a
breath.
What is
wrong
with me?

Half-way to the cashier’s desk, one of the girls squealed,
“Here he comes!”

Aila wanted to follow their line of sight, but she was
afraid she’d panic and pass out. In only seconds she heard his voice boom from
her right. “There you are!”

Huh?
Marcelo wrapped an
arm around her waist lifting her onto tiptoes, her chest mashed up against his.
The girls’ gasps echoed in her ears. He cupped her face with one hand then
pressed his lips to hers.

Oh my God! He’s kissing me!

 His lips were soft but the kiss was not. It was
demanding, passionate, addictive.

His mouth covered hers, coercing her to open for his
entrance. “Kiss me back, Aila,” he muttered against her lips.

Oh, right. This is for an audience.

She opened her mouth and allowed him in. He tasted like
exotic spices and warm coffee. His kiss was just as domineering as the rest of
him, but gentle at the same time. Like he wanted to romance her but couldn’t
stop his own primitive reaction. It turned her into a spineless pile of mush. Arms
tightened around her waist. But if she got any closer to him, he’d be inside
her. Or maybe that was exactly where she wanted him. Just as abruptly as the
kiss began, it stopped.

Too stunned to move she just stood, staring at his chest,
trying to pull her spine back together.

His mouth hovered over hers, the heat of his breath
swirling around her. “Smile, Aila,” he said.

She managed a sort of silly half-smile. She couldn’t even
hear the girl’s gratifying responses because her heartbeat pounded in her ears.

“Good girl,” he said, a low chuckle rumbling in his
chest, which she could feel because she was still pressed up against him – though
now she wasn’t sure if he held her there or she did. “Now walk to the cashier.”

He maneuvered her so they were side by side and walked her
through the aisle. She didn’t need to focus on the floor to calm a rising panic
attack. No, with her head in the clouds she couldn’t even feel the floor
beneath her feet. Suddenly a large palm slapped against her backside, making
her jump six inches in the air. She felt him chuckle again as he left his hand
on one cheek with a very clear message.
Mine.

Marcelo had never felt so
proprietary about anything before. As far as vampires went, they tended to be
very possessive – of weapons, of land, of women. But Marcelo never felt like
there was anything that important not to share. Until now.

Instinct wasn’t just whispering in his ear, it was
screaming through his bones.
Mine,
was the
message.
Take what’s mine and
don’t
share!

For the second time Aila managed to wipe all thoughts of
Natalia from his mind. Could Aila be his true mate? The one meant for him for
all eternity? The other half of his heart?

He’d known he was attracted to Aila before, but the kiss
was enough to make him explode.
Damn
this girl’s got
me all twisted up!
Her lips tasted like pure lust. The scent of her
lingered on his lips, his clothes, his body. He wanted to roll in it, wanted to
touch every inch of her delicious skin. He’d even settle for another kiss.
She’d been so responsive – opening her mouth when he demanded. Her body had
melted into his embrace like it was made to be there. She hadn’t wanted to pull
away from the kiss, and even clutched his shirt in her little fists. If they hadn’t
been in public he would’ve slipped a hand up her dress to see if she was as wet
as he’d thought.

Now he walked with a hand on his woman’s ass, possessive and
proud as he paid for her clothing – providing for his mate. He gave his head a shake.
His mate? When had he officially declared that?

Marcelo had spent so long searching for Natalia he’d
begun to think the hunt would never end. His sole purpose in his second life
had been finding her. For eight hundred years he’d been telling himself that as
soon as she was in his arms his world would be right again. Could he give it
all up now? He had to admit, the idea of leaving it behind sent waves of relief
through his body. Like the heavy, murky air polluting his lungs had cleared.
His refreshment? The small, sunny fae before him.

If the rumors were true, Natalia had changed. She wasn’t
the same woman as when they were human. Hell, he wasn’t the same man.

Natalia isn’t yours
.
The thought came uncontrollably, and with it years of sorrow and frustration.
No, Natalia wasn’t his.

But Aila was.

Yes, it was already decided. Whether Aila knew it or not,
she was
not
going back to that human boyfriend. She would not be having
any other male. She was his. And his alone.

Marcelo guided Aila out of the department store, a hand
securely placed on the small of her back. When they stepped into the busy mall
hallway, she froze. “I…I don’t think I can handle anymore. Seriously. I’m done.”

“Nonsense,” he said, grasping her hand, intertwining
their fingers. “We’re just getting to the good stuff.”

Her gaze was glued to their hands, a frown set on her
lips, but she didn’t pull away. “Umm. The good stuff?”

“Let’s see, we got you shorts and t-shirts. And now I
believe you need under garments.”

“What?” Her little forehead scrunched before realization
struck. “Oh. That.” Pink blossomed across her cheeks then her eyes widened.
“You’re not going to make me try those on too!”

He couldn’t hold back a short burst of laughter. “Not
unless you insist.”

Relief was visible on her face.

“Do you? Insist?”

“No!” she snapped, though the curiosity in her eyes
betrayed her.

Aila blushed through the entire lingerie store while Marcelo
took his time selecting the items. It was a strange sort of torture to endure.
Visions of Aila dressed in the various skimpy underclothes swamped him until
his shaft was so hard it hurt. He yearned to throw her over his shoulder and
take her in the dressing room while she panted and moaned in his ear – her
sweaty body marking up the mirror. He shook the image from his mind. This time
no one should smack him. If Aila was his, then it was his right – no, his job –
to satisfy her. More than just that. To please her, protect her, provide for
her, and above all – possess her, as she possessed him.

 After buying her the most expensive yet least practical
underclothes he could find, his gaze roamed leisurely up and down her body. He
never thought a woman could blush for so long. Nor did he ever think it would
be so sexy. His gaze dropped to the pulse on her neck. How he’d love to taste
her.

I’ll bet she tastes as sweet as she smells. Honey and
sunshine.

His fangs ached for release.
Patience,
Marcelo.
He had an eternity to enjoy her in every possible way. And she
would learn to sate him, in bed and under his fangs. But now was not the time.
He knew, timid as she was, she’d need time to adjust to the idea of being tied
to him forever. Her brain still worked as a human’s did – uncomprehending of
mating bonds. Even Marcelo was unsure about what to expect.

“Why are you staring at my neck?” she asked, interrupting
his scattered thoughts. Then her eyes widened. “Oh no! You’re not thinking what
I think you’re thinking, are you?”

He stepped closer. She stepped back. “What I’m thinking,
querida,
is that those cowboy boots just won’t do.”

She looked down and clicked her heels together. “What’s
wrong with them?”

“Can you hike in them? Climb in them?”

“Well, no. But they’re adorable!” She grinned, looking down
at them so fondly that before he could stop himself, he agreed to carry them in
his backpack so she could keep them. He was rewarded with a glowing smile.

Back in the car, after she’d eaten an adequate meal, she
pinned him with a pensive expression. “Marcelo, it was very kind of you to buy
me these things. I promise to pay you back just as soon as I can.”

Pay him back? For money that was already hers? Another
glance at her face revealed she would be insistent. Maybe he could make this
work to his advantage. Holding back a twisted smirk he said, “I know how you
could repay me now.”

She eyed him warily.

“A kiss,” he answered her unspoken question. “Just one.”

If she was surprised, she didn’t show it. “You already
took one of your own accord, so I guess that means we’re even.”

He smiled. Smart girl. “That kiss was for the clothing. I
also bought you a pair of hiking boots. And if I remember correctly, they were
quite expensive.”

She gave him a wry half-smile that almost stopped his heart.
She was thinking about kissing him, which made
him
think
about it. The car swerved when he stared at her bottom lip too long wondering
what it would feel like between his teeth. Without losing that sultry smile she
said, “How about I just pay you in cash after my next paycheck?”

“
Querida
,” he mimicked her
smirk, “there isn’t going to be a next paycheck. Life as you knew it is over.”

He regretted it as soon as he’d said it. Her smile faded
and grief filled her eyes. But it was the truth and she had to face it sooner
or later.

She took a deep breath and stared down at her hands.
“Right. I keep forgetting.” After a long moment of silence she asked, in a
small voice, the question he’d been dreading since he first brought it up in
the mall. “Marcelo, what are your fears?”

***

Marcelo stared silently at the road long enough to
convince Aila he wouldn’t answer her intimate question. Then, without making eye
contact, he said, “For a long time I feared what I was becoming.”

She waited for him to explain. He didn’t.

“What do you mean?” she finally prompted.

“I have existed for a very long time, Aila. I’ve fought
many wars. I’ve wandered to every end of the earth. Mindless feeding. Mindless
fighting. I grew darker, more dangerous with each passing decade. How long can
one continue to live like that? In darkness – no peace, no joy, no purpose but
bloodshed. No redemption for my soul.”

Maybe immortality was overrated.

“I was afraid I’d never find my piece of happiness.”

“So now you’ve found it and you’re not afraid anymore?”

He shook his head. “Now I’m even more afraid.” At her
quizzical glare he turned and pinned her with a look she could only describe as
piercing authenticity. “Because now that I’ve found it, I’m terrified to lose
it.”

She shuddered. God help anyone who tried to take it from
him.

When they reached the hotel room, Marcelo handed Aila one
of the backpacks they’d purchased. “Everything you want to bring with you has
to fit in this bag,” he told her.

She nodded.

His head tilted and he studied her with narrowed eyes. “Did
you hear what I said?”

“Yes. Everything must fit in the bag. I get it.”

He didn’t change his expression.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You’re a woman.”

“So glad you noticed.”

“Aren’t you going to insist on bringing a lot of stuff?”

She rolled her eyes. “I grew up in foster care. I can
pack everything I need in a grocery bag in under three minutes.”

He nodded but his expression was grim. “I have to go
out.”

“Where ?”

“I need to eat.”

She nodded then froze when realization struck.
Oh!
She grimaced at a vision of him feeding from a
human. Her first response was disgust, but it quickly morphed into curiosity.
She pictured his fangs lengthening under his lips, his eyes darkening as he
sought his target, his teeth piercing through the flesh.
Does he sedate them? Do they scream?
Even more
curious
…
do they like it?

She exhaled a breath she didn’t know she was holding then
fanned herself with her hand. “Is it hot in here?”

At once his dark look faded to amusement. “You’re
thinking about it, aren’t you?”

“No!”
Liar.

“Liar.”

Damn him!

He sauntered towards her, looking every bit the predator
he was. Eyes focused, shoulders back, muscles tense and twitching. “Now, what
do I do with you?”

She slapped on her most innocent expression and batted
her eyes. “I won’t leave the room. I promise.” When he simply arched a brow,
she added, “Didn’t I prove you can trust me?”

“No.” He shifted his weight to his other foot and sighed.
“But I don’t really have a choice.” His twinkling eyes suddenly shifted to a
starless black. He leaned forward, trapping her against the wall. “Do you know
how powerful a vampire’s senses are? I can hear your heartbeat from the road. I
can smell your delicious body from a mile away. If you run, you will not escape
me. And if I lose my meal to chase you…” he didn’t need to finish the sentence,
but he did, “
you
will be its substitution. So
you are not going to step one foot outside that door, correct?”