Lizzy Ford (41 page)

“A cruise?” she asked.

“To Cabo.”

“Wow … that’s where I’ve always …” Her gaze sharpened. “Did I tell you that?”

“I read your diaries.”

“Xander!” she groaned.

“I rescue you from an Other, and you’re giving
me
shit?” he challenged, standing. He moved into the living area.

“You won’t learn boundaries, will you?” Jessi didn’t retreat, her body burning for him too much for her to want to leave. She gazed up at him.

“Not where you’re concerned,” he replied firmly.

“Where are the kids?”

“Safe in Texas. You’re welcome for saving your ass again.”

“I saved
your
ass, too!” she retorted.

Xander’s features softened in warmth. He tipped her chin up and kissed her lightly. It was all the invitation she needed. Jessi sank into his hard body, beyond relieved at the feel of his smooth skin. His comforting scent and heat filled her senses.

“I thought I lost you,” she murmured.

“As much as you might like that, no.”

“I don’t want that!”

He wrapped his arms around her tightly.

“No one is coming for the gem again? You didn’t destroy the world?” Apprehension filled her at the thought of facing Jonny or Others. She did her best to protect those she cared about and ended up here. She squeezed her eyes closed, pressing herself against him. His oak-amber scent and the heat of his skin intoxicated her, made her feel like – even if the world ended – she might not care, if she was in his arms.

“It’s over,” he replied.

“I passed your damn trial?”

“Close enough,” he answered, reaching between them to lift her chin again.

She flushed, as much from the fire building within her as his words.

“I would’ve kept you either way,” he added with a small smile. “I have to tell you something.”

“How I ended up on a cruise?”

“No.” He was pensive for a moment. “You were dead for a few minutes.”

She stared.

“I asked Eden to save you, because I couldn’t,” Xander continued. “She made you immortal, Jessi.”

His words baffled her. He watched her try to process the idea.

“Immortal,” she repeated. “As in, I get to live forever?”

“Like me. With me.”

Speechless, she tried to imagine what eternity would be like. It was beyond anything she could envision.

“Most Naturals end up immortal or at least, age slowly, if they mate with Guardians. Ash and Brandon will probably do the same,” he added.

Another thought occurred to her. “You like me enough to keep me around?”

“Yeah.”

His simple, earnest response and the conviction on his face floored her.

“It’s a lot to think about,” she admitted.

“It can be undone,” he added, an edge in his voice.

“No.” Jessi smiled, surprised to find no part of her disliked the idea of spending a lifetime – or several – with him. “No. It’s a lot to take in, and don’t you ever make a decision like that on my behalf again, without consulting me.”

“You were fucking dead.”

“You wanted to keep me around forever. You like me. No, you
love
me.” She wanted to cry, overwhelmed, this time by different emotions than those that plagued her this week. Living forever was not something she ever considered; being with him wasn’t something she thought was possible

Both? Jessi grinned.

He grimaced.

“No one will
ever
fuck with you again.” His tone was soft but lethal.

“I’m afraid to ask,” she murmured, aware of what his strength was able to do.

“It’s universally understood that you’re off-limits.”

She almost sighed. “So you aren’t mad at me for taking off the necklace and lying to you and not trusting you to help me.”

A flare of something went through his gaze. His jaw clenched.

“You are mad at me,” she said, uncertain why the idea made her want to laugh, especially after he went through the effort to keep her around forever.

“That shit won’t happen again.”

“You survived, didn’t you?”

“No more secrets, lies or boundaries,” he growled.

“We’ll see,” she said, grinning. “Since you can’t read my mind, and we have eternity together …”

He kissed her hungrily, robbing her of resistance and breath. Jessi yielded. She loved the combination of his passion and gentled strength. His lips teased her, his mouth opening so she could taste him once more. The furnace in her belly was beyond hot, her blood roaring with need. When he lifted his head, her thoughts were too addled for her to focus on anything more than the sensations of the body against hers.

“Deal?” he asked in a husky voice.

She nodded. “No more one-night stands.”

“Yes,
kiri,
I know,” he replied with a chuckle. He rested his forehead against hers. “I understood that when I made my choice.”

“I don’t know how you did it, but thank you,” she whispered. Tears rose as she began to realize exactly what it meant to be where she was. In his arms. On a cruise. For the first time since meeting him, she didn’t feel as if the world was crushing her.

“You didn’t fuck things up too bad. You’re brave. Stupidly so.”

She laughed. “I think that’s a compliment.”

“It is.” The quiet note in his voice drew her attention back to him. “Is this what you want, Jessi?”

She studied him curiously.

“I can’t read your mind.” His dislike of the truth was clear. “I made my fucking choice. I want to hear yours.”

She wanted to laugh but didn’t, aware he was as vulnerable as he’d ever get right now.

“Yes,” she said. Jessi fluttered kisses across his face, ignoring the tears on hers.

“Good. I’m hungry and haven’t gotten laid in three days.” Xander lifted her easily into his arms and carried her towards the bedroom.

“What a romantic proposal,” she teased, nuzzling his chest.

“Fuck with me at your own risk,” he warned. “At least I’ll make you Sunday before I turn you into dinner.”

A thrill went through her.

“Sunday,” Jessi repeated. She glanced at the alarm clock on the night stand as they entered the bedroom. It was noon. “Sofi said to tell you she told you so.”

“Fucking Oracles.”

“What does that mean?” she asked.

He set her on the bed and lay on his side, pulling her into his body once more. His large hands began to explore her. He pushed up her t-shirt, his warm palms branding her hips and stomach. He began kissing her, hot, quick and deep. Jessi’s hands traced the thick muscles of his arms.

“It means … I lost … a bet…” he said between kisses.

“About me?”

“Yes.”

Jessi’s laughter bubbled up at the anger in his tone. From what she knew of the Oracle, Sofi was probably dancing in joy right now, knowing she won a round with Xander.

Xander’s movement paused. He lifted his head to glare at her.

“You got beat by that cute little girl,” Jessi said, giggling. “She’s like, the size of your leg.”

“She also said we’ll have twenty kids.”

“
What?”
All humor fled. Jessi stared at him, unable to determine if he was messing with her. “Tell me you’re joking! I can hardly handle the two I have. There’s no way in hell!”

Xander gave her a familiar, cunning half-smile. “We’ll see, won’t we?”

Damian Eternal Series, a War of Gods spinoff

“Xander’s Chance”

“The Black God” (Fall 2013)

War of Gods

“Damian’s Oracle” (
Amazon
,
Amazon UK
)

“Damian’s Assassin” (
Amazon
,
Amazon UK
)

“Damian’s Immortal” (
Amazon
,
Amazon UK
)

“The Grey God” (
Amazon
,
Amazon UK
)