Page 7 of Final Shift
Declan's expression went wary. He held out his hands and took a step back. “Whoa. I'm only here to deliver a message. I'll step out and wait until you are both…decent.”
The Second did not turn around and leave his back exposed to Rowan. He carefully walked backward until Rowan finally looked away.
I went to my knees beside him and took his face in my hands. “Rowan.” I pressed a kiss to the edge of his lips. “You have to get that under control.”
He gripped me by the hips, not quite painful, more possessive than anything. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. “I'm trying,” he rumbled. “Normally, those strong emotions fade within a couple of months, but our bond has proven different.”
A wry twist to his lips before a short laugh rang out. “Everything about this has proven unique.”
“You aren't alone here,” I said quietly. The only females I could tolerate looking at Rowan were Moira, Tess, and Hope. Anyone else made me twitchy. Mine wasn't as bad as Rowan, but I had to resist the urge to wrap myself around him like a clingy octopus whenever other women were around.
Embarrassing.
He lifted those beautiful hazel eyes, a leftover shimmer of violence glazing their depths. “You haven't threatened to rip anyone to pieces yet.”
I grunted. “Doesn't mean I don't want to.” My fingers slid through his silky hair, and I wondered again how I'd gotten solucky. I never wanted to stop touching him, stop lying with him in fields of fragrant flowers, and letting him worship me.
Rowan smiled and touched his chest. “I feel you right here and know when you're thinking goofy thoughts.”
I laughed and shoved his shoulder. “And I feel when you're about to slice someone in two.”
His eyes turned serious. “We can send him away. If you want.”
I sighed and touched my forehead to his. “He'll send another one. And if we ignore him, another one will come soon after.”
Rowan closed his eyes. “I'm not ready for this to be over.”
I curled into his lap and lay my head against his chest. His arms wrapped tight around me. “We'll have it again. Consider this a temporary blip.”
“Every time he comes back into our lives, he hurts you.”
“Arguably, I hurt him worse this time.”
Rowan's chest rumbled with a laugh. “Agreed. If we had a bard, he'd sing about your exploits in the pub.”
I snickered. “Are you ready to go meet this kid?”
“How do you know he's a child?”
I sighed and slid out of Rowan's arms. “Because Caelan knows my weaknesses. He'll send someone vulnerable.”
“Fucking asshole,” he snarled.
I bent to gather my clothes. “Agreed. We knew this wouldn't last forever, but it doesn't mean we won't have it again.”
I watched Rowan rise, his powerful limbs sleek and graceful as he moved. My mouth went dry as he stalked toward me.
A slow smile curved his lips when he saw where my eyes were. “Maybe we could delay a little while longer.”
I laughed and hurriedly dressed. “No, you insatiable beast. Let's get this over with. Then we'll talk about it.”
His eyes took on that strange new glow, silver mixed with gold and a touch of watermelon tourmaline—the color of my magic. “Are you sure?”
I took a step back. “Rowan. We can't.”
“Says who? We're grown-ups.”
I let out an exasperated laugh. “We just did!”
