With each step, his body quickened for her, while memories of a far-distant past bombarded him.
Kissing Regin's sweet lips by the light of a fire while a blizzard howled outside. Laughing with her upon a bed of furs. Teaching her about pleasure.
But those memories were dim compared to the last five days.
Kissing Regin's body under the blaze of her lightning while the wind gusted over them. Lying side by side, talking in murmurs. Learning how to pleasure her. ...
She was his. She owned his heart and commanded his soul and would forever.
Why would she flee him now? When he needed her more than he ever had?
He swiftly caught up to her as she tore along a streambed, farther and farther into a narrowing canyon.
Until it dead-ended with high wal s all around. "Nowhere to run, Valkyrie."
She dashed across the stream and back, searching for a way out. "Damn it!" She raised her sword. "I'll use this."
He stalked closer. "Nothing comes between us." Not time, not death. He lunged forward, snatching the sword from her grip, tossing it away. "Why would you deny me?"
"I have to-you can't do this!"
"I can and I will ." His hand shot out to loop around her waist, dragging her close. "I need you so badly, Regin."
Her eyes went silver. Yet then her expression hardened. "If you take me tonight, it won't be without a fight."
"So long as I take you."
When Chase dipped down to kiss her again, Regin punched him with all her strength.
He drew back with his brows drawn, not in pain, but in confusion. The hit hadn't even fazed him. He was stronger than he'd ever been, faster too. And she wore the torque.
Utterly impossible to best him.
It was her nature to fight, to rail-but she'd fought Aidan in the past. And look where that got me.
No more.
Maybe if she stayed calm, she could bring him back from the brink? Steeling her resolve, she raised her hand to cup his cheek. "I need your help."
He frowned down at her.
"I have to talk to you. And I need you to be calm." She brushed his wet hair from his forehead. "That's it. Be at ease."
When the mad light in his eyes ebbed somewhat, she continued, "I want to be with you for longer than one night. And to do that, we've got to stop this. We've got to pul back."
"Nothing will stop me from claiming you this night. Nothing."
"Then you're going to widow me again? Don't you care about me?"
He gripped her nape. "I f**kin' love you, Regin!" Rain spiked his lashes as he gazed down at her, commanding her, "Love me back!"
Can't lose him. "J-just wait, Aidan!"
His eyes went wild again; he threw back his head and roared, his neck straining.
"Please, Aidan, be calm!"
When he faced her again, he bel owed, "I am no' goddamned Aidan! You're talkin' to Declan. Do you no' see me, woman?"
"N-not Aidan?" She blinked against the rain. "What? How?"
He gave his head a harsh shake, clearly struggling to gain control of his emotions. "I've got his memories. No' the other way around. He's a part of me. That's all ."
"You're still ... Declan?" This had never happened before! Maybe the outcome could be changed as wel ? Or maybe you're grasping at straws.
Voice hoarse, he said, "Aye, it's me. I will never be your perfect Viking, Regin! I've made unforgivable mistakes. I've no family or friends, and my men hold no love for me. I'm scarred inside and out. And I'm bloody askin' for you anyway!"
You're the one that I want. Yet then she shivered with fear. "But the curse-"
"Has no reign over me, no' over us. The past has no hold!" He brushed his battered knuckles along her cheek again and again. "Can you see me, see the man that I am? Accept me, Regin, because I'm holdin'on to nothin' but you."
A thousand years ago, Aidan had taken her hands in his own and asked her to accept him. Tragedy had fol owed for all his days. "Declan, I'm ... afraid. I'm scared to."
"You know this is different. You have to feel it too."
Do I? Or do I just want him so much?
He dipped down, his lips slanting over hers. He gave a sharp groan at the contact, but he was gentle, tempering his brutal strength for her. And she loved him for it.
Gods, how she loved him.
In the past, whenever the frenzy had seized him, she'd been swept up, answering his beast. Now some long-dormant part of her was waking, clamoring for his kiss, for his claiming.
Resisting it went against her every instinct. She couldn't deny that primal pul -not when her heart craved him just as feverishly.
Want him so badly, love him so much. ...
The conflict within her grew stronger. She feared, but she hungered-soon she was deepening the contact. Even as she lamented her weakness, she savored his firm lips and lapped at his tongue.
When he returned her forays with wicked flicks, shivers raced over her. He kissed her until they were breathing for each other, until she got lost in the bliss, scarcely aware as he began stripping her, then himself. She only realized she was na**d when she felt the rain on her sensitive skin.
By the time she lay back on their discarded clothes, she was panting with need; he looked on the verge of losing control as he moved between her legs.
His body was taut with readiness, his brawny arms and pecs bulging. His shaft was a heavy rod, straining toward her.
Lightning flashed, shadowing his scars in relief, like brands over his skin. But each raised lash cal ed to mind his strength, his will to survive.
Magnificent male.
As her gaze was lovingly tracing over every inch of his body, he'd been regarding hers just as intently.
"Look at you, my beautiful Regin. You think I'd surrender you to another? You are mine." He fisted his hand in her hair, yanking her up to him. "Say my name, Regin."
She breathed, "Declan."
He leaned forward to suck her earlobe. "I'm goin' to f**k you til you scream it. Fuck you till we lose count."
She gasped, his words making her tremble.
"But I need to get you ready." He drew back, his smoldering gaze riveted to her sex. "Spread your thighs for me."
When she eagerly obeyed, he bent down. She could feel his hot breath against her flesh as he nuzzled her curls, making her ni**les pucker into aching points.
"Never get enough of this." He pressed his opened mouth to her, his tongue snaking over her clitoris.
"Ah, yes, yes!" she cried over the thunder booming through the canyon.
His low growls, his hungry mouth. Already she grew close.