“No, don’t be.” She let out a big yawn and her eyes drifted shut.
He shook his head and leaned over her to scoop her into his arms and up the stairs. Though she stirred when he picked her up, she quickly relaxed once he assured her he was only carrying her to bed. She let out a soft snore, and he glanced down in surprise. He bit his lip to keep his laughter at bay, barely succeeding.
She’d just love to know she snored in front of him.
He laid her in bed and gently placed the covers over her body. He saw something black sticking out from under the pillow and reached underneath. He chuckled as he retrieved the huge butcher knife. She apparently slept armed now. He rolled his eyes and put it on the table next to her bed. Still within reach, but he didn’t need to worry about her hurting herself in her sleep. After casting one last longing look at her, he spun on his heel and headed for the door.
He planned on spending the night. Downstairs, of course.
“Why are you always taking my knife?” she grumbled. He turned to see her leaning on her elbow, her long hair cascading to the mattress beneath her. Did she know how tempting she appeared? How much she tortured him by making him stay in the same room, when he couldn’t do a damn thing to ease his hunger? Her face was softened by sleep, and her hair tousled as if he had been running his fingers through it.
“I didn’t take it. I moved it somewhere safer. It’s right next to you, still in arm’s reach.” He gestured to her table, and she followed his movement before pinning her gaze back on him. Her eyes glowed in the moonlight. He bit back a groan and shifted on his feet.
“Well, good night.”
“Please, stay,” she whispered. He made it to the doorway, only to stop at her words.
His heart lurched in his chest at the words she spoke, and the feeling behind them. To his ears, it seemed like she asked him to stay by her side forever.
No, only his foolish heart imagined hearing what it so longed to hear. Nothing more, nothing less.
Idiot.
He returned to the bed and cupped her face in his hands. “I am. I’ll be on the couch. I’m not leaving.”
She shook her head. “No, please stay here. In my bed.”
Surprise racked over him at her words, followed by a jolt of lust so strong he thought he might double over from it. He wasted no time removing his shirt and smiled as he noted her swift intake of breath.
It seemed only fair she be as turned on by him as he was by her.
Climbing into bed, he saw the desire burning in her eyes and fought down the answering surge in him. He grew hard as she scooted back against him, her soft bu**ocks teasing his erection. She wouldn’t turn him away if he persisted, but he knew now wouldn’t be the right time for seduction. She’d been worn down by exhaustion. He couldn’t take advantage of her.
No matter how much he longed to rip her clothes from her body and bury himself inside her welcoming warmth.
Bloody hell, it’s going to be a long night.
She tilted her face to his and whispered, “Kiss me.”
He swallowed past the lump that appeared in his throat and groaned at the answering twinge in his c**k at her words. He’d love to kiss her.
Everywhere.
He almost denied her the affection out of self-preservation, but in the end, the temptation proved too much to bear. He crushed his lips to hers and plunged his tongue possessively into her mouth. He briefly enjoyed the sweet taste of her, scared to allow himself more. He tore away from her addictive mouth, closed his eyes, and counted to three before kissing her nose, and turning her away from him. He buried his face in her hair and smiled as her fragrance washed over him.
Mmm…he could spend at least the next fifty years in her hair. God willing, he would.
A little snore escaped her as he lay beside her, keeping watch.
Chapter Eight
The next morning, Sabrina awoke to see Isaac’s blue eyes sparkling as he watched her. Blushing hotly, she smiled before burrowing into his open arms.
Now that was a sight every woman should wake up to.
“Why are you staring at me when I’m asleep?”
“Because I love watching you at any time of day.”
“Oh, please. I’m sure I looked mesmerizing with my mouth hanging open.” She snorted. “What really happened? Did I snore or something?”
“Of course not! You slept quite peacefully all night long.” He was quick to assure her and even shook his head for extra measure.
Perhaps too quick. And too emphatic.
“Humph. How’d you sleep?” she asked against his bare chest. His chest hair tickled her nose, but she didn’t care. It felt too good to move.
“Wonderful,” he quickly said.
“Mmm…me, too. Thank you for staying.”
“Anytime.”
“I have a question.” His groan at her words made her chuckle lightly. “Yesterday when you were gone, Connor mentioned something, and it confused me. He told me you went after the mongrel because as the ‘Ruler’ it was your right and duty. What did he mean?”
He mumbled something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like feeding Connor to mongrels.
“Isaac.”
“It means I am, in a way, a king of sorts. Not by choice, but I have some talents that have relegated me to such. The old ruler had grown corrupt—yes, it happens to Enforcers. We’d hunted him down to exterminate him—”
“You’d kill one of your own just because they were being greedy!”
“It’s more than that. He lived the lifestyles of the beasts we hunt. Somehow, he found a Shine who could mask the treachery under a spell, so none would be the wiser. When the Shine got caught, we discovered the truth,” he explained.
“What’s a Shine? And what happened to it?”
“Picture a witch, but more powerful, and much prettier. They’re extremely rare. They’ve been eliminated one by one. They’re evil, cruel creatures. The old ruler should have disposed of her, but instead got lured by her beauty and promises. They became a team. His perfidy became clear when I caught her in his private quarters. We fought, and I won, at the cost of her life.
“Once the spells broke, I realized what had been happening all along, just in time to turn around to ward off his attempt to kill me. He attacked me from behind.” His face scrunched up at the memory, and he glowered. “Cowardly move. We fought. I won, and got named ruler. Mostly because I discovered his dirty little secret, and also because I have a special skill. I’m one of the strongest and fastest of my kind, but I also have a gift, or curse, of…weather.”