Rydstrom knew what she was doing. Seduce the demon to that mindless state. To get him to do what she wanted. But what she didn't understand was that he expected these games from her.
And he liked them.
"Kingly Rydstrom, holding yourself off from everyone and everything," she said softly. "But you won't with me. I've decided to willingly go with you."
"Have you, then? Why's that?"
"Because, lonely demon, you need me so much. And because you're my husband."
He stifled a wince. Not her husband. But I will be. "You say that only so I'll leave you untied."
"Yes, I want that." She took one of his hands and rubbed her silky cheek against the palm. "But that doesn't mean what I'm saying isn't true."
Her words made him again remember the dream of them sharing their lives, sharing a bed, raising a son. If she was pregnant and escaped ...
He didn't want to admit it even to himself, but part of the reason he kept her bound was because he had started to believe they might have a future. Another conflict within me. Because he couldn't keep her tied forever.
"I want to stay with you," she murmured, her lips inches from his.
She was playing him. Rydstrom knew it. Yet that didn't mean he didn't enjoy hearing this. "Say it again."
"I want to be with you."
"Again."
"I don't want to part from you. Take me to your home, the place where you live off-plane. I'm not going to try to escape from you. I wish to remain with you."
He stared into her eyes, needing to trust her. But he couldn't. Not yet.
"I brought you out here for another reason," the demon said.
"What's that?" Sabine asked lazily, gazing at him. Had she been one of those women who sighed, she would have now.
His black hair was tousled, his green eyes rapt on her face. His skin was damp and sheened in the moonlight. Such a gorgeous male.
And he was surprising her again and again. His promise of protection not only for her, but also for Lanthe affected her so much. She believed he would give his life if necessary to fulfill his promise.
Regrettably, he couldn't save her from the morsus. Only two people in the universe could.
"You need to learn how to swim," he said.
"What? No way! I panic in the water. This is the calmest I've ever been-"
"Then this is a good time to leam." He stood to swoop her up in his arms, then waded in deeper.
"Rydstrom, no!"
"Just trust me, Sabine. All I want you to do is get used to the water. Just float."
Maybe if she acted as if she trusted him, he might extend the courtesy? "What do you want me to do?"
"Stretch out on my hands." Even with her body stiff with tension, he maneuvered her easily. Soon she was lying flat on his palms. "Let go ... trust me." I can t.
"You can-you're already doing it." "I'm ... floating?"
"I'm not holding you up, just in place. That's it, just breathe easy. Good girl." His voice was soothing, his big hands her anchor. "Relax."
That peculiar watery silence surrounded her. Above her, blossoms swirled in the moonlight. Her hair tickled her shoulders. He continued caressing her back, and soon she did relax.
Her lids slid closed. Peaceful. Perfect. . . .
When she opened her eyes, she found him studying her face. The possessiveness in his gaze made her breath hitch. "My naked body is spread out before you, and you're looking at my face?"
"I'm trying to figure out how your mind works. If I can do that, then this"-he trailed his fingers between .her br**sts and lower-"will always be mine to enjoy."
"Do you really believe that?"
"I have to, Sabine." When she shivered, he said, "Time to go in." After easing her back to the shoal, he helped her to her feet, then reached for the rope he'd left on the rock.
"What are you doing? You're not going to retie me?"
He snagged her wrists. "Of course I am."
"Why? I thought we'd come to an understanding." He was unbending, even though she resisted. "Rydstrom! How long will you keep me bound like this?"
"Until I know you won't run."
"You're bull-headed, unreasonable-"
"Cautious."
She was livid that her plan hadn't worked. "And now you're getting that look in your eyes! Oh, I know what's coming! If you torment me for another night, I will hate you!"
With his gaze narrowed, he nodded. "I know how that feels, wanting to hate, drawing on it. The only thing that got me through my own rage was vowing revenge. Did you never think I'm able to be gentle with you now because my wrath is placated in other ways?"
"All this was a sham!"
He gave a humorless laugh. "Of course it was! I'm well aware that you were playing me-"
"No, a sham on your part! You cajole me to give you my trust, but you won't even consider giving your own!"
"Give you my trust? How easily you forget all that you did to me. By keeping me from my brother, you might have destroyed my chances of ever reclaiming Tornin, my home. I vowed revenge, Sabine. I need it, I need you to surrender to me!"
When he lifted her from the water, cradling her to his chest, she kicked at him, squirming, but his hold was like a steel cage.
"Demon, don't. No more of this tormenting me!"
He ignored her, ferrying her to shore, then started the ascent to their camp-heading to that pallet, where he would do things to her all night.
Once they reached it, he let her slide down his naked body. He grasped her upper arms, keeping her in place as he kissed her neck.
She just prevented her head from falling back. "Demon ... don't make me weak ..."
"You make me weak." Against her damp skin, he rasped, "Surrender to me, and we can end this. Sabine, I want you so bad." She could feel his hard length pressing against her.
"Not bad enough to break your word."
"One day, you'll be glad you have a man who keeps his word. You gave me unbearable nights. You'll get them as well. I vowed-"
"Save the explanation-you like this. You're keeping me tied just because it turns you on!"
"I've explained that I can't risk losing you."
"You're taking fifteen centuries of denial out on me!"
"Maybe what you're saying is true in part. I do like having you at my mercy. I crave driving you mad, as you were last night. Do you know what that does to me to see your eyes go blue with lust-for me? To see fires burning all around us?"