Awakening Kiss (Watcher's Kiss Book 4) (39 page)

“Nope.” Rilan’s tone exuded reassurance. “She’ll think she had quite a dream.”

Enza nodded. Rhys held out his hand and she took it, awash in the sudden feeling that things were going to be okay.

“Thanks Rilan,” she murmured, and stood, clinging to the hand of the man she realized she needed as much as she needed oxygen.

A minute later they were in Rhys’s room. Outside, late afternoon sun blazed a warm beam into the cool air conditioned room. Enza pushed up the hem of Rhys’s T-shirt and he tugged it off. She walked around to his back, running her hands along his skin, searching for any remaining signs of his wound.

“The spot where Soren stabbed me healed,” Rhys said. “Once the guys got there and pulled the damn dagger out, it only took a few minutes.”

“How’d you know that’s what I was looking for?” She pressed her lips to his back, kissing from one shoulder blade to the next.

“Just a hunch.”

“I’m so sorry you got stabbed because of me.”

He turned and framed her face with his hands. “Baby, I’d take a stab wound for you. I’d take a bullet, or a fire ball, or an arrow, or venom. Anything if it would keep you safe.” His eyes blazed with amber light and she felt the force of his words in her heart as well as heard them in her ears.

“You came to another realm to rescue me,” she whispered. “You seem invincible. Unstoppable.”

“If you’re involved, then yeah. That’d be an understatement.”

She slid her hands up his chest, emotion surging like a wave. She couldn’t fight it. She had to say something or at least try to put words to her feelings. “Can it be a permanent understatement?”

He froze for a nanosecond, then a grin tilted his lips upward.

“I mean, I want you. This. Us. Whatever this is between us,” she said, needing to explain. “I don’t want it to end and I don’t want to share you. I have this stubborn, super intense feeling I’ve never felt before.”

His hands dropped to her waist, finding the hem of her shirt and toying with it. “I do too.”

“You do?” Thank goodness.

He pulled her shirt up and she lifted her arms so he could tug it off completely. “Yep. And I have an idea of what it is.”

“Tell me!” She grabbed his hands, holding them in front of her. “I need to understand.”

“I’ve been feeling emotion from you all day. Your concern for your mom. Your fear when Soren took you away. And when you were alone with him and Splinter. I felt your power surge in the air, on the mountain. But I also felt it in here.” He patted his heart. “And ever since we got back here, your thoughts have been broadcasting to me as clear as the ten o’clock news.”

She frowned. “But what does that…”
Oh.
Was this what they had referred to, that bonding?

“Enza.” He kissed each of her hands. “Ever since I met you I felt a pull to you. At first I thought I just needed to understand who you were and what your powers were. But then, it changed to something much stronger. You’re braver than most females I know. And you have a kind compassionate heart. Not everyone would be interested in preserving the life of their kidnapper.”

Her heart soared in her chest, desperate for something intangible and so close, her soul was screaming for it.

“When you were in danger, when you were taken away, I couldn’t stand it. I had to save you, at any cost. Because I realized that you’re my other half. I need you in my life. What we’re both feeling is the mate bond.”

Yes!
Part of her knew that. The part of her that was wild, brave, and addicted to Rhys. She couldn’t keep a huge smile off her face. “That’s good, right?”

He popped the button on her jeans. “Hell yes. It’s very good. Some creatures never find their mate.”

“What do we do?” she murmured, as a double shot of lust built. This close to his bare skin, she only wanted to lick him.

“Since we’re both feeling the pull of it…the next step is up to you.”

She scrunched her nose and he went on. “The female has to accept the bond. It can start to form, but won’t complete until she welcomes it. It’s sort of a safety measure, I guess, to prevent forced matings. This way it can only happen if it’s meant to.”

“So, do I just say, I accept you?” she asked.

“Not sure. But from what I hear, it can be a thought, or a spoken acknowledgment of love.” He shimmied her jeans down and she kicked off her shoes and still-wet socks. “There’s no rush, Enza. I want you like I’ve never wanted anything or anyone in my life, and if you’re ready to do this, so am I. But I don’t want you to feel pressure, on top of everything else you’ve been through. There’s no time limit on it. Hell, one of the Watcher pairs at HQ had to wait a hundred years to complete their bond.”

“A hundred? Wait.” A new thought startled her. “How old are you?”

“Almost three hundred years.” He studied her. “I should have told you sooner.”

“No, it’s okay. It will take some getting used to, like the rest of it. But…” She tilted her head to one side as he kissed her neck. “If I’m half human, will I grow old before you?”

“You’re also half demon, and if we’re mated, that half will take over your longevity, and you’ll live as long as any other supernatural creature.”

Relief coursed through her. “Oh. Good. Because that’s what I want.”

“To live a long demon life?” His eyes twinkled.

She slid her fingers into the waist of his jeans. “To be mated to you, and live a long demon life with you. And have adorable demon babies with you. We can have kids, right?”

He grabbed her around the waist, lifting her off her feet, and swung her around. “I fucking hope so. If you’re fertile when I am, then we will. And if not, our healers can help out with that.”

“Oh, Rhys.” She wrapped her legs around his jean-clad hips. “I love you.”

The words left her lips and everything clicked into place. All the mix of emotion she had been feeling, all the things she couldn’t understand…it was him. It was their bond. And now she gasped as she felt her heart lock to his, as if bound with a golden chain.

Together. Forever.

“I love you too,
bella.
”

A sudden thought popped into her head. “Can we get married too?”

He laughed, a magic sound that warmed her heart. “Are you proposing to me?”

She tilted her head. “Well…I kind of always thought I’d be a bride one day. I mean, I hoped.” She shrugged. “Maybe it’s silly. Life doesn’t always turn out like we pl—”

“You want to get married, we’ll get married. Big or small, here or away, just tell me.” He nibbled her ear. “Could be fun. I never thought I’d have a wife.”

“I never thought I’d have a
mate
,” she shot back, turning to meet his lips. Delirious joy built in her heart and she fought to push her words out. Hard to do when the sexiest man alive was kissing her like he couldn’t get enough. “Rhys…everything changed when I met you. I thought things were upside down and crazy. But really, they fell into place.”

He pulled back and the love in his eyes melted her heart. “You’ve done a kick-ass job of handling everything.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You’ll never have to. You’ve got me forever, now.” He winked.
Forever.

She gasped at the familiar rumble of his voice…but now in her head. “What are you doing?”

Talking to you. We did it on the mountain. Remember?

“Yeah, but I didn’t—it just happened. I thought it was like an extra thing we could do because of the fight. Something with my demon nature, maybe. How do you do it?”

It’s just like speaking out loud. Try it.

She concentrated.
Like this?

He nodded.

Wow. So this is what you guys meant.

“Yes. The mental link, the emotion, and now the bond. It’s forever baby. I’m yours.”

“And I’m yours.”

He closed the small distance between them, claiming her mouth in a kiss that crystallized his devotion to her. Faithfulness, love, and anticipation flooded her, and she could tell it was his emotion she was feeling. A new feeling of being joined to him pulsed in her soul, and she squeezed him tighter.

Not long ago, she wouldn’t have thought herself lucky to be a half demon. But the man holding her now made everything make sense. He’d protected her and fought for her, been wounded for her and gave relentless pursuit until she was safe in his arms. “You’re my hero,” she whispered, wishing he could see how much she treasured him.

“For you, always. You make me feel like I can be anything and everything you need.” His intensity branded her, imprinting deeply in her very cells.

“Do you understand how amazing you are?” She cupped his jaw.

He grinned. “I do, my mate and bride-to-be.”

E
PILOGUE

One year later

“E
AT MORE
!”
CARA HELD UP
a slice of yellow cake with ribbons of filling creating too-tempting paths through it. Strawberry, banana, and buttercream—all of Enza’s favorites. She stood in front of Enza and Rhys, who were taking a much needed respite to sit down during their wedding reception. “This cake is almost as big as I am and someone needs to finish it. Eat.”

“No, I can’t!” Enza protested. “It was delicious, but this dress has zero room for cake and I already had a piece.”

“All the better to get you out of it sooner.” Rhys gave her a roguish grin and reached for the dessert. “I’ll eat it. “

Enza gigggled. “Isn’t this like, your third piece?”

“Yeah.” He forked a bite into his mouth, and it brought back memories of sharing gelato with him a year ago, when she barely knew him. “I plan on burning a lot of calories later tonight.”

“Benefits of being supernatural.” Cara winked over her shoulder as she walked back to the cake table. “We can eat and drink anything.”

Enza traced lines on Rhys’s tuxedo pant leg. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.” Cara had become her right hand woman at Java Genie, whipping up all kinds of amazing sweet creations. Her nymph friends had started coming in to support her, and Java Genie had seen a corresponding increase in their male human customers.

Rhys polished off the cake in record time and pulled Enza onto his lap. Her full white satin skirt poofed up in a little cloud around her hips. “Good thing she can handle the kitchen while we’re on our honeymoon.”

Sicily in July would be hot, but Enza didn’t plan on wearing a lot of clothes. “I can’t wait.”

“Can we leave yet?”

“Almost.” She caressed his nape. “You’re impatient.”

“Can’t help it. Now that I have a mate and wife, I don’t know who to make out with first.”

Meena walked by, stopping Enza’s spoken response to his double entrendre.
You are SO bad.

“Do you think we should expand into the wedding cake business? Cara’s cake is the best thing I’ve ever tasted.” Meena eyed Rhys’s empty plates. “You liked it.”

“I like everything,” he rumbled. “Especially my wife.”

“You guys are so cute. I could barf.” But her best friend and maid of honor grinned. “I’m so happy for you.”

Meena had also been thrilled when the other Watchers had started hanging out in Java Genie, though she had no idea they weren’t human. They drank lots of black coffee and ate everything Enza and Cara baked. And the neighborhood fitness mom crowd had grown in response. Between the Watchers, nymphs, and extra human men and women, business had improved so much they had expanded to a bigger shop one block north. She and Enza had paid off her parents and were now majority owners.

“Oh, I see Jude. He can’t hide forever. Later.” Meena darted away in pursuit of the blond warrior. He’d been as polite as always, but Meena had been after him for a dance all night.

“She is so crushing on him,” Enza murmured. “Poor girl.”

“And there’s no way that dude will set one foot on the dance floor,” Rhys chuckled.

“She can be relentless, but I think she’ll have to wave the flag on this one.” Enza watched Meena meet Jude at the bar and start an animated conversation.

“She’ll be waiting a long time for that dance.” Miranda sipped a fizzy cocktail. She had been the object of human male attention all night. How could she not, when she was poured into her navy blue bridesmaid’s dress?

“Can you find someone for her?” Enza asked, glancing up at Miranda’s gorgeous fall of red hair. She’d spent countless hours with the demoness, learning more about her power and the Deserati race. And lots of plain old girl talk too. “You know tons of people.”

“I’ll try. Though that girl doesn’t give up.” Miranda waved at someone across the room.

“True.” Enza said. “But I’ll talk to her.”

Rhys’s phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a miracle Enza could even feel it, considering the mountain of satin she was sitting on. Rhys slid his hands under her ass, giving her a squeeze before retrieving his device. He glanced at it, then at Enza.

It’s him.

She smiled. “Gosh, I need some fresh air.”

“If you’re going for a quickie, just say so,” Miranda said. “I’ll cover for you.”

Only Miranda.
“Thanks, girl. I love that you have our back.” Enza got up and shook out her skirt. “But it’s something else. Tell you later.”

Enza let Rhys lead her through the throng of dancing, drinking, well-wishing wedding guests toward the banquet hall’s balcony, where French doors opened into the humid July night. Soft sconces lit the wide expanse, but with strategically placed topiaries and floral arrangements, there were several places to sneak a kiss. Or more.

They walked to the far end, where a shadowed figure stood.

“Hi, Antonio,” Enza said, holding out her arms.

The man who had helped give her life pulled her into an embrace. “You’re stunning. Just like your mother. Thank you for asking me to come and see you on this momentous day.” He peered closer. “Gods. That necklace…it’s perfect.”

Enza’s fingers flew to the silver and gold heart charm at her throat. Tucked securely in the bottom of Concetta’s jewelry box for nearly three decades, it had retained its beauty and luster. And its sentimental value, in Enza’s opinion was immeasurable. “I love this. I’m so glad you gave it to Mom all those years ago. Even if you did steal it.”