Bound by Light (58 page)
He pulled her closer, leaned toward her mouth until her lips tingled, waiting for his kiss—then he hesitated.
Her eyes were closed, and the heat of his breath washed over her face.
When he spoke, his voice was even lower, and sorrowful. "I don’t know if I can ever give you a child of your own."
"Oh, shit, Jake. Right now, all I want is a kiss." Merilee pressed her hands against his head and pulled him the rest of the way to her mouth.
He growled like he’d spent the last month and a half thinking of nothing but how he’d taste her, how he’d touch her, and she held on tight, giving herself to his fierce lips, his spicy scent, the power of his hands gripping her hips, and the simple, blissful reality of his presence.
She tasted him right back as his lips devoured hers, running her hands through his short, soft hair. The air in her body heated and howled and spun until her nipples ached, her sex ached, her very soul ached for him to take her any way he’d have her, in whatever form he could manage.
Demon.
Human.
Nine-headed hydra.
She really didn’t give a damn.
Jake’s hands moved inside her robe, marking her with each searing touch.
"Give me your air," he murmured as she unfastened his jeans and shoved them down over his trim hips. "I want your wind."
She wrapped them both in a wild flare of her elemental energy as she stroked his hard cock, moving him where she wanted him, pressing his erection between her legs.
Jake’s wings lifted her up, up, higher, spreading and pumping, taking her to the balcony, out of the library, into the night. So fast. So high. Into a wide, dark, and empty sky that belonged just to them.
"Fly with me, Merilee."
His voice rumbled through her mind, stirring her, letting her know without question—
This is real.
He’s real.
We’re real.
Merilee’s heart pumped like his wings as she held on for dear life, trusting him, wanting him, falling into the rhythm of his flight, feeling the unbelievable heat as he slid his cock deep into her aching center.
She arched her hips against his thrusts and let go with her arms, letting him hold her, soaring like she had always wanted to soar, completely free and open to wherever this ride might take them.
"Fly with me," Jake whispered again. . . .
And she did.
(acknowledgments)
Well, dear readers, thank you for reading this trilogy. I hope it brightened your lives and stirred up winds in your minds.
I would like to extend my thanks to the intrepid copy editors at Random House. You truly contributed to the quality and consistency of my work, and I’m both grateful and a little awed.
How
do you notice all that stuff? Amazing.
As always, this piece wouldn’t have been possible without the eagle-eyed critique of Cheyenne McCray, who at least didn’t have to give up a vacation for this one. More appreciation to Tara Donn—thanks for not letting me point weapons at friendlies and do utterly stupid things with my law enforcement officers.
To my editor Kate Collins—this one was all yours, and I appreciate your feedback and careful work. Signe Pike, good luck in your new ventures, and I still covet your old e-mail address. Kelli Fillingim, welcome, and I’ll try not to be too big a pain in your neck. Really.
And Nancy—I got you in the dedication this time, but I know, I know . . . that doesn’t apply to the endless supply of chocolate (and coffee) I owe you.
Also by Anna Windsor
Bound by Shadow
Bound by Flame
Bound by Light
is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
A Ballantine Books Mass Market Original
Copyright © 2008 by Anna Windsor
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
BALLANTINE and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
eISBN: 978-0-345-50931-4
v1.0
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