Consumed (9 page)

“Where do you want me to put my bag?” Rourk asked.

“You can just leave it by the door or put it in my room down the hall.”

Rourk tried to hide his surprise. He set the bag down by the door. He hadn’t even thought of their sleeping arrangements.

“Do you want to eat first?”

“Sure, I’m hungry.”

“Me too.” Keegan opened the fridge. “How does a frozen pizza sound? We can watch TV and eat.”

“That works. Do you need me to help with anything?”

“Nope. Do you want a soda?”

Rourk walked into the kitchen and took the can of soda from her hand and set it down on the counter. “I just want to look at you for a moment.”

Keegan felt her face flush. “Umm, ok. That’s kinda weird.”

“I missed you so much.” Rourk took his finger and lightly traced the side of her face, sending shivers through her body.

“Me too.” Keegan’s voice was barely over a whisper.

Rourk wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He laid his chin on her head and inhaled. “I love the way you smell.”

Keegan wiggled to get her head out from under his chin and looked up at him. “I love you.”

Rourk smiled, “You better get that pizza in the oven. I know you get cranky when you are hungry.”

She swatted him on the arm. “Well, if someone hadn’t come in and interrupted me.” She pushed him out of the kitchen. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

Keegan watched him through the doorway while she unwrapped the pizza. She was afraid she was dreaming and someone was going to pinch her and she would wake up. It was all too good to be true. She threw the pizza in the oven and hurried out to join him on the couch. She didn’t want to be apart from him, even momentarily.

She sat down and felt the electricity race through her body when her thigh touched his. She wanted to drag him into the bedroom, but figured she would let him make the first move. Instead, she reached down and grabbed the remote off the glass coffee table. “Do you want to watch anything in particular?”

Rourk shook his head no. “I don’t really watch TV.”

“Well, you are in luck. How does a show about vampires sound?” Keegan laid her head on his thigh and kicked her feet up on the couch.

“Sure. Sounds good.”

After they ate the pizza, and the show was over. Keegan felt butterflies in her stomach. It was time. She looked up at Rourk. “Are you ready to go to bed?”

Rourk glanced around. “The couch will be fine.”

“The couch? You came all this way. I finally have a place to myself, and you want to sleep on the couch? No way! You are sleeping in my room.”

Keegan pulled him up and lead him towards her room.

“Keegan, I don’t think this is a good idea. I don’t know if I can control myself around you.”

“Who said you had to control yourself?” Keegan gave him a sly grin that she hoped looked sexier than it felt.

Chapter 10

R
ourk tensed as Keegan lead him into her bedroom.
Why hadn’t he thought of this? He had been so thrilled to spend time with her he hadn’t even thought of sleeping arrangements. Maybe he should have stayed in a hotel
. He really didn’t know if he had the self control to resist her. She was so incredibly sexy.

Keegan turned and grabbed his hands pulling him the rest of the way into her bedroom. Rourk glanced over at the huge bed that took up most of the room. She slid her arms around his waist and smiled sweetly up at him. The electricity coursed through his body. Keegan took a couple steps backwards, pulling him with her, and then fell back on the bed giggling.

Rourk stared down at her. She was biting her lip and looking up at him expectantly. He closed his eyes and let the tension release from his body as he leaned down and got lost in her kiss. Keegan ran her hands through his hair and the kiss intensified. Rourk broke away and Keegan pulled him back for more. His mind screamed stop, but his body wouldn’t listen.

She lifted up his shirt and ran her fingers up his chest. Rourk couldn’t breathe.

“Keegan, don’t.” He pushed her hand back down.

She looked surprised. “What did I do wrong?”

Rourk rolled over to the side. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I just don’t trust myself.”

“What do you mean you don’t trust yourself?”

“Keegan, I want you so badly. I don’t think I can stand being alone with you like this.” He ran his hand through his hair, his brow knitted together. He couldn’t meet her eye.

“I want you too, so there
is
no problem.” She reached for him again and he pulled away. Keegan sat up as Rourk stood beside the bed.

“It’s against tradition. I know it’s old fashioned, but I strongly believe in tradition.” His voice was absolute.

Keegan’s eyes widened. “You are my chosen. We’re bonded, so it’s ok. I want this, Rourk.” She reached out for him. “I want you.”

“We’re not married. Why do you think elves get married so soon after they are bonded?”

“I don’t know. I never really thought about it.” Keegan flopped back onto the bed and rested her head on her hand.

“Keegan, I’m sorry. I can’t. I know you want to hold off on the handfasting and I can accept that. However, you have to accept that we will not have sex until we are married. This is really important to me.”

She sucked in her breath. “Are you serious? I bought matching underwear today. I can’t believe you are turning me down.”

“I’m not turning you down. Don’t be ridiculous. I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. I would marry you right now, and spend all weekend in bed with you.”

Keegan sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. “I don’t want to get married just to have sex. I’m still not ready to get married.”

“You know I will wait forever for you.” Rourk reached over and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You just tell me the date and time and I will be there.”

Keegan wiped a tear from her cheek.

“Why are you crying?” His voice sounded panicked. “I don’t want you to cry.”

“I don’t know. It’s stupid. I was excited and nervous thinking I was going to lose my virginity today, and now I feel like an idiot. My own chosen doesn’t want me.” Keegan threw a pillow across the room, her anger obvious.

Rourk was worried she would turn the room into a block of ice. “Keegan, look at me.”

She slowly raised her head to meet his eyes, a sullen look on her face.

“I’m sorry you don’t agree, but this is who I am. You say that you love me right?’ Rourk asked gently.

Keegan nodded.

“Well, you need to love this part about me as well.” Rourk reached out to take her hand. “We have a lifetime to spend together, and I’m sure plenty of it will be spent in bed. Let’s just spend this time getting to know each other more. Ok?”

Keegan wiped her nose with the back of her hand and nodded. “Will you still sleep in my bed with me?”

Rourk hung his head. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

“I promise I won’t attack you in the middle of the night.”

Rourk took a deep breath. “I hope I don’t regret this. Yes, I’ll stay in here.”

“Thank you. I’m going to change into my PJ’s I’ll be right back.” Keegan rummaged through her drawer looking for the least sexiest thing to wear and then headed to her bathroom. She came out a few minutes later wearing Power Puff Girls pajamas. “How’s this?”

“You look adorable.” Rourk noticed she still had the necklace on. “Come here.”

Keegan walked over and Rourk stood up. He put his hands around her neck to unlatch the necklace. Keegan jerked away. “No, don’t take it off. It hurts too much.”

“Keegan, I am here you don’t need it anymore.”

She looked skeptical. “Are you sure?”

“Trust me.” He unlatched the necklace and set it on her nightstand.

Keegan grinned. “No pain.” She reached up and kissed him. Rourk hesitantly returned the kiss.

“Don’t worry, Rourk. I promised, so you need to trust me.” She kissed him again.

“It’s not you I don’t trust, it’s me. This is much harder than you can imagine. I’ve lain awake many nights dreaming of being alone with you.”

“You have? Seriously?” She crossed her arms across her chest. “You’re not just saying that to make me feel better?”

“Of course not, Keegan, you are beautiful and you are mine. I want to explore everything about you. I just want to wait until you are my wife.”

“That’s really sweet.” Keegan pulled his hand to her lips and kissed it.

“I know you’re tired after that long flight. Why don’t you get changed and we’ll try to get some sleep.” She crawled under the covers.

Rourk left to grab his backpack from the living room. He changed into a pair of shorts and T-shirt. He wished she would just agree to marry him so they wouldn’t have to deal with this. It was almost funny—Keegan had been torturing him since he first laid eyes on her. He should be used to it by now. He would endure anything she threw his way.

He got under the covers and she snuggled up against him. She fit perfectly in his arms.

Rourk ran a hand through her hair, his other arm tucked tightly around her small frame. She was asleep in no time. He lie awake awhile, listening to her breathe. His last thought before he dozed off was
I am the luckiest man on the planet.

Chapter 11

K
eegan woke up and flung her arm across the bed to find it empty.
Was her night with him a dream?

She rubbed her eyes and sat up, the blankets falling away from her. She looked around for any proof that he had been there, but saw nothing but the faint indentation in her purple satin sheets. She flopped back on the bed and grabbed the pillow next to her. Bringing it to her face, she pressed its softness to her face and breathed deep.
Yep, he’s real
. She loved the smell of him—he smelled like the woods.

But where is he?
She jumped out of bed and tugged her favorite robe from the hook over her door. It was a fluffy lavender robe from Target that had been worn so many times the elbows were going thin, but she loved it. She stepped into some slippers and went to search for him.

Love swelled in her chest as she stopped at the doorway of the kitchen. The early morning sunshine slanted through the window and illuminated him. His hair was mussed from sleep, sticking haphazardly up, and he was in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt. Keegan had never known him in such an intimate aspect.

Rourk was hovering over the coffee pot. He jabbed at a button; then, he frowned and punched another. When nothing happened, he swore under his breath and jerked the coffee pot out, glaring at it.

Keegan smirked and shook her head at his troubles with the coffeemaker. She closed her eyes and called on the power inside her. The tingling sensation that accompanied her main power of invisibility rushed through her body: starting from her head and claiming her body all the way to her toes. She loved to sneak up on people.

She tiptoed forward until she was right behind him.

“Need some help?” she asked and was disappointed when he didn’t jump.

“I didn’t hear you.” Rourk turned wide eyes in her general direction. His brow furrowed as he searched the room for her.

Keegan let go of her power, and her body shimmered back into view. “I would hope not. What would be the fun in being invisible if you could be heard?”

His smile was huge. “I’ve never seen you use your power. Do it again.”

She closed her eyes, relishing the familiar sensation as it ran through her body, and she was gone.

Rourk laughed. “Ok, you can come back now. I’m impressed.”

When she appeared beside him, Rourk turned and grabbed her around the waist. “I wasn’t sure you were ever going to wake up. It’s almost 9:00.”

Their lips touched lightly, and Keegan felt hot and restricted beneath her robe. She stepped away. “What time did you wake up?”

“Five-thirty. Same time I usually wake up.”

Keegan crinkled up her nose. “Yuck. I can’t believe you willingly get up that early on a weekend. What have you been doing?”

“Not much. I stayed in bed for awhile. Then I figured I’d come see what you had to make for breakfast. However, I can’t seem to figure out this thing.” He gestured to the coffeemaker where it sat innocently on the counter.