BirthStone by Sydney Addae Page B

“No one.”
    Tingles of mind bending pleasure shot
through her as she met his unwavering stare. Her eyes filled as his
head lowered. “You are my queen.” He placed a soft kiss on her
lips. “My mate.” He kissed her again. “My woman.” He brushed the
tears from her cheek. “I am sorry you are hurting.” Instead of
kissing her again, he rolled her over on top of him and held her
gently while she pulled her thoughts together. His nearness had a
habit of robbing her of her wits at times.
    “I know you do. But you have to talk to me,
Silas. I don’t want to listen to your conversations all day through
our link. I have enough just dealing with the kids. I expect you to
fill me in on the highlights so I’m in the loop.”
    He rubbed her back with his fingertips,
sending zings of heat rushing to her core. If this wasn’t so
important, she would demand he take care of her needs right now.
But her mate was not fully human and thought in black and white;
she needed him to move toward the gray areas to compromise.
    “I need a few hours of just the two of us.
Doesn’t have to be sex, although that would be great,” she rushed
to say when he stiffened. “We used to do that before the bomb
scare, we need to go back to it. Like I said, I miss you and need
to re-energize. That only happens when we spend time together.”
    He nodded. “Okay. Whatever we need to do to
get back to where you are comfortable, let’s do it. I didn’t
realize how much everything that happened a month ago impacted my
actions. I cannot allow that.” He squeezed her tight. “Thanks for
telling me about it.” He pushed her up so she could look into his
eyes. “But you can’t leave me over stuff like that, or for any
reason.”
    “I wasn’t leaving you,” she huffed. “I was
leaving the bedroom so I could think. It's too hard to gather my
thoughts together with you in the same room as the bed.”
    The arrogant man grinned. “Really?” He
pulled her down and kissed her. She forgot the conversation, the
war, everything disappeared beneath the fire of his touch. Melting
into his embrace, she relished in his possession.
    Within seconds he was bare. Their lips broke
apart and she sucked down air as she pulled off her tank top.
    “Never compare me with your ex again. I am
your mate and there are things I can never do, neglect you is one
of them. Never mention your time with him in that manner again. I
don’t like it. My wolf hates it.” He paused while searching her
eyes. “I promised Matt his mate would be safe here. Don’t make me
renege on my word and destroy him.”
    The change in atmosphere caught her
offguard. How did he do that? Go from fucking hot to a somber
serious moment. Her insides were still quivering from the promise
in his kiss. She nodded, deciding silence was her friend because
her only point of reference had been her time with Davian.
The purpose of the comment was so he understood her feelings, not
for Silas to hurt her ex-husband.
    His eyes never left hers as his fingertip
rubbed and then pinched her pebbled nipple. Fire raced through her
stomach as her head fell back. Ridiculous… the effect this man had
on her libido was f'ing ridiculous and she loved it.
    “You are so beautiful,” he whispered. Her
eyes flew open, searching for his. She met his searing gaze and
softened. Her mate was arrogance personified, tough as nails and in
some instances, unmercifully brutal. Right now the love and
commitment shining brightly from his eyes shoved all of that aside.
It spoke to another side of him. The side that was mate, father,
and lover. Her lower regions tightened in anticipation.
    “Silas,” she whispered, her wits evaporating
beneath the power of his gaze.
    “I love you.” He didn’t pretty it up with
anything extra, that was not his way. Her man saw things in black
and white, and this time she approved.
    “I love you,” she said, feeling the coolness
of the sheets beneath her as he flipped her over. Her