“There are were-people in this forest?” She stiffened in his arms. “Is he a friend of yours? Do you often hobnob with supernatural beings?”
He traced calming circles on her arm. “Do you wish me to quiet you now as I did last night? I must admit it was the most efficient way to ensure your silence.”
“Would that be such an awful event?”
The wistful tone in her voice made his gut twist with guilt. “I do not wish to become involved with you.” He hoped she would understand.
The steady drum of the rain on their temporary shelter was the only sound for many moments. Edwin attempted to read her mind, but she had learned to build her guards well. “Hannah…”
“Of course you don’t. How foolish of me to even entertain such a thought. You’ve told me twice you don’t seek out relationships. I respect that.”
He had forgotten females required care and kid gloves when emotions became engaged. “Hannah—”
“It was ludicrous of me to think someone of your caliber would be interested in someone as plain and unappealing and as human as me.”
My poor, lost little sparrow. His sigh stirred tendrils of her hair. “Turn around and look at me.” He wished to give her what little comfort he could.
“No.” Damn you for making me sleep on this stupid cave floor! She squirmed in his arms. “Let me go.”
He hid his amusement. “Please turn around.” Her accelerated breathing. But she turned in his arms, her lips mere inches from his own. He resisted a powerful urge to kiss her inviting mouth. No good would come of such an action or the emotions that would inevitably happen regardless that he’d hinted at such.
Hannah’s nervous laughter filled the silence. “Ignore my last comment. I’m obviously still too tired to function properly.” She attempted to extricate herself from his embrace, but he held her tight.
“ Spatzi , listen to me.” He traced a line across her cheek then gently plucked a small twig from her hair. “I do not wish to become involved with you at this time for the simple fact I would feel guilty if you were to be harmed in some way.” He gave her a smile, not knowing if she could see it. “Whether you believe me or not, I am trying my best to keep you safe. It is the least I can do after I coerced you to come with me.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Really. Would I be in immediate danger by you or by someone we might encounter on this outrageous quest?”
Need sprang to life low in his belly as she brushed her fingers over the stubble on his jaw. He stilled her hand. “I am not a play-thing.” He captured her gaze with his. Confusion filled her express. “You face an almost daily threat from the paranormal world because you are an Enhancer and that threat does not lessen while you are in my company.” With a small amount of pressure, he eased her onto her back, and leaned over her with his weight held slightly above her on his arms. “Believe me when I tell you, I am a dangerous man. I would never forgive myself if I were to relinquish my strict control and harm you.”
“I don’t think you are capable of such a thing.”
When she laid a palm on his cheek, he had to muster every ounce of determination he possessed not to kiss her. “You would be surprised at what I am capable of, Hannah.” He held her gaze. “But I invite you to seek the answers to your questions. Now is a good as time as any.”
*****
The depths of his eyes swirled about Hannah’s consciousness to suck her into the whirling vortex of his soul.
As she stared at endless sadness and self-loathing, which seemed to be the foundation of his being, she was reluctant to admit he could be dark or dangerous. Blinking, a golden glimmer of hope flared into the misery. It skittered around the blackness, and then receded into gray anonymity once again. She closed her eyes against the churning onslaught and shook her head as dull emotions swept through her mind.
“You’re wrong . You may think
He traced calming circles on her arm. “Do you wish me to quiet you now as I did last night? I must admit it was the most efficient way to ensure your silence.”
“Would that be such an awful event?”
The wistful tone in her voice made his gut twist with guilt. “I do not wish to become involved with you.” He hoped she would understand.
The steady drum of the rain on their temporary shelter was the only sound for many moments. Edwin attempted to read her mind, but she had learned to build her guards well. “Hannah…”
“Of course you don’t. How foolish of me to even entertain such a thought. You’ve told me twice you don’t seek out relationships. I respect that.”
He had forgotten females required care and kid gloves when emotions became engaged. “Hannah—”
“It was ludicrous of me to think someone of your caliber would be interested in someone as plain and unappealing and as human as me.”
My poor, lost little sparrow. His sigh stirred tendrils of her hair. “Turn around and look at me.” He wished to give her what little comfort he could.
“No.” Damn you for making me sleep on this stupid cave floor! She squirmed in his arms. “Let me go.”
He hid his amusement. “Please turn around.” Her accelerated breathing. But she turned in his arms, her lips mere inches from his own. He resisted a powerful urge to kiss her inviting mouth. No good would come of such an action or the emotions that would inevitably happen regardless that he’d hinted at such.
Hannah’s nervous laughter filled the silence. “Ignore my last comment. I’m obviously still too tired to function properly.” She attempted to extricate herself from his embrace, but he held her tight.
“ Spatzi , listen to me.” He traced a line across her cheek then gently plucked a small twig from her hair. “I do not wish to become involved with you at this time for the simple fact I would feel guilty if you were to be harmed in some way.” He gave her a smile, not knowing if she could see it. “Whether you believe me or not, I am trying my best to keep you safe. It is the least I can do after I coerced you to come with me.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Really. Would I be in immediate danger by you or by someone we might encounter on this outrageous quest?”
Need sprang to life low in his belly as she brushed her fingers over the stubble on his jaw. He stilled her hand. “I am not a play-thing.” He captured her gaze with his. Confusion filled her express. “You face an almost daily threat from the paranormal world because you are an Enhancer and that threat does not lessen while you are in my company.” With a small amount of pressure, he eased her onto her back, and leaned over her with his weight held slightly above her on his arms. “Believe me when I tell you, I am a dangerous man. I would never forgive myself if I were to relinquish my strict control and harm you.”
“I don’t think you are capable of such a thing.”
When she laid a palm on his cheek, he had to muster every ounce of determination he possessed not to kiss her. “You would be surprised at what I am capable of, Hannah.” He held her gaze. “But I invite you to seek the answers to your questions. Now is a good as time as any.”
*****
The depths of his eyes swirled about Hannah’s consciousness to suck her into the whirling vortex of his soul.
As she stared at endless sadness and self-loathing, which seemed to be the foundation of his being, she was reluctant to admit he could be dark or dangerous. Blinking, a golden glimmer of hope flared into the misery. It skittered around the blackness, and then receded into gray anonymity once again. She closed her eyes against the churning onslaught and shook her head as dull emotions swept through her mind.
“You’re wrong . You may think
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