He wanted her now...always; she almost couldn't process the news. Amun, with her, forever. He hadn't offered any words of love, and she wasn't going to ask for them. That could come later. For now, this was enough.

So what are you waiting for? Make the cal .

Maybe he was trusting her as she hoped, maybe he was testing her as part of her feared, but in the end, antic.i.p.ation decided her. She dialed, shocked when the sound of ringing fil ed her ear. She wanted this over and done with, Micah out of the picture completely.

Her former boyfriend answered on the second ring, a snarled, "What?"

"Micah?" she asked hesitantly. Her gaze locked on Amun, gauging his every reaction. He wasn't looking at her, was looking just beyond her, his expression now a blank mask.

"Haidee?" Micah sounded baffled, relieved and overjoyed -and stil angry-al at once. "Where are you? Tel me.

Now." With every word, his emotions were overtaken by determination.

She experienced a pang of guilt. "Yes. I'm alive. But no, I won't tel you where I am. I-"

"Are the b.a.s.t.a.r.ds monitoring this cal ?"

"No." Not real y. "Listen, I-"

"Tel me where you are, then, and I'l come and get you."

"No. That's not why I'm cal ing. I just wanted you to know-"

"I thought you were dead," he interjected, once more cutting her off. Now he sounded accusing. "I mourned you. I tried to track you, tried to save you. Tel me, d.a.m.n it. Tel me where you are."

"No. I'm alive, and that's al you need to know." Except... "I real y need you to listen to me. I-"

"Who's that?" a female voice murmured sleepily from Micah's end of the line.

There was a beat of static, then a shuffle of footsteps as if he was pounding away from the intruder. In that moment, Haidee knew that he was sleeping with someone. Might have been sleeping with someone else even while they were dating. She couldn't bring herself to care.

Had he ever wanted her, though? With her, he'd been content to keep things mostly hands-off. She hadn't wondered why because she'd been happy with the status quo. But if he hadn't wanted her, why had he stayed with her?

"If you're alive, that means you're helping them." She didn't have to ask who "them" was. And he didn't even address the fact that a woman had spoken. "Otherwise, they would have kil ed you by now."

"Yes," was al she said on the subject. Let him take that answer however he chose. "I just wanted to cal and tel you that we're over. I don't want to date you anymore."

Amun, she noticed, had tensed, his fingers digging into his thighs and probably leaving bruises. He had no idea what Micah was saying, no idea why she'd said yes to the man.

Yet he wasn't interfering.

He was trusting her, she realized.

"Now you listen to me, you f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h," Micah suddenly growled, and there was so much hatred in his tone she was momentarily speechless. "You tel me where the hel you are, who you're with and what you're doing. I'm going to find you and take back what's mine. Then I'm going to cut your f.u.c.king throat and dance in the blood. You don't deserve-"

Click. Haidee severed the connection before he could finish berating her, shocked, at last upset, and unsure what had just happened.

Amun's gaze final y met hers. He didn't ask questions, just took the phone and tossed it over his shoulder. Then, without another word, he lifted her hips and stripped the panties from her, pul ing her legs in front of him, one at a time. Mouth set in a grim line, he tossed the panties beside the phone. He repositioned their bodies the way they'd been.

Tears suddenly burned her eyes. How could Micah have said those things to her? f.u.c.king b.i.t.c.h. Cut your f.u.c.king throat. b.i.t.c.h, b.i.t.c.h, b.i.t.c.h. He'd been her friend. Hadn't he?

And yes, she had expected the Hunters to turn on her, but not that quickly. Not that violently.

You're that distressed to lose him? Amun asked, and though the words were soft, she heard the fury-and even the insecurity-behind them.

"No." She was the one who couldn't meet his eyes this time.

"He-he cal ed me a terrible name, said terrible things."

And she didn't want Amun to ever think of her that way.

Even though he, more than anyone, had the right.

Like what? What name?

Amun hadn't been furious before, she realized then. Now he was furious. If Micah had walked into the cavern, Amun would have kil ed him without hesitation. "Do you think I'm a...a b.i.t.c.h?"

No, he answered without any hesitation. His expression softened, gentled. I think you're perfect, sweet...mine. And now I also think he can't be related to me. He's an idiot.

"Real y?" She swiped her watery eyes with the backs of her wrists. "You don't think badly of me, I mean."

Real y. We're together, now and always, remember?

"I remember." The hurt inside her eased. She was with the man she loved. That was al that mattered.

"Amun?"

Yes.

As she final y met his gaze, her heart skipped a beat. His expression was heated, his gaze heavy-lidded, his brows a determined slash. His lips were red, as if flushed. Did his blood race as swiftly as hers?

Wonderful y dark skin pul ed taut over the muscles of a warrior. She couldn't see his b.u.t.terfly tattoo, but she vowed to trace every inch with her tongue one day soon. Between his legs, his c.o.c.k stretched past the waist of his pants, the head already beaded with moisture. Her mouth watered.

She knew his taste, would forever be addicted to it.

"I want you," she whispered.

Then by G.o.ds, you'l have me.

Yes. Final y, they were going to make love. The restriction she'd so foolishly placed on their physical relationship had been vanquished. But even if she hadn't spoken to Micah, she stil would have given herself to Amun this night.

Such a pretty pink, he said, gaze moving to her s.e.x. So wet for me already.

Even his words were a turn-on. "I ache for you. There, everywhere."

His hands slid to her inner thighs, and he spread his fingers, almost, but not quite, brushing her where she most needed. Soft. One finger, two, glided up her slit, and she quivered, whimpered.

Like silk.

She wanted those fingers on her again, gliding yes, but lingering, too. Pressing. She lifted her hips, silently beseeching. He gave her what she wanted-sort of. He traced between those pouty lips, and he did linger, but not where she so desperately needed. He al owed one fingertip to push past her opening, but not deeply. He pushed just enough to swirl and stoke her need higher.

Play with your b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Let me see how you like them touched.

Not for a single moment did she consider objecting. She plumped them, kneaded them, pinched her nipples while he watched. The heat inside her grew...grew... "I want you to take me the rest of the way now," she gasped out. She wasn't sure how much more she could take. "Please."

A long moment pa.s.sed in silence before he nodded. He didn't fal on her, licking and sucking and tonguing between her legs as she expected, thought she wanted, but leaned forward, pressing them together. Since her thighs were draped over his own, the action spread her wider, brought her core into contact with his pant-clad erection, rubbing, creating the most delicious sense of friction between her legs and on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Her nipples rasped his chest.

"I thought you were going to..."

I am. First, though, I'm going to prepare you.

She gasped, hands sliding around his neck, nails sinking into his back. His head lowered, and his mouth opened up on one of her nipples. The heat was nearly unbearable, so much greater than what swirled inside her, but so necessary she didn't even think about trying to shove him away. Then he was at last licking and sucking and tonguing her there, shooting startling sensation after startling sensation through her entire body.

She knew he was a big man. How could she not? He probably outweighed her by more than a hundred pounds and was nearly a foot tal er than she was. But just then, the width of his shoulders practical y engulfing her, she felt almost...dainty.

"Take off your pants," she managed to gasp out as she arched against him. Sweet heaven, that felt good.

"Let me feel al of you."

No. Moment I do, I'l be inside you.

"That's the point. I'm prepared, I swear."

We're taking our time, woman. Get used to the idea.

She loved that he could talk to her and continue tormenting her nipple at the same time. And he did.

Torment her. His teeth sc.r.a.ped the sensitive bud, but then he would quickly kiss away the sting.

When she was writhing against him, begging him for more, he gave her other nipple the same treatment.

Hours seemed to pa.s.s as he contented himself with her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, plumping them, kneading them as she had done, never ceasing to bathe her nipples in the wet heat of his mouth.

You're so beautiful, he said.

"Amun, please. More."

You're so strong and brave. And mine. Did I tel you that already? Mine.

"Yours," she croaked. She tugged at his hair, forcing him to raise his head or lose a handful of strands.

Onyx eyes shimmered, lines of tension branching from them. He wasn't as relaxed as he would have her believe. "Kiss me. I need your taste in my mouth."

With a moan, he surged up, curling her body higher, tighter, and crushed their lips together. His tongue immediately pushed inside to rol and mate with hers. He tasted of mint and something sweet. Something uniquely his own.

He released her legs to cup her face, and she locked her ankles around his back. She slid herself against the thickness of his erection, probably wetting his clothes, but she didn't care. Her need was too strong, and just as she'd kissed him the other times, her mind became focused only on climax.

Soon he lost his pretend nonchalance, his movements becoming jerky, his arousal slamming against her, grinding into her, ringing gasp after gasp out of her mouth. He swal owed every one of those gasps before angling her head, al owing his tongue to thrust as hard and deep as she wanted his c.o.c.k to thrust.

Only with him had she ever felt feverish, burning, the heat of him continuing to pulse inside her, spreading, consuming.

Somehow, that freed the chil she'd managed to hide. In seconds, she was a writhing cauldron of both fire and ice, thoughts fragmenting, muttering incoherently.

"Please," she might have said. She needed to be fil ed, needed some kind of release. This was too much, not enough, and her heart couldn't take much more. "Please, baby." She rubbed her legs up his sides, squeezing him, encouraging him. She tangled her hands in his hair, she scratched at his back, probably drawing blood. "Please.

Give me more."

He pul ed away from her, and she groaned. He didn't disappoint her, though. He final y, blessedly, oh, so sweetly, licked between her thighs. Her cry of delight pierced the pa.s.sion-scented air, and her hips shot up, drawing him closer. Over and over he licked, nibbled, sucked.

I could do this forever, sweetheart.

"Forever."

I'l never get enough.

"Never." She knew she was only repeating part of what he said, but she couldn't help herself. Couldn't concentrate on anything but the pleasure. But always, she maintained a sharp hold on her inner chil , never al owing the ice to seep to the outside, to Amun.

He pushed her to the brink, and then, with one swirl of his tongue, he pushed her over. She screamed her release, bucking against him, unable to stil for a long while. When her tremors eased, she sagged against the ground, panting. She realized then that her body had gotten what it needed-for now-but her mind had not. The ice, stil churning inside her... Her mind wouldn't be completely satisfied until she gave Amun everything.

He flipped her over, and the swift action startled her. Before she could gasp, he was kissing her back.

Her tattoos.

Laving them with his tongue as she'd wanted to do to his.

He was offering absolution, apologizing for what she'd lost in the most basic way. And oh, G.o.d, tears fil ed her eyes.

I've imagined taking you in every position, but this first time, I want you facing me. Looking at me.

Seeing me. He turned her back over. So open your eyes, sweetheart, and I'l give you al that I am.

She hadn't realized she had squeezed her eyelids closed.

She pried them apart and peered up at the man who had won her heart. He had straightened, was now merely staring down at her. Sweat dripped from his forehead. The moment their gazes met, he reached between their bodies.

His knuckles brushed her sensitized c.l.i.toris as he unfastened his pants, and she again bucked wildly, already needing more, already verging on desperate.

She wanted total satisfaction this time.

He didn't waste a single second shoving his pants off. They were open, and as he'd promised, he lost track of everything else. The thick head of his c.o.c.k probed her entrance, seeking ful penetration. Except, stil he held back.

His white teeth were chewing on his bottom lip. His sweat began dripping off him and onto her. You're mine, Haidee, al mine. I'l take care of you...always...won't risk you...

don't think you can get...pregnant...no worries... Just let me...

He was trying to rea.s.sure her, she knew, but she was past the point of caring. "Do it. Please, do it. I need you. Have to have you. Al of you. Dying without you. Please, Amun, please. Let me give al of me, too." He could take it.

Please, G.o.d, let him be able to take it.