Under His Wings
Page 19
“Together,” he murmured and slashed his claw across the hippogryph’s throat at the same time Tamar’s beak punctured the side of Evander’s neck.
Evander slumped to the ground, his blood gushing out of the wounds. The rattle of air escaping the deep gash slicing his windpipe was the only sound in the hushed quiet that followed the battle.
His dark eyes glazed over, death claiming the last sign of life. With a shudder, he went still. Forever.
Nicolai shifted away from him, a deep satisfaction possessing him. It was over—it was finally over.
He glanced up at Tamar and his pleasure shot to panic as with a flutter of her wings, she tumbled off Evander’s back.
With a cry, Nicolai shifted to human form and hurdled the rogue’s corpse to land beside his mate. In a burst of light, she transformed, too inexperienced to hold the hippogryph’s form in her injured state. She curled on the grass into a fetal position, her palms pressed to her chest where blood poured through her fingers.
Terror seized him as he bent and scooped her up in his arms.
“Hold on, sweetheart,” he begged. “Hold on for me. I can’t lose you when I’ve just found you.”
His wings broke free from his skin and Nicolai shot into the sky.
Chapter Eleven
Tamar swam to a warm light that hovered above the abyss of unconsciousness. She hurled herself toward it, desperate to escape the dark.
Her lungs expanded with a hard gasp as she jerked her eyes open. Her gaze darted about her surroundings. A wide, bare window, weak moonlight streaming through. Walls of wooden logs. A fireplace.
Memories flooded back, washing away the initial fogginess.
The cabin. She was in the safe house.
Safe, apparently.
She shifted, groaned at the stiffness that permeated her body. Damn, had she been beaten with a stick?
Another deluge of memories roared through her head.
The woods. Evander. Nicolai. Battle.
Transformation.
Flying.
“Oh God, was I dreaming?” she whispered, throwing back the bedcovers and yanking her shirt up her torso. Wonder and disbelief rolled through her. A flat, shiny scar under her breast.
“No, you weren’t dreaming,” a low, familiar and adored voice spoke up from the corner of the bedroom.
Nicolai pushed off the wall where he’d been leaning, watching. Pleasure suffused her. He’d been standing guard, always protecting her. His confident, long strides carried him to the bed in seconds. She stared up into his handsome, sensual face, unable to tear her gaze away.
God, he was beautiful. And alive. She smiled even as tears stung her eyes. Alive. And so was she.
Tamar lunged from the mattress, heedless of the protest her aching muscles set up. His arms snatched her out of the air, dragging her against his chest, holding her close. His heather-and-wind scent filled her nostrils. His breath brushed her cheek.
“Oh baby,” he murmured. “I’m so damn glad to see your eyes open.”
His mouth crushed hers.
With a moan of desire and happiness, Tamar squeezed his neck in her tight embrace. Her lips parted and his tongue surged forward, tangling with hers. It was a kiss of assurance, of delight, of life. When he drew back and peppered her face and chin with short pecks, she sighed and tilted her head back to the tender kisses like a flower turning its petals to the healing sun.
He buried his face in her neck, his warm, rapid pants bathing her skin.
“You chose me,” he said, the words muffled.
“Yes.” She smiled. “Yes, I did.”
“You were so gorgeous.” He lifted his head and swept a trembling hand over her hair, pushing the strands away from her cheeks. His palms cradled her head as he studied her, peered down into her eyes. “My little warrior.”
Her heart melted like butter. Just melted into a golden puddle. “Not so little, it turns out.” She grinned, thinking of her hippogryph beast. Wow, what a damn kick in the pants. “I flew, Nico,” she said as if he hadn’t been there. Awe swelled inside her, filling her chest. Maybe her fear of the dark hadn’t been conquered, but she’d flown again. Instead of inside a plane she’d soared through the sky with her own wings.
“She is as beautiful as you are in human form,” he praised, his silken tone caressing the walls of her mind.
Her lashes lowered in pleasure, but then shot up. “So I wasn’t going crazy,” she accused. “You can speak to me telepathically.” All those times while they made love she’d believed she imagined his voice inside her head. But it had been real.
“You didn’t know?” he asked, aiming for innocence but falling far short of the mark.
“You know I didn’t know,” she said, smacking his shoulder. Then kissed the same spot. She sobered. “For a minute there I didn’t think I’d see you again.”
“Think how I felt finding you squaring off with Evander.” A rumble like an impending thunderstorm vibrated against her chest. “I wanted to drag you off and kill the bastard both at the same time.”
“But you let me stand with you,” she murmured. He’d treated her as an equal, let her face their enemy together instead of cosseting her.
I don’t want to trap you or imprison you in some gilded cage. But I want you to live.
His vow filtered through her mind. Nicolai would always protect her, but he would never strangle her spirit. He wanted a warrior, a partner…a mate.
“I’m so proud,” he said. The hoarse words stroked her skin and she shivered under their touch. “And I love you so much. So much,” he whispered, pressing his lips to hers, to her forehead. “I’ll let you go like I promised. But I’m asking you to keep me.” He brushed a knuckle down her cheek, whisked the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. “I can’t imagine a life without you by my side.”
Yes rushed up the back of her throat and hovered on her tongue. But one lingering worry trapped it. She lowered her arms from his neck and cuffed his thick wrists. “Nico, what about the Dimios? I can’t ask you to give up—”
“You don’t have to ask me to do a damn thing,” he said. “There will always be a Dimios, Tamar. But there will never be another you or another lifetime to spend with you.” He cupped her head between his palms, gave it a little shake. “I choose you and the life we can have together. Just as you chose me.”
“Nicolai,” she breathed his name, love pressing the air from her lungs. Using her grip on his wrists as leverage, she arched high, pressed her mouth to his, took them in a kiss that bespoke of adoration, trust and hope. “I love you. I have for three years. And I will forever.” She grinned against his lips, joy overflowing a heart that was finally healed and whole. “And with you, Buckbeak, forever is a very real thing.”
About Naima Simone
I was born the daughter of a sharecropper…okay, maybe not. But I am the daughter of a pastor, from whom I inherited my love of romance. The man can preach a mean Song of Solomon! (There’s that plug, Daddy! You can pay me later!)
Although my first book starred a cucumber named Fred, my first romance came several years later in the seventh grade when I wrote myself as a heroine opposite Ralph Tresvant from New Edition. Through the power of my pen and imagination, Ralph took one look across a crowded stadium, met my dark, mysterious gaze, fell passionately in love and serenaded me in front of everyone—once we had the inevitable fight, a.k.a. black moment, and made up with a passionate declaration of love and fidelity. The same story reincarnated itself many times over the years—with Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block, Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington and, as recently as last night, Vin Diesel.
Though the characters have changed, my love of love has endured. Shaping the lives of the unique men and women who experience the first, hungry bites of lust, the dizzying heights of passion and the tender, healing heat of love—nothing compares to it. Except maybe discovering new material for love scenes with my husband, the head of Research & Development!
N
aima welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by Naima Simone
Desire in the Dark
Love and Protect
Stroke of Midnight
Sweet Ultimatum
Print books by Naima Simone
Sweet Ultimatum
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
www.ellorascave.com
Under His Wings
ISBN 9781419941634
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Under His Wings Copyright 2013 Naima Simone
Edited by Violet Hughes
Photography and cover design by Syneca
Model: Ryan
Electronic book publication January 2013
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