Page 25 of Act of Passion

“Malik?” she asked, her hand going to his bare chest. “What’swrong?”

“Nothing, my sweet,” he offered softly, wanting to calm herworry.

“Mmm, what did you say before? What language was it? That wasn’t Arabic, was it? It’s familiar tome.”

“It’s a language that isn’t really spoken anymore. One that I haven’t spoken in centuries,” hesaid.

A giggle erupted from her. “Centuries? Being a bit dramatic there, aren’t you? You’re making yourself out to be an honest-to-God ancient Egyptian like Boomer teased youabout.”

He found himself nodding partially, unable to outright lie toher.

“Tell me what you said.” She bit her lower lipseductively.

He ran his thumb over her lip. “I told you things you are not ready to hear, and I’m not sure I’m ready totranslate.”

“You didn’t tell me that you’re married, did you?” she asked, her bodystiffening.

He laughed softly. “No. I’m notmarried.”

Yet.

The more he looked at her there in bed with him, the more he wanted to claim her, making her his wife in the eyes of the supernatural community. How he wanted to shout from the rooftops that he’d found the woman forhim.

Her olive eyes traced his face and a wicked grin spread over hers. “In case I forget to tell you, thanks for being myfirst.”

He touched her arm, his beast stirring from within. “And I will be youronly.”

She didn’tcomment.

As he watched her, soaking in her beauty, the picture he’d taken began to weigh on him. With a sigh, he reached back and grabbed his phone again. He pulled up the picture he took of her and handed her thephone.

“If you don’t want me having that, delete it,” he said, hoping shewouldn’t.

She held the phone and smiled wide at him. “You took a picture of mesleeping?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re offering me the chance to delete it? Why?” sheasked.

He grunted. “Because it’s intimate and I should have asked you first. I just wanted something of you, I don’t know. It was stupid and I may be an asshole, but even I have mylimits.”

“Malik, you took a very beautiful picture of me. I’m naked but you can’t tell in the picture. Thank you for that. I don’t want to delete it.” She bit her lower lip. “Can I have a picture ofyou?”

He squirmed. He couldn’t allow photos of himself to go into the world. He didn’t age. He didn’t need a digital footprint proving as much. It was one thing for the guys to take photos of each other. They knew better than to release them into the world or to social media. Well, at least most of them did. Striker had issues following that rule. A human wouldn’t understand that there evenwererules.

She lowered her gaze. “Whatever you do that you can’t tell me about means you can’t let me take a picture of you, doesn’tit?”

“Yes, my sweet,” he saidsoftly.

She held the phone out for him. “I understand. I won’t lie that I wish things could be different, but I knew what I was getting into when I entered the room. You’re not the type of guy who calls the next day, or ever. I know I won’t ever see you again after this is done. Thank you for giving me a night I’ll never forget. I hope it was at least semi-memorable for youtoo.”

He grabbed for her and ran his hand into the back of her hair, pulling her mouth closer to his. He kissed her, wanting to show her how much she meant to him. How much he didn’t want their night to end. He eased off the kiss slightly. “Call your cell from mine. My number will be in your phone then, and yours will be inmine.”

She raised her brows but took his phone and dialed hers. It rang in her small bag across the room. The smile she cast at him moved him down to his verysoul.

“There are things about me, about my life, that I can’t talk about with you, Brooke, but if you’re open to the idea of seeing where this goes, I’m in.” His words shocked him. He’d just told a human woman he wanted a relationship with her. Hell, he’d never toldanywoman that. Human ornot.

“What do you mean, exactly?” she asked, watching himcarefully.

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