Page 305 of Primal Bonds

But she hadn’t told him the whole truth, either. Because yeah, it was time.

Not time for them—she’d never Seen whether they’d eventually end up mates. That would be a glimpse into her own future as well as his, and she was as blind as anyone when it came to Seeing her own future. Still, you didn’t have to be a Seer to guess that Adric was preparing to move against Langdon, and she didn’t have another way of keeping him close.

She traced her fingers up and down his forearm. The hair covering it was soft, barely visible, the skin beneath warm. Deus, it felt good to touch someone, be touched back.

“I need you.” She swallowed. “So bad.”

But you need me, too. That’s what I have to show you.

She hadn’t Seen that, but her gut told her she was right, and Colm, the Irish Seer who was training her, had told her to trust her hunches. According to her Sight, Adric intended to assassinate Langdon, but instead, he’d be captured and executed.

She had to do something.

“Good.” His smile was relieved—and a little devilish. “I like you all hot and needy.” He cupped her breasts, squeezing and caressing.

Her breath hitched. She placed her hands over his and set her worries aside for the time being. These sensations were too new, too wonderful to ignore.

“More.” She rubbed her breasts sensuously against his big palms. His hands were hard, calloused, with a couple of healing cuts. What did the Baltimore alpha do that gave him a laborer’s hands?

“Like this?” He rolled her nipples between his thumbs. An electric pleasure stabbed to her womb.

“Yes…” She gripped his wrists. His eyes were dark with desire, his handsome face intent. Her core clenched. A hot, needful yearning slid through her veins. She wanted him so much it hurt.

Why you?

They’d met for the first time at Dion and Cleia’s mate ball. To a teenager who’d grown up in Rock Run’s rough-hewn, dimly lit caverns, the ball had been something out of a storybook. Outdoors on a bright summer day in two massive white tents overflowing with flowers, one tent for dancing, the other for dining. All seven of the sun fae clans had been present, their long, inhumanly perfect bodies clad in the finest fae couture, their hair all the fiery shades of sunshine: gold, silver, copper. One-of-a-kind jewels glittered in their ears and around their wrists and throats.

Rosana had been dancing with a tall blond sun fae when her nape had prickled. She’d glanced around, and there was Adric, lean and unsmiling and gorgeous in a colorful African-style tunic. Standing at the edge of the dance floor with his sister and watching her with a feline intensity.

Arousal had shivered over her skin, the first ever in her life. At sixteen, she was barely adolescent; a fada’s life was measured in centuries. Too young to be thinking of love or finding a mate.

He’d sauntered across the polished wood floor, a cat on the prowl, and asked her to dance. She almost said no. His scent and quartz marked him as an earth fada, and she suspected he was just trying to piss off the Rock Run males.

Then he’d introduced himself, and she’d realized he was the new Baltimore alpha. The man who’d already managed to make an enemy of both Dion and Tiago.

“Well?” His expression was challenging.

A spark flashed between them—and she found herself saying yes.

He’d been polite, respectful, careful not to pull her too close, his hands light on her shoulder and waist. But for those few minutes, her nerves had tingled with excitement, her heart drumming crazily in her chest.

The moment the music stopped, two Rock Run men stepped in and suggested in hard voices that Adric find someone else to dance with. He’d left soon after.

Since then, she’d only seen him once a year or so. She’d told herself she wasn’t interested, especially when she’d heard a group of warriors laughing a little enviously about what a horny dog the Baltimore alpha was. The man had a different woman every other week.

But the heat was always there, simmering between them.

Until Adric had changed the game. Stealing kisses whenever he had the chance. Making her want him. Daring her to come to him, when they both knew Dion would take it as a personal betrayal. And Adric didn’t help. He seemed to take a special glee in seeing how far he could push Dion.

Well, she’d taken Adric’s dare, and if it pissed off her brother, she’d just have to accept it. This wasn’t some reckless, juvenile rebellion.

Adric was her mate, even if she’d resisted admitting it. How could he ever claim her? Their two clans barely tolerated each other. Mate with him, and the balance might tip, setting off a war or a series of challenges.

Hot tears stung her eyes. She inhaled, blinked them away.

Adric rubbed a thumb under her eye, confused and concerned. “You’re crying?”

Her heart turned over. It was the uncertainty that got her. She guessed he didn’t let many people see him looking anything but controlled, in charge.

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