Page 80 of Fighting for Her Heart
Taking his hand, I head for the bedroom door, but he remains still, tugging me back toward him.
I happily let my body collide with his, over exaggerating the force.
“No need to risk a full body burn,” he says, his hand sliding deliciously over my back.
“Do you really want me to getdressed?” I look up into his eyes, sure he’ll be able to see both the tease and the desire in mine.
“Clothing is optional.” He grins. “But we can perform the test by pulling back the bedroom curtains an inch.”
Now I really pout. “You guys all went outside.”
His fingers trace tiny circles on my lower back. “If the sunlight through the window does not harm you, then we will make love outside, under the blazing sun.”
“Oh!” The breath rushes out of my chest and the needy ache in my body goes wild. “I’m gonna hold you to that.” Grinning, I rush over to the curtains and pull them back.
“Not too much at once,” he shouts as he rushes to join me, but I’m almost as fast as he is now, and the curtains are open before he arrives.
The morning sunlight bathes my face and body, warming my skin. He holds me from behind as I lean against the glass, unburned.
“Oh, Zuben.” I turn in his arms and he kisses me. “I wonder how long this will last!”
“Let’s go outside.” He lifts me into his arms and rushes out of the bedroom, but he stops before opening the front door, alarm on his face.
“What is it?” I ask.
He turns toward me. “Your mother. She is back.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Zuben
Ember’s face lights up,as if a flare gun of joy has been discharged from inside her. “I should go out to greet them! Surprise them! They’ll be so shocked to see I don’t burn in sunlight!”
She tries to get down from my arms, but I hold her tighter preventing her escape. “Ryker and Axel are not with her. It is only Evanora. She is in her motor vehicle.”
Ember’s eyes widen with terror that I wish I could wash away. “Are you sure?” She closes her eyes, trying to focus and hear for herself, but her vampiric powers in that regard have yet to fully develop.
Another worry enters my mind. “Until we hear what has happened, I think it is best to withhold from your mother, your newfound ability to take sunlight.”
Her head tips to the side. “Why?”
“I cannot offer you a clear reason.” I carefully set her onto her feet. “My suggestion is based on instinct only.” I’ve never been one to rely on instincts, but feel this strongly right now.
We return to the bedroom and she scrambles to find clothes to put on. “It’s not like you to go by gut reactions vs. facts.”
“That is true, cherished one.” She knows me so well. “But even objectively, I believe it would be prudent to hear Nora’s explanation as to what happened, before we relay this new development. It is early in the day. Perhaps you will find an opportunity to surprise her later.”
Chewing on her lower lip, she nods.
“I will greet your mother outside the house.”
“Okay,” she says softly.
There is no doubt that I feel profoundly changed. Not only have I managed to make love to Ember many times, without feeling the urge to experience or inflict pain, this instinct to withhold information from Evanora is not based in logic.
Ember claims that I can read the emotions of others better than I believe I am able to, if she is correct, perhaps I will change my mind about revealing Ember’s ability to take the sun, once I see her mother.
I secure the bedroom curtains to be certain no telltale light can shine through, and then I kiss her softly and reluctantly leave her side for the first time in what feels like a very long stretch.
