Page 46 of The Barbaric Fae's Soul

“He’s worried about you.”

“And the fact thatyou’reworried about it tells me everything I need to know.” He took my face in his hands, stepping up close so our chests pressed together and his erection met my stomach. “I want this, Thorns. I wantyou. Let me want you.”

Goosebumps broke out over my skin.

Let me want you.

I had imagined having a real, healthy relationship, back when I was on Earth. I had tried to picture what it would feel like to be loved. To be with someone who was interested in me, who wasn’t locked in the awful cycle of abuse. I’d wondered what it would feel like to be wanted.

But those dreams had nothing on the actual reality of having a massive, dark-haired, blue-eyed fae pressed against me, telling me tolet him want me.

My eyes stung. “I won’t survive it,” I whispered. “If this isn’t real, I won’t survive that. We need to break the connection, so I can know whether or not your feelings are real. You might not want me without the bond.”

“That’s an impossibility.” His thumb moved slowly over my lips, and I leaned in closer until my forehead met his. My eyes closed, and he dragged his thumb on my bottom lip. Something about the motion was ridiculously erotic, but I didn’t act on it.

“Then it won’t affect you if we do it.”

He scowled. “Watching you kiss Teris would sure as hellaffectme, Thorns.”

At least we were finally in agreement that Teris would be the one I made a temporary bond with. I trusted him not to develop feelings for me, because he hadn’t with Sunny.

“I’ll start with the vows,” I said. “It might work.”

He didn’t look convinced, at all.

I eased his hands away from my face. “I don’t want things between us to go any further until I know for sure that your feelings are yours, Aev.”

“Aeven,” he said roughly. “My name is Aeven.”

My throat swelled, and I nodded.

But I didn’t give him my name.

He seemed to have no problem committing to me, deciding that he wanted me, but it wasn’t that simple for me. He and Naomi had been toxic to each other, but they’d never loved each other.

I had loved my ex, and he loved me too.

But he had hurt me anyway.

Again, and again, and again.

That made love feel like an untrustworthy emotion to me, and I had no idea what that meant for me and Aev.

But I didn’t even know whether or not his feelings for me were real.

So… after I figured that out, I’d decide what to do about the love thing.

Twelve

Aev shifted,and I let him give me a ride back to everyone else. The crowds of fae had somewhat dissembled, and everyone seemed to be breathing easier now that they knew we had a shot at protecting ourselves from the klynnas.

Too bad it involved life-bringers risking our lives.

Aev slowed as we approached everyone, and I slipped off his back. He growled at me, but it wasn’t an angry growl; more of an annoyed one.

Something told me that since he’d decided he wanted mepermanently, he was only going to get more… fae-like.

Possessive.

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