Dipping under his arm, Lana stared up under his hung head. “How can a woman not love the man who survived such horrors? A man who turned out to be a decent human being instead of a monster taking revenge for the life he had been dealt.” His eyes rose to meet hers. “I see the man you are. How can I not love you, Sid Sinclair, no matter your past?”
“I killed people for the entertainment of others.” Sid’s eyes didn’t leave hers, his voice a low growl. “And I found enjoyment in that. It was the only thing I could find enjoyment in. In each face of the person I killed, I saw the men who enslaved me. I was damn good at what I did; we all were. And never forget, Lana, I am a monster. I’m not a human being. I am a vampire.”
“And I’m a human,” Lana replied, touching his chest with her hand, “who never learned how to cook like a woman should, hates to clean and would rather spend her free time at a shooting range.”
His golden eyes searched her face. “I don’t think I can love a woman who can’t cook.”
Lana ran her hand slowly down his chest to the waist of his jeans. “But I can do other things which are much better than cooking.” She gripped him tightly through his jeans, making his eyes flare hot. “I love you, Sid, and I don’t care about anything other than being yours and you being mine. If we stay true to that, then nothing can come between us. That part of your life happened long ago.”
His eyes darkened at her words and the firm grip she had over his crotch. “But to us it’s as if it happened yesterday.”
She ran her hand back up to his chest, behind his thick neck to pull him close to her. “Then I guess I have to spend all my free time making you forget the bad memories by making better ones.” Their lips were inches apart as she whispered, “I love you.”
Sid’s eyes closed for a second as he savored her words, but then they opened to make sure she was real, and of course she was, but never did he think a woman who knew the truth would love him. “You are my life.” Sid, who was full of smartass remarks, had none at that moment. He had never been more serious in his long life. Gripping her just below her ass, he lifted her and instinctively she wrapped her legs around him. “You are mine.”
“I am yours,” she agreed before sealing it with a slow kiss, her hands tangling in his hair.
Sid pulled back, his eyes almost black, searching her bruised face. “I can make that all go away.”
“Is it that ugly?” Lana frowned, pulling her hand away from his neck to cover up her damaged eye and cheek.
“Nothing about you could be ugly, but every time I look at it, I want to kill someone,” Sid growled.
“How can you get rid of it?” Lana moved her hand away wrapping it around his neck again.
Okay Sinclair, suck it up and do it. If she refuses, it doesn’t mean anything. Just be a fucking man and do it. He felt his eyes shift away from her and couldn’t stop it.
“By taking my blood.” Sid finally looked back at her to see her reaction.
“Your blood can heal?” Lana asked; she didn’t look or sound disgusted which was a good sign.
“Yes, among other things.” He forced his eyes to stay on her and not look away like a scared *.
Lana didn’t answer right way, but it was she who looked away down to his chest. “Tessa told me that is how vampires become mates.” Lana still didn’t look at him. “But you already have had mine. That didn’t make us mates?”
“No.” Sid shook his head. “We have to share each other’s blood.” He turned his head, slightly looking away. He honestly didn’t know if he could handle her rejection.
“Do you want me to be your mate, Sid?” She pulled his face back to hers.
“More than anything in the world,” Sid answered with such intense conviction she looked up surprised.
A small, sexy smile played at the corner of her mouth as she tilted her head slightly. “Then make me your mate, Warrior.” Her sigh was soft, but he heard it loud and clear.
“Do you understand what you’re saying?” He felt his fangs growing. Not wanting to scare her, he asked his question out of the corner of his mouth, trying to keep them hidden.
“Yes, I do, and you don’t have to hide them from me Sid.” She ran her fingers over his lips. “I trust you fully. I’m not afraid. I actually think you look sexy and a little dangerous. What girl isn’t turned on by that?”
Still having her cradled against him, he reached between them, undoing his pants. She was wet and she never did put her panties back on. Slipping inside her smoothly, he pushed as deep as he could, and pulled out with agonizing slowness. He watched in awe as her head fell back against the wall, her neck arched for him and felt himself grow harder inside her. Knowing he wasn’t going to last long and wasn’t that a bitch, he reached for the knife he always carried. With expert precision, he cut his neck as she watched.
“Are you sure, Lana?” He needed to make sure just one more time, because in all honesty, he couldn’t quite believe this amazing woman was willing to become his mate.