4 - We Are Gathered by Jackie Ivie Read Free Book Online Page B

can’t describe it. I’ve tried. There are no words. That was the most mind-blowing experience of my life, Tristan. I swear.”
    “But…you cried.”
    “I know. I’ve never done that in my life, either. I’m not normally the emotional type, and yet…that was too much to contain.”
    “Truly?”
    “What do you want to hear? That you’re a world-class stud? Is that it?”
    A world class stud. That sounded like not only a compliment, but a supreme one. The boulder on his chest evaporated, freeing him. He sat to face her, while she scooted back, putting space between them. It didn’t work. He’d been denied seeing a woman’s beauty for centuries, and there wasn’t a way to stop looking. Especially with what she said. And what it meant. The response went right to his groin, stirring and hardening, demonstrating the instant craving for her.
    “If you get a big head over this, I’m never seeing you again.”
    “That isn’t possible, Friudil . You are my mate. And I am yours.”
    “Oh no. You can just stop right there.”
    Tristan froze his arms where they were - reaching for her; tipped his head sideways; and regarded her without one portion of him giving away anything.
    “We need to talk. Before we do another thing. Especially that again.”
    She tipped her glance to his loins, and Tristan couldn’t prevent the lurch his rod made in response. She might as well be touching him. When she returned her gaze to his, he was in the same position, only tensed to a tighter pitch. She’d changed. A dark flush emanated from somewhere about her breasts and spread upward, staining skin as it moved. Tristan tightened everything to a painful degree to keep from leaping onto her, latching on, and then feasting on what she inadvertently offered.
    “Well?”
    He didn’t hear it, but her mouth moved, so it must’ve been sounded. Tristan narrowed his eyes. “I’m listening.”
    “It’s about this mate thing. You said it earlier, and I didn’t reply at the time because I…uh… Well, I wasn’t paying attention at the time.”
    She gave a ghost of a smile. Tristan remained exactly as he was: Primed and readied and held back by sheer will.
    “I should probably dress first…yes?”
    Tristan’s hand snaked out and caught her upper arm, stopping her movement. She didn’t squirm, and he didn’t know what he’d do if that happened. He wasn’t willing to let her out of his sight. Not until she understood. Besides, he told himself, there wasn’t anything left of her dress worth wearing. The extent of her ire was easy to see however, as every torch in the room flared to life with a whoosh of sound.
    “You need to let me go, Tristan.”
    “Never.”
    It sounded like every door in the castle slammed, even the ones he kept bolted, and that included the thick wood of his door. Tristan ignored it and continued locking gazes with her.
    “That is an archaic, medieval, and chauvinistic thing to say. Got it?”
    “No.”
    “Well, it is. Trust me. Now, let go.”
    “Will you leave me if I do?”
    “Maybe you’ll just have to trust me.”
    Tristan forced his fingers open, and started talking. Anything to keep her right where she was. “I’ve been a vampire since the year 1239, Friudil . Lifeless. Dead. Destined to walk this earth with the sameness of every waking moment. There is but one thing that can change it. One thing.”
    “Blood?”
    He shook his head. “That is but a fuel. A need. At times…a severe craving. But there is something more. We are told of it, but are rarely lucky enough to gain it. There is one thing that can bring a vampire joy. One.”
    “Your mate.”
    Tristan nodded.
    “Listen, I…could fall very easily for you, Tristan. It isn’t that.””
    “I love you.”
    She shook her head. He frowned.
    “You only think you love me.”
    “No. I knew. The moment I touched you. It…feels like a rebirth. Or something akin to that, and every moment with you adds to it. I’d been told, but didn’t