Rebecca Zanetti - Tamed

He grinned, pressing her close against his hard chest, his hold gentle to keep from bruising. “Is that any way for a prophet to talk?”

At the sarcasm and the overdone gentleness, something snapped in Lily. Ducking her shoulder against his armpit, she punched him in the nose.

His head jerked back, his eyes wide. Blood welled by his nostril. Lily gasped, horror filling her abdomen.

Caleb narrowed his eyes . . . and smiled. “There’s my girl.”

“No.” Shame tightened her throat. “I’m not a woman who hits. I do apologize and ask you to put me down.” It felt too wonderful to be in the rebel’s arms, and she needed to get a grasp on herself. Duty called.

“No.” He continued to stride through the lodge until he kicked open the door to his quarters.

Her mouth opened and then shut. She shook her head. Nobody said “no” to her. “I believe my request was clear.”

“Fine.” With a mere twitching of his shoulders, Caleb tossed her across the room to land on the sofa.

She bounced several times, her arms flailing to find security. Her gasp echoed while she settled her skirts appropriately into place. “I am a prophet.” At the words, the clear, reasonable words, fury burned hot enough to scald her tongue. She shot to her feet. “ Nobody throws me across the room. Ever.” She employed guards who would kill him in a second—even if he was a prophet.

“I just did.” Caleb leaned against the door, muscled arms crossed. “What are you going to do about it?” His right eyebrow rose, and those myriad of colors in his odd eyes brightened.

She wanted to knock him on his butt. But even after years of training, she’d be self-delusional to think she could take him in a fight. “Last night I had a visionary dream about a little boy with your eyes and my nose. Our child, Caleb.” Might as well go for the emotional punch since she couldn’t throw a physical one.

He blinked. “Excuse me.”

“Your ears are functional, are they not?” She mirrored his stance, crossing her arms. “Fate told me that if I wanted that child, I had to kill Janie.” If there was one thing she’d learned as a counselor, it was to share burdens and fears. The idea of losing that little boy before he really appeared sliced through her heart. What would it do to Caleb? Maybe he could help her figure out the truth.

He rubbed his chin, gaze dropping to her abdomen.

She huffed out a breath. “I’m not pregnant now, you dolt. We’re not mated yet.”

“I know.” His voice softened, the tone licking along her skin. “You said ‘yet.’ ”

“That wasn’t my intention.” Deflated, Lily settled back on the sofa, her ankles crossed.

“A babe? Our babe?” Caleb’s eyes lightened in wonder. “Tell me more about him.”

She swallowed. “He looked like you and supposedly ends some plague. I guess he turns out brilliant. But when I saw him, he was a toddler.” A beautiful boy with multicolored eyes. God, she wanted him. Tears choked her throat.

“I can’t wait to see him.” Caleb’s smile held gentle promise.

If he came into being. Lily fought against emotion and searched for logic. “Whatever is causing these dreams, these directives to kill, it’s becoming more persistent. Or it’s tapping in to the future, which is often true with visions.”

“Or both.” Caleb straightened, gaze intense. “Why manipulate you with a child?”

Lily swallowed. “One of my deepest regrets is being unable to have a child, since I was widowed so quickly.” Until the virus came along, once a person was mated, it stuck. There could be no other matings, and thus, she could never conceive. She wanted a child more than anything in the world, and the thought of having Caleb’s son filled her with a yearning that almost frightened her.

“Your mating aspect is gone now. If we cure the virus, you could mate again,” Caleb said.

“I know.” She tried to veil her expression, but her heart began to hammer against her ribs. She wanted a baby to love and cherish so much, the idea that it might someday be possible hurt with hope.

Caleb’s gaze dropped to her chest.

Darn vampire hearing.

“I promise he’ll be born. You have my word,” Caleb said. “Want to practice now?”

Heat splashed into Lily’s face. “No.” Not true. Not even remotely true. She glanced at her wristwatch and stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I have another meeting.”

The smile curving Caleb’s face was less than kind. “I have a meeting with the king, or I’d pursue this line of questioning. Enjoy your reprieve now, Prophet. I’ll talk to you later.” He slid to the side.

Lily breathed in, trying to control her heartbeat. If Caleb had had any idea whom she was about to contact, he’d truly get his knickers in a twist. Or boxers. Frankly, she knew firsthand the rebel went commando. Her cheeks heated even more.

He opened the door, grasping her arm in a gentle grip to turn her toward him. “We’re going to figure all of this out. I promise.” Ducking his head, he swept his lips over hers. Gentle and scalding.

Her breath caught. She returned his kiss and fought a moan of protest when he stopped. They were lovers, and she owed him the truth. “The Kurjan leader is more likely to speak with me than with you, Caleb. I think we should use that.”

“No.” Caleb’s jaw noticeably hardened.

“Yes. I’m stronger than you think.” Why couldn’t he see the real woman?

A vein bulged in his neck. “You’re strong but also delicate and naïve. Jesus, Lily. You’re practically innocent. Evil doesn’t belong anywhere near you.”

“Innocent? Not after the other night.” The man was blind. “You don’t own me, and if I see an opening with Franco, I’m taking it.”

Fire lanced through Caleb’s eyes, sharpening the colors. “Don’t I?”

The breathy tone licked right down her spine. “Um, no.”

“Let’s see about that.” He yanked her against him.

Her nipples hardened, and she couldn’t help moving just enough to rub them against his hard chest. Fire lashed down from her breasts to her clit. How could he make her want so badly?

His husky laugh washed over her as he nipped her earlobe, tracing the shell with his heated tongue. “I think I’ll leave you with something to remember me by today.” He slipped a hand underneath her blouse, caressing up to circle and tease her engorged areola. “Tell me you understand your role with the Kurjans, and I’ll let you come. Fight me, and you’ll be in need all day.”

He punctuated the last word with a pinch to her nipple that almost sent her over the edge. She gasped, her hands grabbing his forearms, her knees weakening.

Need.

God, she needed this. “Please—”

“Not good enough.” He rubbed her against his erection, unerringly hitting her clit each time. “Tell me you understand.”

“I understand,” she gasped, desperate to fall over.

He pressed against her and pinched her nipple again. “Now, Lily.”

Agonizing pleasure ripped through her as she exploded, her knees going weak, her mind blanking. She cried out, head back, riding the waves.

He held her upright, waiting until she sighed in relief. Then he removed his hand and straightened her blouse. “I’m glad we’re clear here.”

She leaned back and studied his face. Hard lines cut handsome grooves, while experience and loss filled his eyes. For once, she spoke without measuring her words. “You have the eyes of a soldier and the heart of a warrior, Caleb Donovan.”

He tilted his head to the side, running a hand down her arm. “Why is your tone sad?”

Because even though she believed in Fate, she was fully aware of reality. “That doesn’t leave much, does it?”