Rebel's Desire (Iron Portal Paranormal Romance Series) (Iron Portal Series Book 4) by Laurie London Page B

didn’t know how you’d react.”
    Anger simmered behind her eyes. “You’ve been nothing but wonderful to me and yet you think I’d be incapable of accepting you? Jeez, Toryn, I’m the one who’s used to not been accepted.”
    “I’m an Iron Guild warrior and we are coming over here to fight your army, so it would be logical for ye to abhor me. Blame me as a proxy for what happened to your mom. I know I probably would, if I were in your shoes.”
    “Seeing what I did today,” she said, rubbing a hand over her face, “I doubt that your people were even responsible for my mom’s accident.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t think you trusted me to keep your secret. Is that it? Did you think I would go to the authorities?”
    His gaze snapped to hers. “Of course not. I had to be careful at first, sure, but it became clear to me early on that ye would never do something like that.”
    “Then why, Toryn?” Her voice was soft. “Why not tell me tell me the truth?”
    He looked away, his heart pounding in his ears. Why was she pushing him like this? Hadn’t he told her enough? He didn’t want to admit to her one of his darkest fears, but if he didn’t, he would lose her. “It’s just that…I’ve been betrayed by people I’ve cared about, so trusting comes hard for me.”
    “What happened to you?” she asked gently.
    “I was a young warrior and fell for a girl I thought loved me back. Turned out all she wanted was to use me to get through a portal and make a life for herself here. Without me.”
    Keely was quiet for a moment. “And you thought I would do the same thing? Hurt you like she hurt you?”
    “I…I didn’t know.”
    At first he thought she was upset, but then she leaned down, cupped his face in her hands and kissed him, her lips so soft and tender against his. “I’m falling for you, Toryn, so I sincerely hope that you can learn to trust me.”
    His heart thudded in his chest at her admission. “I’ll try, Kitten,” he said thickly. “That’s the best I can do for now. Okay?”
    She was silent for so long he feared that it wasn’t okay.
    “As long as you’ll try,” she said. “That’s all I can ask.”
    Then he swept her into his arms and carried her up the stairs.
    They made love in the shower, just as he had fantasized. After washing away the sweat and stress from the morning, he splayed her hands on the tile wall and took her from behind, holding onto that sweet ass of hers as he buried himself inside her. Rivulets of water ran down her back and dripped from her full breasts, making it easy for his hands to slide over every luscious curve.
    He brushed her wet hair aside, nuzzling the back of her neck right above the butterfly tattoo on her shoulder, and chuckled with satisfaction as she shivered. As his cock slid through the liquid heat of her tight channel, the pressure in his balls increased. Soft moans escaped her lips as he fondled her clit and touched the juncture where his body disappeared into hers. She cried out his name as she came, her inner muscles clenching around him, milking his release. A moment later he joined her, his hoarse groans echoing off the tile walls while molten pleasure pulsed out of him.
    When they were finished, he pulled out of her and discarded the condom. She turned to face him, slipping her arms around him and pressing her body close. Her cheeks were flushed, her wet hair hanging in thick strands around her upturned face.
    She’d never looked more beautiful.
    “That was a much better start to the morning, don’t you think?”
    “Mmmm,” he rumbled against her ear. “I agree. Much better.”
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    A short time later , they sat against the headboard, legs entwined, sharing a delicious breakfast scramble that Toryn had made. She hadn’t felt much like eating, but he’d insisted.
    “Is it true that those with Talents have Cascadian blood in them?” she asked, trying to keep her mind off the fact that Becca should be here