Worlds Apart 2: Hunter's Revenge by Bonnie Rose Leigh

closer and she fought the sense of panic that rose at his nearness. A centimeter closer and his body would be pressed against hers. He wouldn’t hurt her. Intellectually, she knew he would rather die than harm her. She could feel his need to comfort her through their bond, but she’d suffered so many cruelties it was hard to forget so soon.
    “Our connection through the bonds completes us. Makes us one. That is why I said it would be a useful tool when we reach the Black Rose’s home base. If you could complete the bonding ritual, we would even be able to communicate telepathically through the bond. Even over long distances.”
    He reached up and brushed a stray hair from her cheek. She closed her eyes and shivered. Not from fear, or disgust, but from arousal and it shocked her.
    “What if I were taken again? If someone stole me away, would that mean you would know where I am?”
    Hunter moved that last centimeter closer and pressed his body lightly against hers. “I would be able to find you before they could secret you away. I would like to say I could find you before they could violate you again, but I would not have lies between us. However, I would get there in enough time for you to watch them die.”
    He leaned down and inhaled deeply. “Have I ever told you how much I love the way you smell?” His body pressed closer and she felt herself stiffen. “All you need to do is tell me to back away, moya . If anything I say or do hurts or frightens you, just tell me and I will stop immediately.”
    He didn’t frighten her. She frightened herself. How could she feel such want, such desire, when only a few days ago she’d been brutally handled by the Black Rose’s men? She’d learned the woman was his sister, by his own admission. How could one be so good and the other so evil? It was almost as if every moment she spent in his presence, she were waiting for the other shoe to drop.
    “Now that you have seen who I am, will you consent to the mating? Only the true mating will tie us together, bind us to one another in such a way that no one will ever be able to separate us.”
    His breath fanned her ear and heat rushed though her blood to pool in her middle. Her panties grew moist, a sure sign that her body was willing to mate with him, whatever her thoughts and feelings were on the matter.
    She licked her lips, watching as his eyes darkened to a deep jade, so dark they were almost black.
    “Will you mate with me, moya ?” his hands slid down her arms, his fingers tangling with hers. “Will you take the chance and accept my love?”
    She gazed down. His erection was so large it threatened to burst the seams of his pants. Yet he still asked her. He kept his touch gentle as his fingers trailed lightly over her skin. She knew he wanted her. She even knew how much. She felt his inner lion raging at him to take her despite her feelings and still he held back, waiting for her acquiescence.
    She looked around the garden he’d taken her to. It was like an indoor greenhouse. It amazed her that the farther they strolled into it, the more beautiful it became. She found herself looking up at the towering trees over their heads, barely realizing when she reached out and took his hand. Their fingers tangled together and she inhaled at the rightness of it. This was right. He was right. If only she could overcome her fears and allow him to do what he wanted.
    “I would never hurt you, Amy. I would stop if you said stop. I swear it.”
    Tears slid down her cheeks and she wondered if she really could have the happiness Eve seemed to have found with Taliff. She glanced over at Hunter, felt his need to have her, his even stronger need to protect her and led him further into the lush green garden.
    They’d gone what seemed a long distance when she led him to a clearing dominated by a pool of glimmering turquoise water so clear, she could see the bottom. Surrounding the pool were marble benches that tempted her to sit while she