To Have & to Hold Read Free Page B

given you four years of my life, Grayson. And what have I gotten in return? Hell. A pure living hell. No , thanks. There ’ s not enough magic in the world to change my mind today. So don ’ t even try. ”
    That ’ s exactly what he ’d hoped to do. Change her mind. No tricks. No magic. No manipulation. He wanted to convince her to stay with him by using his finesse as a man, not a mage or a dragon. Not that anyone could accuse him of possessing dragon finesse. Hell , he was a God damned rookie . He had a lot to learn. His mouth twitched. And his social skills as a man were rusty. But he knew Cate , so he ’ d go with his instincts.
    She moved to open her car door.
    He stepped between her and escape .
    She didn ’ t back down, didn ’ t flinch. For that, at least, he was thankful. Cate had never backed down. Despite everything she ’ d been through, she wasn ’ t timid. She ’ d always been a fighter.
    Some would see her steadfast devotion to him over the past four years as a weakness.
    They were fools.
    He marveled at her, the fiercest warrior he ’ d ever known. She ’ d battled for both her own life and that of her soul mate. He couldn ’ t let her give up now. Not when they were so close to winning this war.
    “ Cate , you love me. You can ’ t leave. ” He brushed a strand of her silky hair from her cheek, tucking it behind her ear. Her skin felt so soft. She smelled of lilacs and vanilla. He breathed in and drew her scent deep within to tuck it into his hoard to savor and cherish forever.
    “ Yes, call me a fool. Despite everything you ’ ve done to me, I do love you. I must be a blasted idiot. ”
    “ No, you ’ re not. ” He skimmed his fingers down her arm to caress her cold fingers. He lifted her hand to his bare chest, laid it over the strong steady beat of his heart. “ I won ’ t hurt you again, Cate . Ever. I give you my word. ”
    He covered her hand with his. He could feel the beat of his own heart through her skin.
    She closed her eyes. Her body shuddered under his touch. Her full , dusky mouth pinched at the corners instead of growing soft like he ’ d hoped. She held herself stiff, tense. Her eyes were squeezed tight .
    He had to convince her to stay with him.
    He stepped close and before she could respond or push him away, he pressed his mouth against hers in a tender kiss. She sighed and opened for him instantly. The soft, silky heat of her mouth nearly undid him. A hunger so elemental and fierce gripped him hard and threatened to consume him whole. Cate was his woman. His wife. Nothing else had ever seemed so right or so integral to his survival as this connection.
    Grayson deepened the kiss and wound his hand into her hair, pulling her close to him. Their bodies blazed where they touched. Her supple breasts brushed his bare chest. Her nipples hardened through the cotton fabric of her t-shirt. She wiggled closer, then her hands caressed his chest and circled his neck to draw him near.
    The scent of her arousal snaked around him. A deep moan escaped his throat. All the blood left his head and rushed south. He ’ d always wanted this woman. Nothing had changed during his year of seclusion. He wanted her now more than ever.
    Grayson slipped his hand beneath her shirt, spanned her taut abdomen and moved up. He wanted her fast and furious. Here and now. No holds barred. Hot. Honest. No complicating words. They ’ d work out everything else later.
    He set out to show Cate how much he loved her.
    Grayson flicked open the front closure of her lacey bra and cupped her naked breast. Cate groaned, her head fell back. He lifted her shirt and teased her rosy nipple with his mouth. Hot and wet. He sucked gently and rasped his teeth against her heated flesh. Then, he kissed her other breast.
    Cate gasped and sagged back against the car for support. “ More. Need more, ” she begged, her husky voice guttural and sexy as hell. She unbuttoned his denims, freeing his erection. Her actions