Blurb:
Hayze has roamed the
Earth for over three millennia alone, praying to one day find the other half of
his soul. The one woman who would make his deadened heart beat once more. He
never imagined he’d find her, Blaine, in a bloodied heap beneath the claws of a
despicable yazaron, the very bane of his existence. Hayze saved Blaine and as a
reward was given three days to make her love him or he would cease to exist.
Literally.
Blaine spent those three days in ICU fighting for her life. And now when Hayze’s time left on earth is borrowed at best, the woman for whom he would gladly die a hundred times over would rather spit on him than look at him.
Fate, what a cruel bitch.
Blaine spent those three days in ICU fighting for her life. And now when Hayze’s time left on earth is borrowed at best, the woman for whom he would gladly die a hundred times over would rather spit on him than look at him.
Fate, what a cruel bitch.
Excerpt:
He smoothed the back of
his hand down her cheek as he slowly licked his lips, his eyes begging her to
stay a moment longer, to hold on to this stolen moment between them.
“I-I-have to pay you
back somehow,” she whispered, not breaking the contact.
Hayze tucked a few
strands of hair behind her ear. “I assure you it’s not necessary.” His eyes
searched her face from brow to chin and cheek to cheek, in a whisper of promises
and apologies she wasn’t quite ready to hear.
“I don’t like being
indebted to anyone.” She swallowed. “If I am, I feel like I’m that person’s property.”
He traced her lower lip
with the tip of his thumb as he leaned in closer. “Would it be that bad,
Blaine, to belong to me?” A rueful smile crossed his face before he hid it.
“I—You don’t know me. I
don’t know you.” Blaine closed her eyes and tried to ignore the way her heart
reached for his and her soul reveled in his touch. Something soft brushed her
lips, but she couldn’t say it was his lips because lips weren’t supposed to be
that soft. She opened her eyes and watched in fascination as the tip of his
tongue flitted over his lower lip. “I have to pay you back,” she blurted,
jerking her head out of his hold.
“If you must, I’ll make
a deal with you.”
“A deal?”
“Yes. Let’s call it a
compromise.”
“Okay, a compromise.”
She agreed.
“For the remainder of
time we have here on this island, share your meals with me. Take walks with me
in the afternoons. Share with me your dreams, your aspirations, and your
fears.” He was leaning still closer now, nearly whispering in her ear. His
breath misted over her earlobe, warming it. “I will not take your money,
Blaine, but I will gladly take your time as payment.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Why not?” Hayze
shifted so that he was looking her directly in the eye. He still wasn’t
touching her, but she could feel the tips of his fingers tracking slowly down
the side of her cheek to her neck. It made no sense, but still she could feel
him.
Her gaze moved down to
the tattoo covering his neck and she would’ve sworn that it formed the shape of
a large paw and reached out toward her. She blinked and the tattoo was back to
normal. “Because the world doesn’t work that way.” Jesus, she wanted to kiss
him, to melt into him and forget her life of pain.
“That’s the thing, Blaine, all you have to say
is yes and it can work exactly that way for us.”
“I’m not that lucky,
Hayze.”
“What does luck have to
do with this? I’m here, you’re here, why
can’t we just be here together?”
Was it really that
simple? She stepped back, forcing more space between them. “You’re crazy.”
“I’ve been called
worse.” Hayze grinned and stepped back as well, giving her the space she
needed.
For another brief
moment she swore the ink of his tattoo moved again, this time receding further
down into the neckline of his shirt. Now
she was certain she was losing her damn mind.
Tattoos didn’t move! Right?
“Will you accept my
compromise?”
