ENSNARED (#1 The Valkyries)

Chapter 9

"Anna?" The voice came from a distance, disturbing the puffy, floating clouds around me, and I ignored it to fly further, soaring into the twilight sky.

"Anna... Anna, answer me." A snap of command disrupted the air's flow around me. I grumbled, feeling a tug against my freedom.

"Answer me right now, Anna." The snarled demand shattered the buoyancy and drew me back completely.

"What? I was floating through the stars. It was so beautiful," I complained, and even to myself, I heard the slightly petulant tone.

"I'd not intended to send you so deep into subspace, little one," that deep voice murmured. A part of me was sure I should recognize it, but it was so easy to start floating away again.

"Stay with me, Anna," the voice growled.

A swaying sensation had me opening my eyes, blinking against the light that contrasted with the dark silhouette above me. In another minute, the shape resolved into Paz. He was carrying me through my parents' bedroom and into their ensuite bathroom. Before I could ask what he was doing, he sat on the wide tiled ledge of their soaker tub and turned on the taps. A rattle and wheeze announced the arrival of the water before it gushed into the deep tub below.

Steam rose, filled the room, and then the scent of lavender followed. My mother's favourite. A twist of grief speared my heart and pricked my eyes. I tucked my head against his shoulder, rubbing my face against his muscular chest, breathing in his smoky cedar wood and rosemary odour. Soothing. I burrowed deeper.

Gods, it was nice being cradled in his powerful arms. Like I could push my troubles away for just a little longer. He gave me the sense of being safe, protected, and as he caressed one hand over my hair, I felt cared for in a way I hadn't since I'd been little. I snuggled in, relaxing against his warm body in the heated mist of the pale blue room.

Shifting position slightly, the wet stickiness between my thighs, a fullness inside me, and a deep ache in my ass reminded me I'd been well and truly fucked, that this man wasn't tame, wasn't safe. Paz had a savage sensuality to him. He pushed my limits. Gods, he'd taught me more about myself in two evenings than I'd managed in years of dating less adequate men.

But as much as he'd brought me to life, awakening my senses—I'd enjoyed everything we'd done, enjoyed him—he wasn't mine. He was leaving.

Still, while pleasure hummed in my veins, it seemed too much to dwell on at the moment.

When the tub filled to half, he stepped in and sat us in the warm water, keeping me on his lap. The water continued to rise until it covered us to our chests. Paz turned the water off, then used his hands to bring cupfuls to pour over my still exposed skin, gliding his fingers over me.

"How are you feeling, Anna?" he asked, tilting my head to look into my eyes.

I managed a small smile. "Tired, relaxed, a little sore, and well used. You're kind of big, Paz," I teased.

A glint came to his eyes. "Only kind of? Hmm... I'll have to do better next time."

I froze in the midst of swirling the water over me, my pulse fluttering. "Next... next time? You mentioned you need to leave tomorrow and wouldn't be back for a long time." Although I tried to keep my voice even, it cracked on the last two words.

His hand caressed my hair, shifting the long length to the side. "I do, indeed, need to leave. But this isn't just about my responsibilities pulling me away. You've had some big changes in your life of late. You need time to process it, to adapt, and figure out what you want."

I looked away, wrapping my arms around my middle as the problems I'd been avoiding formed a lump in my throat, choking me with an overwhelming dose of reality. "I... I do, but it's not just my parents' death. I won't be here when you return." My chest tightened, and I blinked, trying to stop the tears from welling.

He gripped my chin, holding it firmly as he turned my face to his, and those dark eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" His voice had lowered into a deep growl, reverberating against my torso.

Heat flushed my cheeks, and it was hard to not flinch, to continue to meet his gaze as I blinked and scrubbed a hand at my watering eyes. "My parents weren't... they weren't good with money, with their finances. They made some... well, some bad decisions. Their estate is in debt, and as their sole heir, it falls to me. So, now I owe more than I have, more than my home is worth, and the loan is due in a few weeks."

He released my chin, exhaled a harsh breath, and looked away. His brows lowered, lips pressed into a tight light.

Cold chills chased the heat from my body despite the surrounding warmth from Paz and the water. My stomach lurched, then churned, nausea rising in my throat. "I'm not asking you for help or for money. Please don't think that's why I told you, Paz. I'm not asking for anything from you. I know you are wealthy, but I don't want your money." That he might think I was using him for his money... I swallowed, and swallowed again at the acidic taste in my mouth.

He turned back, pinning me in place with narrowed eyes. His dark gaze roved over my face. Then, slowly, a black eyebrow rose. "You know I'm wealthy, but you don't ask me for money?"

I shook my head. "No. This is my problem, and I'll deal with it. I just... I want you to be able to find me again... if you want to." I looked down, unable to meet his gaze.

He chuckled and lifted my chin with his forefinger. "Do you really think that if I want to find you that there is anything on this entire planet that can stop me?"

Warmth replaced the cold, my stomach calming as I burrowed against his chest, smiling. "No. You are like a force of nature, Paz."

His grin was wide and his eyes dark with promise. "I always get what I want in the end, little Anna. You should remember that."