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 What? she asked.
 Thank you for trusting me. You don t know how much it hurt to have my
mate doubt me, our bond, what you mean to me.
She tilted her head, smiling slightly. She said,  You could show your
appreciation by finishing what you started, followed by helping me feed our
children.
He smiled brightly at her.  We have to hold off on the first thing& 
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The Alpha Promise Hayat Ali
 Why? Adina asked with a frown.
He leaned close to her ear and said,  Because when I take you, you won t
be able to move for a long time, and neither will I.
His voice was low and seductive, making her shift against him. Then his
nibbles on her ear made her sigh.
 Gonna fuck me senseless, hmm? she whispered back to him.
 Damn right, he said. He placed a kiss under her ear before moving back
to look at her.  Besides, I still don t trust this situation here.
Adina started to say something, but thought better of it when she saw how
hard Jin clenched his jaw. She asked,  Well, what about our babies?
He noted her hesitation, but let it go. Jin leaned back, taking her with him.
He saw the mark on his left shoulder and said,  Take what you need.
Her eyes glinted. A part of him enjoyed seeing her eyes behave like
vampire eyes. He wouldn t have expected to like it, but he did. He gasped when
she bit into his shoulder again. He felt his fangs elongate with the need to
reciprocate, but he didn t. She needed his blood more than he needed hers. So he
just rested his head against hers, letting their thoughts blend as she fed their
children.
Jin got flashes of her life, images of her as a child playing, of her family at
a picnic and on holidays. He began to see her world, her very human world,
knowing that she could never go back to it. He held that thought back from her,
but she was too focused on the children to notice. He knew he would have to talk
to her about very soon. He had to take her away from her family, not only for her
protection but for theirs.
The memories flashed forward to when they first met. Jin experienced her
conflict about whether to help him. He sensed her curiosity and then almost
laughed out loud at her first impression of him when he woke. Silly, she thought
to him. He smiled against her neck as he relived their passionate night until
parting. He felt her pain at leaving him.
I m sorry I let you go, he thought.
She slowly withdrew from his shoulder, turning to look at him. His eyes
were clouded with thought. She sat back, studying him, then asked,  Why are you
sorry?
He shook his head feeling a little angry, a little helpless, and finally like
the fool. When he brought his eyes back to hers, he saw acceptance and warmth.
He almost didn t want her to be so forgiving.
Adina could sense his self-deprecation. Feeling that the children were
content for the moment, she slipped on her gown while Jin watched her. She
shifted in his lap, turning so her back rested against his chest. She leaned her head
back onto his right shoulder, taking his hands and placing them on her swollen
stomach. Once she was comfortable, she spoke.
 You have nothing to be sorry for, Jin. What happened, happened.
He sighed, inhaling her scent. The smell intoxicated him, reminding him
of home, of being where he belonged, of comfort and caring. But he also felt that
he had failed his mate. He failed to protect her and his children and as a result, she
was caught in the middle of a lot of damn bullshit.
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The Alpha Promise Hayat Ali
Adina started laughing. Jin frowned at her.
 Why are you laughing? he asked.
 I like to hear you curse, she replied.
 I didn t&  he started, but then realized that she had been listening to his
thoughts. It amazed him that she could without him initiating the connection. He
tilted his head to look at her. She turned to catch his eye.
 Blame your children. It seems they are making me into a vampire.
Though her voice was steady, he heard the faint tremor of fear at the idea.
He wanted to be hurt by her rejecting the possibility of being a vampire, but how
could he when he didn t want that for her either. He liked that she was human. It
let him experience feelings that he would never know with a vampire mate. But
her humanity scared him, too. He would never admit his fear to her, but she
wouldn t live as long as him, and she was so fragile! He wanted the mother of his
children to be with him in all her youthful vibrancy. He didn t want to watch her
grow old, her body breaking down until death finally took her forever.
Jin swallowed the thought when he felt Adina sensing his distress.
Refocusing himself, he decided to deal with the now, beginning with telling her
why he was sorry.
 I placed you in such an awful position that day. I should have never come
to you 
Adina rolled her eyes.  But you did, and like I said before, I don t regret
it. She hesitated before adding,  I didn t think you regretted it. I mean earlier you
said 
He held her closer, kissing her temple.  No. I don t regret us. But I do
regret leaving you like that. I regret not knowing enough about myself and my
abilities to prevent you from becoming a pawn in this mess, caught between so
many. I introduced you to a criminal who kidnapped you for his own gain.
A faint smile touched her lips.  He wasn t so bad. I mean, he kept me
safe.
Jin sneered. His ears hurt from hearing her defend the waste of flesh
named Flaxon. Something in her tone bothered him, but he let it go& for now.
 Yes, I can see that, but he betrayed me, lied to me, and used you to get to
me. Forgive me if I have no liking for the bastard.
Adina chuckled.  It s okay, Jin. I understand. I m just saying& 
 Please say no more about it.
She stiffened at his tone. Releasing his tension he said,  I m sorry. I just
hate that I wasn t there for you when you needed me. I hated that I couldn t come
without leading half the vampires in the world straight to you. He laid his hand [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]