Shielded Heart (The Infinite City, #2)

by Tiffany Roberts

His cock sprang free of his slit. Though it eased some of the pressure, his discomfort only increased. Samantha shrieked and fell backward, catching herself on her hands. Her eyes were wide and fearful as she stared between his legs. Arcanthus’s brows fell. “It’s not going to bite you, Samantha.” “It-It’s moving! It’s split!” She slapped a hand over her mouth, leaving her voice muffled when she asked, “Did I break it?” “It’s not broken!” Arcanthus grasped the loincloth on the bed beside him, meaning to cover himself, but stopped before he did.

He knew in that moment that he’d give up anything, everything, for her. To keep her safe, to keep her at his side. His instinctual draw to her was irresistible, but his want for her was so much more than instinct.

think he was about to talk. Right before you skewered his eye.” “You know just as well as I that torture is highly likely to produce false information,” Arcanthus said. “There was no point in prolonging the inevitable.” “That was torture?” Sekk’thi asked, tilting her head. “Did I miss something during that exchange?” “Yes, it was torture,” Drakkal said. “He had to sit and have a conversation with Arcanthus.”

already told you, little terran. One look was all I needed to know you are mine. You’re my mate.” Something about the way he said those last words gave Samantha pause. She leaned back and lifted her head to look him in the eyes. “What do you mean?” “It means that my body, my instincts, and my…my soul recognize you as something more than anyone else could ever be to me. As my match. As the one person who can complete me, who can fill in what I’m missing.”

I know this phrasing is insensitive, given your condition, but you need to face it, Vaund—in a straight fight, I’m the winner. Every time. You’re going to need better than you if you want to take me out.”

“I wish I could touch you with my own fingers just once. Just to have the memory of your feel forever.” “What do you feel when you touch me with them now?” “Their warmth and their firmness. A hint of their texture. The same things I would feel with flesh, only lesser. It’s all…off.” “Your hands are not the only things you feel with.” Sam smoothed her other palm down his chest. “What do you feel when I touch you here?” “You,” he rasped softly.

“Not polite to sneak up on people like that.” “I pay you to be vigilant, Razi. That comprises the majority of your duties.” “Not when I’m on break.”

“So…you’re teaching her how to fight by throwing her around?” Sekk’thi snorted. “How did you learn? By holding hands and talking until someone died of boredom?” Arcanthus shook his head and sighed. “By being thrown around. In the mud, in my case.”

He’d been foolish to think having his mate was the pinnacle of satisfaction, the peak of happiness. Because having his mate’s love lifted him to heights that shouldn’t have been possible.

He had everything he could ever want, everything he could ever need, right here in his arms. And he would destroy anyone who tried to take it from him.

Half her field of vision was Arcanthus, his features more demonic than ever in his rage and worry, and the other half was dominated by her imminent death. She wished that she could tell Arc again how much she loved him. Wished she could tell him that, for once, she wasn’t sorry. When it came to him, Samantha had no regrets.

“Are you asking me to marry you, Samantha? Trying to tie me down?” Her cheeks warmed, and she glanced up at him for a second before returning her eyes to his qal. “I…guess I am. That is…if you…” She grimaced. This wasn’t turning out at all how she’d hoped. “I thought with us being mates—” “Samantha Dawn Wilder,” he said, calling her attention back to his face, “would you do me the indescribable honor of becoming my wife?”

don’t need you marked as my property. When I look upon you, I want to see you, not a reminder of myself. I have mirrors if I want to see my qal, but there is only one of you. I want to see your face, your skin, your beauty.” “I just thought…” She took in a shaky breath, and a tear fell from the corner of her eye to disappear within her hair. “I wanted to show you that I was yours. Always.” “Ah, my precious flower. You show me every day, in everything you do. Every time you look at me. Every word you speak to me. Every little touch, every smile, every moment. As jealous as I become when other males look at you, I know you are mine, just as I know I am yours”—he moved his hand down, settling it over her heart—“here. There is much in this universe that we may doubt, Samantha, but you and me? We’re one of the few certainties.”

“You never answered me, little terran,” he said against her mouth. “Will you be my wife?” Samantha smiled, meeting his eyes as she pulled back. “Yes. Your wife, your mate. Yours.” “Mine,”