Samurai Game (Ghostwalkers, #10)(90)

Are you okay, baby?

I don’t know. She sounded dazed. Am I alive?

I’m not certain either of us are. Give me a minute and we’ll go for round two.

He felt movement and managed to turn his head toward her and pry open one eye. She lifted her head and looked pointedly at his soft cock with a small smile.

“You’re feeling optimistic, aren’t you?” she said aloud, laughter in her voice.

His fingers found her hair, wrapping a length around his fist. He gave a gentle tug and made an effort to find his voice. “That’s a challenge, woman, and all good soldiers find a way to meet a challenge.”

He felt her laughter in his mind, that soft, melting molasses that just poured in and filled him with happiness. How had he ever managed without her?

“I wasn’t challenging you, Sammy. I’m not certain I’ll ever be able to walk again,” she pointed out. “I think I have skid marks inside.”

Alarm spread instantly. “Did I hurt you?”

“You know you didn’t, but we were a little on the wild side. I’m definitely going to be a little sore, but I’m perfectly willing to give up walking.”

Again her laughter poured into his mind. That soft, sensual sound could bring a man to his knees.

“I don’t think we have to go that far,” Sam said, careful not to let his voice shake with emotion. She was a dream he feared he might wake up from all too soon.

“Thank you for remembering to protect me, Sam,” Azami said. “I do want a child, but I want to go into it with both of us knowing what we’re getting into. I can go on birth control. It’s just that I never thought I would need it.”

He turned toward her, elbow on the bed, his head propped in his hand. “Didn’t you think you’d eventually sleep with someone?” Even as he said it, his mind rejected the idea. He put his free hand on her bare stomach, fingers splayed wide. He nearly covered her entire abdomen with his large hand.

Her long lashes swept down, veiling her expression. “I am never around men long enough to get to know them. You and I had an unusual and unexpected connection.”

Her suspicious tone irritated him. “Don’t say one word about Whitney. He doesn’t belong in our bedroom,” he warned sharply.

“I wasn’t going to.”

“But you were thinking it. My connection with you is not purely on a physical level. Whitney can manipulate pheromones, but he can’t make a man fall in love with a woman. He can’t make him want to protect her.” He caught her chin and lifted it, forcing her gaze up to his. “I want to wake up every morning with you beside me. I want to laugh with you. Fight with you. Grow old with you. This—you and me—isn’t about lust, Azami.”

“I know that,” she admitted, reaching to stroke a caress down his face. “I do, Sam. It’s just so—unexpected. When I flew out here, a man was the last thing on my mind.”

“Should I expect one of your brothers to try to take my head off with his sword tomorrow?”

“Why would you think that?”

“You’re in my bed, Azami,” he pointed out.

“You asked permission.”

“To marry you. To court you. Not to sleep with you.”

“I make my own decisions, Sam. They know that.” She smiled at him, that mysterious smile that said so many things. “They know better than to try to tell me what to do.”

“That’s a relief.” He smirked a little. “I wouldn’t want to have to fight a relative.” He forced himself to sit up. “I’m going to run you a bath. I don’t want you sore.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do.” He leaned over to brush a kiss across her mouth. “We’re not done. I have a lot more to show you. You need to soak and get some sleep first though.” Already he could feel the first stirrings of need moving through his mind.

Azami stayed on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, a bemused expression on her face while he dealt with the condom and started the bathwater running. She turned her head toward him as he came back to stand in the doorway. She looked beautiful, sprawled out on his bed, her long hair everywhere, a little drowsy, her lashes long and her mouth sinful. He was having fantasies about that mouth.

“You know that your friends will try to talk you out of marrying me once they realize you’re serious,” she said. Her voice was very quiet, very matter-of-fact.

He stiffened. “They know you’re not working against them, Azami. They accept that you’re a GhostWalker. Anything you’ve done to take down Whitney is no different from what we do. We’re in a fight for our lives, for the lives of our children. They’ll not only accept you but welcome you. You’re an amazing weapon.”

She smiled at him, serenity on her face. “That has nothing to do with what I’m saying. I’m certain they’ll all get used to having me provide information, support, and even tactical help when needed.”

“Why would you believe they would have an objection to you?”

“They love you. That was very evident to me when you were hurt. All of them hovered around the room these past few days, continually checking on you. I heard them asking Lily if you needed blood, anything at all to help. They will try to talk you out of marriage to me out of love for you.”