The “punishment” session had taken place in bed hours ago, and they had yet to leave.

“I would like to discuss the future,” she said now, straddling his waist.

He nodded, encouraging her to continue.

“I told you I want to stay with you, and I meant it. But I don’t want to stay as your employee. I want to stay as your equal. And, yes, I know you’re stronger. I’m not foolish. I know you have wealth, and I come with nothing. But I want to be your woman, and—”

“I agree,” he rushed out. She was giving him the words he craved more than life. He would have promised the moon and stars.

She grinned. “You didn’t even hear the rest of what I had to say.”

“I don’t need to. I want you, now and always. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you.”

“Well, good, because it means exclusivity, open lines of communication, trust, girls’ night at the bar every other Friday, and sleeping with me every night. And for the record, ‘sleeping’ does not mean lying awake and holding me.”

“Elin—”

“No. You said you’d agree to anything, and this is what I’m asking. Let me help you with your nightmares. I’ve done a good job so far, right?”

“At the cost of your own rest.”

“Rest, shmest. If you’ll let me, I’ll scare your bad dreams away. I mean, really. Have you seen my new biceps? They are sick.”

If by “sick” she meant “on life support,” then yes. His woman was delicate, and there was nothing wrong with that—in fact, there was everything right with it. “Agreed.” Whatever she wanted, he would give her. Even that. Because she was right—being with her was helping tamp down the nightmares. He had never imagined such a thing possible, but there were many things he would have denied...until Elin had made the impossible possible. “But I will need a concession from you.”

Triumphant, she leaned down and nibbled on his earlobe. He almost lost track of his thoughts. Almost.

“I love you, Elin,” he admitted, tangling his hands in her hair. “I love you more than any man has ever loved a woman.”

Gasping, she jolted upright. Her eyes were wide with shock. “What did you say?”

“I love you.” She owned his heart. His soul. And he couldn’t regret their loss. They were safer than they’d ever been. “You had me from the start, when you bravely aided my escape from a common enemy. You became my brightest light. My sweetest hope. And now that you’ve addicted me to all that you are, I can’t give you up. I won’t give you up. We’re in this together from now on.”

Tears welled in her eyes.

He rolled her over, pinning her with his weight, and kissed the salty droplets away. “And now, the concession,” he continued. “When I find a way to make you fully immortal, and I will, you will do what’s necessary. Whatever it is.”

“But—”

“No buts.” He cupped her face, gave her a little shake. This was too important. “You will. I would rather die than lose you.” Over the past few days, his sense of doom had only grown. Now, when things were finally right between him and the woman holding his heart, it was making him desperate. “And, Elin? That’s exactly what will happen. If ever you leave me, whatever the reason, I won’t be able to move on. I don’t care what I’ve told you about overcoming your loss of Bay.”

“But I’ll want you to—”

“No,” he said again. “Without you, I have nothing. Without you, I want nothing.”

Overcome by the need to possess her, here, now, and always, he spread his burning hands over every inch of her. Staking his claim. Leaving his mark. “You are mine,” he said. “I won’t lose you.”

“I’m yours. And you’re mine. I won’t lose you, either,” she gasped, urging his head down for a kiss. “Not to anything.”

“Not ever,” he agreed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

SHE HADN’T TOLD THANE she loved him, Elin realized.

She wanted to tell him. She really did. Because she knew deep down that the man owned her heart every bit as much as she owned his. But guilt kept the words trapped inside her.

She was already giving him everything Bay had lost. How could she give him those precious words, too? Especially when, in Thane’s arms, she was happier than she’d ever been.

“You ready, kulta?” He came up behind her and wrapped his strong arms around her waist, flattening his pleasure-giving hands on her belly, and kissing the hollow of her neck.

The time to leave the island and meet up with the others had arrived. Thane’s injury was completely healed. Elin’s sense of despondency had lifted. They had a demon prince to hunt, and a Phoenix king to spank. Not necessarily in that order.

“Ready.” She turned in his embrace to anchor her arms around his neck, careful not to pull at the feathers in his majestic wings.

A rare few Phoenix had wings, though the appendages formed from smoke and were the color of the darkest night. She’d never craved a pair of her own. Until now. To keep pace with Thane...to be his equal in something. Oh, she knew she’d told him she wanted to be treated as his equal, but she also knew it would be an act, nothing more.

Gently, he chucked her on the chin. “What’s this?”

Always he guessed her mood correctly and sensed the slightest change. Am I that predictable—or is he just that aware of me?

She told him her thoughts, leaving nothing out. She’d demanded his trust, and she would give her own. He was her man. He would never use her vulnerabilities against her.

“Elin, of the two of us, you hold more power. Never doubt that.”

She blinked in astonishment. Of all the things he could have said, that hadn’t been on the list of possibilities. Because he couldn’t lie! So...those earth-shattering words were true to him.

“Sorry, baby, but I’m doubting,” she admitted. “I don’t understand.”

“I told you. You own me. I’m yours. All that I have been. All that I am. All that I will ever be. Your happiness is mine. Your fury is mine. And your needs will be met before mine. I love you, and to me, that means placing you first and giving to you what I will never give to another. Power over me.”