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  Sky’s heart melted a little at his words. She shouldn’t take it out on him, she knew. It took two to tango after all, but she was afraid, and she hated being afraid. Her natural reaction to fear was to pinpoint a source, blame it, and then avoid it. In this case, there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about the fact that she was pregnant from her Skin Walker.

  My Skin Walker. The thought had her heart warming. He was hers! He’d even admitted as much. All she had to do was trust.

  She stopped struggling in his arms to frown at her hands. “I’m not Shy, ya know?” Not sure where that had come from, she felt her cheeks flame.

  “I-I know.” York used a strong finger to tilt her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes.

  “James told me that you…wanted Shy.” She shook her head. “I’m not her, York. I’m nothing like her. She’s soft and feminine and sweet. I’m…”

  “My heart,” he supplied, surprising her.

  “You want someone who obeys your commands,” she countered before she lost the courage to give him the out, “someone who is willing to let you do all the dirty work. That’s not me.” She sighed, wishing it was. “We might be twins, but I’ve spent my entire life in her shadow. She went to college, I didn’t. She got the great internship, and I got a job at a bar. She’s always put together, and I’m a friggin’ mess.” Her expression hardened, “And I like it that way. I don’t want to be her, because I’m not! I’m me. Sky! I don’t want to dress like a girl all the time. I like going out for beers and yes, sometimes I even pick fights with people twice my size. It’s fun!”

  She lost some of her steam when her hand settled on her belly. “Well, I guess I won’t be doing those last two anytime soon, but you get my point.” She lifted tear-filled eyes to meet his. “This is it, York.” She swiped a hand down the front of her. “This is the best it’s gonna get. Messy hair, bad temper, foul mouth, late nights, and even later mornings. I am so not a morning person, and I make no apologies for any of it.” She glared up at him. “I’m not what you want, and I’m not about to fall in love with someone who would rather have my sister. I’m. Not. Her! I’m…I’m a…,” she laughed around her tears, “I’m a friggin’ mess, York! You don’t want this. You can’t possibly want this, and I don’t want to be left heart-broken and on my ass in a few months when you realize I’m not what you were hoping for. You needed more time just as much as I did.”

  “Listen to me.” He adjusted her until she was straddling him with her legs wrapped around his waist. One strong hand shelved her ass while the other gripped her chin and forced her gaze to lock with his. “And know my words are the truth. I did not want Shy. I wanted my mate. I wanted you. All those things you see as flaws are perfect imperfections to me, because they are what make you mine alone. I don’t want you to be like the other Angels. I enjoy your quirks and your ragged edges. I don’t want predictable, and it fucking fascinates me that I never know what’s going on in that beautiful little head of yours. I wanted someone to make me whole, someone I could call my own and create a family with. That person is you, Sky. Don’t ever doubt your significance, because you are my universe. I am grateful to Shy for accepting my Commander, and because without her, I’d have never met you, but my affinity ends there. My affection for any other living being pales in comparison to the love and devotion I feel for you. Take the love you have for your twin and multiply by it by a thousand, and you still wouldn’t be close to the love I feel for you. I call you my heart, not just as an endearment, but because that’s what you are to me. Without you I cannot breathe, I cannot live. And without you…I wouldn’t want to.”

  Sky giggled as she swiped at her tears.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You said love,” her smile faltered. “You can’t love me, York, because you don’t really know me.”

  He growled his dissent. “My heart knows you.” His brow furrowed. “I have always loved you, Sky, and I always will.” His frown broke as he chuffed a laugh. “When I first saw you at that bar in the Philippines, when I realized you weren’t Shy,” he shook his head. “I thought to myself; that woman is as strong as iron. You were fearless and determined. You commanded the room and my respect from the moment I laid eyes on you.” He smiled, “I knew then that you were mine, just as I know it now, and I’m willing to risk my heart on the chance that you’ll want it. I don’t care what you say. I’m keeping you, Sky.”

  It was her turn to smile as she punched him in the arm. “You have to! You filled me with a baby. I’m not raising him on my own.”

  “Him?”

  Sky laughed at the awe in York’s expression. “Well, I don’t know for sure. I just hope it’s a boy. He and Shy’s baby will be like brothers.”

  When his hand slid up to caress her abdomen, she placed her hand over his and asked, “What do you hope it is?”

  York’s brows furrowed. Looking up he pinned her with all seriousness. “Happy.”

  She remembered his revelation of having been discarded by his parents. She understood his fear. Lifting a finger she forced his chin up until it was even with hers. “You’re going to marry me, I hope you know that.”

  A beaming smile cracked his stern demeanor. “Yes!” It didn’t sound like a response, but rather more of an exclamation.

  “And you’re going to love me and our baby for the rest of our lives. Do you understand?”

  His smile broadened, and she felt his arms around her tighten by a fraction. “Yes!”

  “And in seven months, when I’m the size of a house and moody, you’re going to rub my feet and lie to me and tell me I’m the most exquisite woman you’ve ever seen.”

  He shook his head and her heart stuttered.

  “It won’t be a lie, my heart.”

  Her fear vanished, and she leaned up to brush her lips lightly against his before blinking up at him “But first…” she smiled wickedly, “you owe me a proper claiming.”

  Instantly, his expression darkened with undisguised lust. His chest began to rumble in that contented cat way as he hoisted her into his arms and made quickly for the manor and their suite.

  Chapter 28

  York stalked into StoneCrow manor with a fierce determination. Sky watched his jaw clench and felt his shoulders bunch under her arm.

  “Am I heavy? You can put me down.”

  “No!” he didn’t look at her. “I’m getting you to our suite as quickly as possible before anything else can prevent my claiming.”

  She smiled at the fierce possession in his growl as his arms tightened beneath her shoulders and under her legs. She wanted to say something to soothe him, but wasn’t quite sure what would do the trick.

  He carried her to an elevator and waited until the doors slid open before entering. The car was lined with mirrors all up and down the back and side walls while the front doors were clear glass.

  Peeking up at York she watched him scowl at the numbers that pinged their ascension.

  “Leto said you haven’t eaten or slept.”

  His response was a low growl as he continued to watch the panel.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “If I’d have known…”

  He dipped his head to stare at her. “I wanted you on your terms, not coming to me out of pity.” His body suddenly tensed. “That’s not what this is…is it?”

  She hid a smile at the worry she read in his eyes. Awww! “No, York. I want you just as much as you want me.”

  He snorted and lifted his eyes to the doors as they slid open with a muttered, “Impossible.”

  He carried her down a hall and stopped at a door. Without putting her down he pulled a key card from his pocket and held it to the lock before it beeped and the door clicked open.

  “This will be our temporary home until our cabin is finished. I requested a home near Sky but only because I knew you’d want to be near her.” He carried her through the suite without stopping. “We’ll go see the progress tomorrow and if you’d like a new location, it can be done.
”

  Her eyes quickly scanned the elegant suite and she smiled at his consideration even as butterflies flitted to life in her belly. This was it. She was about to be fully claimed by her Walker. There was no going back. From here on out she’d be York’s. She was ready.

  York carried her to the bedroom and kicked the door closed behind them. Gently placing Sky on her feet her reached for his own shirt and ripped the front of it open. “Get undressed,” he growled.

  Sky backed up but didn’t remove any clothing. When she took another step away from York, his eyes narrowed on her. Bending to jerk off his boots, York finally stood and reached for the front of his jeans. “Do you know what happens to prey that runs from a predator?” He dipped his head and smiled wickedly. “She gets caught.”

  Sky was tempted to test him, but that wouldn’t be fair. She’d made him wait long enough. Besides she wanted him too badly. Watching as he hooked his thumbs in his jeans and shoved down, she felt her heart accelerate at the thick erection that popped free and pointed straight at her. She bit her lip and moaned, which caused his eyes to jerk to hers. She smiled demurely and nodded with her head toward the bed, “Unbraid your hair and get on the bed.”

  He didn’t move.

  “York,” she grabbed the hem of her shirt and ripped it over her head. “If you want to claim me, then listen to me.” Again she jerked her head toward the bed. “Get on the bed.”

  She saw the lines of his frame go rigid with tension. He stared at her for long moments before he reached up and unbound his hair, ran his fingers through it, then walked to the bed and sat on the edge watching her.

  Not exactly what I had in mind, but...

  York’s hands gripped his knees and his knuckles shone white under the pressure. Clearly, he was having trouble restraining himself.

  Sky didn’t smile triumphantly as she wanted. Instead she copied him and pulled off her shoes before unfastening her jeans and shoving them down, taking her panties with them. She stepped out of the pool of her clothes and reached back to unfasten her bra before dropping it to the floor.

  Slowly, she approached the bed with intentions of straddling his lap. He didn’t need to lay down for her to be in charge. She didn’t get the chance. As soon as she was within reach, he grabbed her around the waist and stood, spinning her and pushing back until she was pinned beneath him on the bed. His knees separated hers and she was spread wide beneath him, his rigid cock nudging her entrance, but he didn’t enter her. He lowered his head and claimed her mouth in a powerful kiss that grew in intensity. Sky met his intensity as the need within her swirled into a raging inferno. She writhed beneath him, trying to get him to slide into her.

  Suddenly he broke the kiss. “Wait!”

  “What? Wait! Why wait? What’s…” her voice was breathless.

  York cupped her cheek and leaned in to stare deeply into her eyes. “I want to say this before anything else, that way you know I’m not just caught in the moment.”

  She wiggled her hips impatiently. “Fine. Tell me! Hurry…what is it?”

  “I love you, Sky.”

  She stopped wiggling and sucked in a breath. Tears pricked her eyes, and her heart contracted and she recognized the sweet ache of emotion. “I…I love you too, Big Red.”

  He frowned with a growl.

  “York.” She amended. “I love you, York!”

  She was rewarded with a beaming grin and then it was her turn to frown. “But if you don’t move those hips in two seconds, I’m going to friggin’ scream!”

  He leaned forward and pushed into her with a slow hiss.

  He worked into her slowly, and it wasn’t as he’d expected. He’d heard from the other mated Walkers that they’d struggled to hold back their beasts. Hell, with his claiming of Aries, Conn Drago had even admitted that he’d fought the urge to out-right shift, but there was none of that for York. His inner beasts were calm, content to allow the man to do the claiming. Perhaps they sensed his need for this moment. They were gifting him the first taste of his angel’s love.

  His pace was slow and sensual as his hands glided over warm, velvety soft skin. He cupped Sky’s breasts and let his hands taper down her waist to knead her tummy. She was soft and so fucking beautiful. His eyes didn’t leave hers. He wanted to watch his angel as he made love to her and claimed her, and he was overjoyed that her eyes stayed connected with his even as little gasps left her parted lips and small shudders wracked her body. She lifted her hips and met his thrusts as they quickened. The sensual sounds of sex filling the room. His chest began to rumble with a contented purr as he felt her channel tighten around him and then loosen before she tightened again. She was getting close.

  Bending over her, she hiked her legs up and locked her ankles together just above his ass. His pace was frenzied now and her moans had turned to cries that bounced off the walls.

  “York! K-kiss me!”

  His lips found hers and his tongue darted into her mouth. He felt her body jerk and knew she was barely hanging on. He had intended to pull back to tell her to wait, but when her lips wrapped around his tongue and sucked, he lost all rational thought. His body seized as her pussy trembled around him with her orgasm even as he shot his seed deep inside her, marking her, claiming her, mating her.

  Sky continued to suck on his tongue with slow erotic tugs of her mouth that mimicked the clenching of her pussy as it milked the remainder of his seed from him. After long moments, he rolled to the side and pulled her until she lay sprawled across his chest, both of them struggling to slow their breathing.

  When Sky finally caught her breath and peeked up at York, emotion shown in his eyes. “Don’t ever leave me again!” It wasn’t a command, it was a plea that had Sky’s own raw emotion clogging her throat. She’d remembered his words. He’d told her that his parents had abandoned him that they hadn’t wanted him either, implying that she didn’t want him.

  “Never!” The word left her with a vehemence she hoped he felt. “I am yours, York. Now and always. I carry a child…your child! And I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything in my life.” She watched him tilt his head back and close his eyes. His throat convulsed as he swallowed hard and she watched him bask in her words as if they’d meant more to him than she’d ever know. Perhaps they had, but she’d meant every word.

  Drawing in a breath he opened his eyes and lowered his forehead to hers before speaking softly. “Forever then.”

  “Forever,” she repeated.

  Exclusive Excerpt

  Skin Walkers: RedKnife

  By

  Susan A. Bliler

  The bar was empty tonight, so Cindy Sambrano wiped down the already clean tables and used the remote to flip on the large flat screen TV that sat just behind the bar. She scanned the channels until she found a hockey game then made herself a cherry coke before taking a seat on the other side of the bar. She’d done it often because she knew she’d be able watch for customers in the mirror that stretched the entire expanse of the wall behind the bar.

  “Come on Detroit!” she yelled at the screen, deflated that the Colorado Avs had just scored on her team. “Dominick Hasek would’ve never given up that goal!” She shook her head in disgust, “Amateurs.”

  Cindy jumped at the sound of a chair being pulled out. Her hand flew to her chest as she spun to what had only moments before been an empty bar. Her eyes locked on RedKnife as he slowly sat, the wooden chair creaking under his weight.

  “Jesus! You scared me.” She noted that instead of decelerating, her heart actually quickened in pace.

  RedKnife watched her curiously without responding.

  Okay not much of a talker. Cindy grabbed the remote and turned the TV off before walking to the other side of the bar and grabbing a dry towel before throwing it over her shoulder.

  “What can I get you?” She was fighting the blush that crept over her. Just a few short minutes ago she’d lied about having sex with him and then she’d kissed him unabashedly, pretending to be his
girlfriend.

  When he didn’t respond, she dropped her eyes and pulled the towel from her shoulder to swipe at a non-existent spot on the bar.

  “Did you want something to drink?” She was trying to play it cool.

  “Beer,” he answered in a low rumble.

  She couldn’t help but wonder if the deep timbre of his voice was natural or if he was intentionally pitching it low to intimidate her. She didn’t ask for specifics, she just reached in the cooler and retrieved a cold beer before twisting the cap off and setting it on a napkin in front of him. “Two seventy-five.”

  RedKnife handed her a fifty and she made change quickly before returning and laying his money the table. She still refused to meet his gaze even though she knew she’d been under his careful scrutiny since he’d walked in. When she went to pull her hand back, his much larger one caught her wrist.

  “Why did you lie?”

  Her eyes slid up to his. Christ, he was hot! Full lips set in a square jaw, perfectly tanned skin stretched over sharp features. She watched as his eyes seemed to darken even further. His long straight black hair was pulled back into a braid that hung down to his waist. God what she’d give to see that hair unbound.

  She tried to pull her hand back, knowing her pulse was thundering under his touch. “A lie deserves a lie,” she stated simply. Her brows furrowed when he refused to release her.

  “Meaning?”

  Cindy frowned at him. “They were wrong, lying to try to prosecute you. I just fibbed a little.”

  His voice smoothed over her, “You said we slept together.”

  She didn’t even attempt to hide the flush that singed high on her cheeks at the statement. “Do you mind?” She glared down at where his hand held hers trapped. When she looked back up, his eyes drifted down to her lips then back up to her eyes before he released her.

  She wasted no time in turning her back on him and retreating behind the bar to open the dishwasher. She worked furiously at pulling out clean dry glasses and stacking them on the back bar. “The lie was a favor,” she couldn’t help the annoyance that edged her tone. “You’re welcome.”