Destiny United by Leia Shaw

unevenly.
    “Aila,” he said in a low, hypnotic voice. “Focus on me.
Don’t think about your breathing. Don’t think about the fae. Don’t think about
anything but my voice. Can you do that?”
    He sounded calm. Reassuring. Confident. His deep, rich
voice was pure seduction. Yeah, she could do that. She nodded.
    “Do you know what a vampire’s favorite kind of dog is?”
    Puzzled, she looked up at him.
    “A bloodhound.” The boyish grin he gave her was almost as
charming as the pitiful attempt at a joke.
    She couldn’t stop a strangled laugh. “That was the worst
joke ever,” she told him, lowering her shaky hands. But it worked. Her body was
still suffering the after-shocks but her breath was almost steady. Who would
have thought a vampire would make a good therapist?
    Marcelo pulled into a secluded parking spot at the city
mall. “I have worse jokes than that,” he told her, “but I’ll save them for your
next panic attack.”
    She chuckled. God help her, she might actually be
starting to like this guy.
    Then he pulled out a piece of rope. Her heart slammed
into her chest. Had she spoken too soon? Before she could ask what it was for,
he had her wrists locked in one hand while he tied the rope around them.
    “What are you doing?” she yelled, horrified.
    “You’ve already run from me once and you won’t come
inside. What am I to do, Aila?” It was a question but he’d already decided the
answer. Tie her to the steering wheel!
    “I didn’t run from you.” She yanked her arms to get free
but he easily held her still.
    “You left the car when I told you to stay. And to get
drunk at a bar, no less. You’ve proven that I cannot trust you.”
    “I won’t leave. I promise.”
    “And you expect me to believe that?”
    “Yes!”
    “Aila,” he said in a low voice, “I’m sorry but you’ve
left me no choice. This is why I told you it would be best for you to obey me.”
    Panic welled in her chest and her breath quickened.
    “Don’t start that again. It won’t change my mind.”
     “I’ll come with you,” she spilled before she could stop
herself. “Please. Just don’t leave me here defenseless.”
    He looked into her eyes for one long unreadable moment.
“Done,” he said then unwound the binds.
    “What?”
    “It’s about time you moved past this. I’m just glad you
brought it up first.” He jumped out of the car then sped around to open her
door.
    Wait, wait, wait . She hadn’t really thought this through. But he had already pulled her from the
car.
    “Wait!” she pleaded. “I don’t know. I may have changed my
mind.”
    Marcelo tucked her small body into his side, wrapping an
arm around her shoulders. She felt just a little bit safer being in his
embrace. But still, she dragged her feet as he tugged her along through the
parking lot.
    “You and me, querida .
We’re going to get through this together.”
    For a moment, she actually believed him.
    “Now, what is it you’re afraid of?”
    “Umm…” They stepped through the door and entered a department
store. Her gaze darted back and forth looking for exits, watching people
frantically, searching for invisible threats.
    “Aila.” Marcelo’s voice pulling her back to reality.
“What are you afraid of?”
    “Umm…”
    “You said that already.”
    “People. Looking at me.”
    “No worries there. They’re all looking at me.” A dazzling
grin reached his face as he gazed down at her. “It’s my hot body and devilish
good looks.”
    She managed a strangled snort. “You got the devil part
right.”
    He nodded slowly. “Ah, so that’s the trick.”
    “What?”
    “If I keep you insulting me, you forget your fears.”
    “I haven’t forgotten. I’m shaking like a leaf, if you
haven’t noticed.”She stuck out one trembling hand.
    Without slowing his steps he grabbed her hand, brought it
to his lips, and kissed it. “Then tell me, cosita, what else are you afraid
of?” He kept hold of her hand, confidently,