Okay...I know I promised to reveal the Eve/Liam connection in this chapter; however, this little tidbit took longer than I expected and I thought it would be nice to release it now, since I have no idea when I will finish the rest. So, Eve and Liam will come in the next chapter (I think).

MATURE Warning on this chapter...I think it is fairly mild compared to previous chapters, but there is explicit content. Just FYI...

Chapter 23 – Never Be Enough

It took a moment for Myrnin to be able to speak. I knew he hadn't expected the severity of the shift in my emotions. I watched as the stunning strength of my devastation rolled over him. Anger, worry and concern raged through his eyes. He finally found his voice again. "What did she tell you?" he growled low, his tone razor-edged.

How the hell was I supposed to explain? Should I just toss out there, 'I know we don't have a future because I can't give you what you truly enjoy?' Instead, I stepped away from him and murmured haltingly, hoping it would be obvious enough for him to pick up on, "She explained your…preferences."

Of course it couldn't be that easy. "Preferences…" he repeated; a clear question in his voice.

I cringed, desperately wishing that we were not having this conversation. It was bad enough to know it, but having to say it out loud on top of that, was truly excruciating. I took a deep breath and decided to explain it the same way Raven had, "She was…curious about me…because you liked to…play rough. She explained your…adventurous appetite with women…did not usually include humans…given their propensity not to survive the experience." A fresh wave of embarrassment and then loss flowed over me.

I was alarmed, when his eyes snapped to the deepest red I had ever seen. His entire body coiled tightly. "I am going to kill her," he seethed. I had no doubt he intended to follow through on his promise. His eyes flickered wildly as he planned the execution.

"No!" I moved forward quickly and grabbed the front of his shirt with both hands to force his attention back on me. "The last thing we need is a war with Gwion, because you decided to execute his girlfriend. She wasn't trying to hurt me. I could see it in her eyes; she was genuinely curious, so she asked the question. That doesn't mean she has to die."

He stared at me in confusion still, but I took it as a good sign that his body was no longer rumbling, intent on revenge. I tried to be more direct as I explained, "Look, I get it. I'm not judging you for what you enjoy. But I think we both know that whatever this is – it will never be that." I turned away from him and strode out the French doors. I needed air; the pain in my chest was too much. I had envisioned a future with him – which did not include a predefined expiration date. I stared at the deep blue water and murmured quietly, chastising myself again, "I should have known I would never be enough."

"—never be enough?"

I spun around. He was standing right behind me.

He looked appalled. He spoke the words slowly, as if trying to make sense out of the impossible, "You think you are not enough for me?"

Fresh tears rolled down my cheeks. I looked away from him.

"Listen to me," he whispered urgently, "Those actions – that behavior – was born out of anger and deeply rooted torment; a result of pathological dysfunction. It was not an expression of my love – it was an expression of my pain."

I hesitated. "I understand… It's okay. I will be fine."

"You don't believe me," he stated flatly, his own pain near the surface.

"I believe that you don't want to hurt me," I allowed.

His features suddenly shifted; determination shown bright in his eyes. "I am not losing you because of this," he swore under his breath. He held my shoulders and murmured huskily, "Look at me."

I shivered at his tone.

"You don't have to trust me. You have the ability now to see it for yourself. I will let you through, and when I do, you will be able to detect any lies."

My eyes opened wide as I understood what he was suggesting. "But what if I lose control of myself? What if I try to control you?" I whispered.

"That is a risk I am more than happy to take, if it means you will understand and accept what I am telling you." He took my hand and led me back inside to the couch. I sat with him, completely unsure what to do next. He read the hesitation and uncertainty in my eyes. "You can do this," he reassured me. "Just reach with your mind."

He was confident in his course of action, but I worried about my less-than-predictable reactions. At the same time, if this meant I could finally understand and we could be together, I wanted it more than anything. I closed my eyes, and focused my attention toward him. I recognized the block that I had felt before, and went slowly past it, hoping it would help me maintain control. Once I was there, I gasped. I could feel him, everything about him. Nothing was hidden from me. I waited, unsure what to do next.

"Look at me," he commanded low.

His tone shot adrenaline through my veins. I trembled as I brought my eyes up to meet his.

"I want you. You are everything to me. The way your mind works thrills and captivates me. You challenge me, and pushed me…and frequently save me from myself." Tears rolled down my cheeks as I felt the enormity of his love. He nodded, recognizing the understanding and acceptance in my eyes. He reached both hands up to cup my face gently, smoothing away my tears with his thumbs.

And then his intention clearly shifted. His pupils dilated completely black. "And the way your body moves…" his words ended in a low growl.

My eyes opened wide. Holy shit! I had never felt anything like it. The intensity of his desire stunned my senses. Searing heat rocked through my system and I was certain that I would literally combust at the onslaught of it. He had compelled me before with images and touches to invoke my desire – but that was nothing compared to actually experiencing his own lust.

A high-pitched cry released from the back of my throat, and my chest heaved, leaving me breathless. The overwhelming magnitude of it, hit me too fast. I felt power and dominance cascade through me, urgently accelerating my need to take control.

Myrnin felt it too. Instead of being alarmed as I expected he would, his lips simply turned up in a sly smile. "Come on, love; show me what you've got," he challenged me huskily.

A war waged inside me. I wanted him and I knew I could make him mine. I still had control; it couldn't hurt to get a little closer – I told myself – as I reached under the skirt I was wearing to slip my underwear off. I knew where I wanted to be. And moved next to release the button and zipper from his pants.

His eyes gleamed as he watched me. I straddled him, a deep guttural moan escaping my lips as I lifted my body to make the connection and slid back down with him inside of me.

I held still, my eyes tightly shut; suddenly realizing that having him inside of me, made it exponentially more difficult to control my impulse to dominate him. Every nerve in my body tingled as I crept closer and closer to the edge of my restraint. And then I realized with alarm, that I wasn't going to be able to hold on any longer. I pulled back and stared at him with wide eyes.

He nodded once, his lips turned up in a wicked smile. "Do it," he purred, daring me to take control of him.

That was it. I aggressively locked down his will, and made it mine. He groaned deeply in response, closing his eyes. The sound of his pleasure at my control, took me to a whole new level.

It was like fantasizing come to life, because as soon as a thought occurred to me, Myrnin moved to make it happen. I knew I was compelling his actions, but not his emotions. I didn't want to control how he felt – I wanted to know how he felt. And every time a new idea hit me, he growled with pleasure and anticipation, sent fire through me all over again. Fantasy after fantasy rolled through my mind – and we did them all.

When I finally released him, I lay there stunned. I looked over at him next to me. He was lying on his back with a smug smile on his face.

I looked at him suspiciously. "Wait a minute. Did you know that would happen…that I would lose control?"

He grinned at me, "I suspected."

"Weren't you worried about what I would do to you?" I asked, still trying to understand.

"—acting out your fantasies—are you kidding me? That was fucking fantastic," he smirked in pleasure.

I blushed deeply, warmth running through my entire body. For moment he turned serious. He brushed a wisp of my hair behind my ear and murmured, "Do you believe me now?"

I was surprised he said the words hesitantly, as if I could think anything else after what we had just been through together. I had literally been inside of his mind, which was closer than I had ever been with anyone. I looked him deeply in the eyes, happiness welling up in me and whispered, "Yes."

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I appreciate all of your kind words, like crazy! I didn't plan to release more than one chapter this weekend, but you have actually kept me writing over the last few days, because of the favorable and fast responses. I'm not sure I can keep with you — but I will definitely try, so keep 'em coming. :) :)

Don't forget on your way out: Review! :) :)

Much love!

T-