Elizabeth VII

Faint color stole into Elizabeth’s cheeks. She touched the tip of her tongue to her lip again and he wanted to groan.

That was clearly a nervous habit. She had quite a few of them, each more endearing to him than the next— and maybe a little sexy. He had never thought in sexual terms, and it was the last thing he needed to be thinking about right then.

“Mind-to-mind contact can be . . . intimate. Or ugly. Or really painful. Three things that make it very scary to try.”

He brought her hands to his chest. “You are my lifemate, Elizabeth. I am sworn to see to your happiness and protection. Mind-to-mind may feel intimate between us because it is supposed to. I will shield you from any ugliness you might find in my past, and touching my mind, you will never feel pain.” He waited, wanting her to make up her mind.

The touch was tentative at first, so light he barely felt it. She brushed against his mind and retreated, running, almost like a child might.

He didn’t go after her or reprimand h