He lost the ability to think as she drew him into her body, sheathing him in her silken heat, filling him with a warmth that had nothing to do with lust and everything to do with the bond they already shared. He had her heart, he could feel it beating in his chest, the same as his beat in hers. That much they now shared, bound by the feelings that made her a source of power for him.

With a hand on her hip, gripping tight enough to bruise on a mortal woman, he held her still as he began to move, slow thrusts so he could her her moan and whimper, listen to her voice crack and go breathless as she talked. He wanted to see how far he could take her before he pushed her off the edge of sanity, how carefully he could balance her on that razor's edge before she shattered.

At the same time, he had to tell her.

"It could...kill us both." he breathed against her neck, nipping at her skin as he spoke. "It could do worse...than kill me...Jesus, you feel good...if you do this, you'd change, Selene."

Lifting his head, he met her gaze, watched her as he moved inside her.

"Vampire, avatar...we'd take pieces of each other. I'd have...to sacrifice myself to do it. Lay down...my life. I know you love me, babe...but do you love me enough...to lemme go?"