Kara stopped as soon as she felt his hands on her shoulders. When Hallbjorn moved them down the front of her body and his palms brushed over her breasts, her nipples hardened and she leaned back into him. She rested her hands atop his and closed her eyes. He smelled clean and wonderful, and the heat of his chest warmed her through her shirt.<br/><br/>His words and his gentle tone calmed Kara and the tension melted away. Hallbjorn's hair draped over her, teasing her sensitive skin in a way that made her toes curl. His lips on her head had Kara remembering how to smile again.<br/><br/>When Hallbjorn asked why she sought him so urgently, Kara slowly turned around in his arms. She was met with the sight of his bare chest, and her small hands were soon touching him as she explored his skin. She leaned in to press her lips lightly over the tattoo that covered his heart.<br/><br/>“I thought perhaps there had been another attack.” Kara answered him honestly as she tilted her head back so she could look into his eyes. Her fingertips rose to touch his cheeks as she sought to confirm what her eyes told her, that he was indeed healed and alive there with her.<br/><br/>In fact, he looked mouthwatering, and when she glanced down at herself, she saw still still wore the clothes from yesterday, along with a few smears of his blood. Her lips turned up in a wry grin. “I'm suddenly feeling very grubby.”<br/><br/>But Kara made no move to leave the safety of his arms. When she realized that she'd seen some of her things in the bedroom and other items that they'd accumulated through the trip, her eyes widened with surprise. “This is your home?” She had not realized he lived in New Orleans. She knew his brother did, along with his mate. That they lived in the same city and had not spoken for so long brought her need to fix their relationship to the fore.<br/><br/>“Do you think we can visit your brother soon?” On the heels of that thought was another. “Is Nix here? Have you spoken to her?” Mixed in with both of those thoughts was the desire to explore his home more thoroughly. Then she wanted to explore him. Already her gaze had moved to his throat and the strong pulse there, making Kara's fangs lengthen.<br/><br/>“I need you, Hallbjorn. Are you well enough for me to feed from you?” If he was not, she would resolve herself to drink animal blood. But the thought of that kind of blood held no pleasure for her.<br/><br/>She wanted her Hallbjorn. She wanted to drink his blood. Kara also longed to feel all of Hallbjorn. She wanted to make love to him, and hated that she was still so breakable. Her patience for her immortality to kick in was growing thin.