“And you were breaking apart,” I shot back. “It wasn’t exactly the time for explanations.”
His jaw worked. “What spell was that?”
“One I taught myself. An anchor spell. It’s meant to protect those haunted by demons. It wasn’t supposed to work like it did.”
“Like how, Grace?”
“It was the only way to pull you out.”
“What did you do, Grace?”
I swallowed, heat climbing up my throat. “I think… I might have bound you to me when I used it.”
His head snapped up, and the look he gave me could’ve stopped time. “You what?”
“It wasn’t on purpose,” I said quickly. “I didn’t know it would happen. I just wanted to pull you back.”
The silence that followed stretched taut. His gaze dropped to the faint red glow still flickering at the top of my breast. The pulse of it matched the rhythm of my heart. His hand lifted slowly, his fingers brushing over the mark, tracing the edges with deliberate care. The touch sent a tremor down my spine.
“You have no idea what you’ve done,” he murmured, his voice dark and gravelly. “You’ve made me yours.”
My chest rose, my pulse fluttering wildly. “You make it sound like a curse.”
He shook his head, lips ghosting over my mouth. “No. I make it sound like fate.”
Then he kissed me.
It wasn’t gentle. It wasn’t slow. It was raw, hungry. Years of restraint and torment snapping in a single breath. His mouth claimed mine, his tongue sliding against mine in a clash that left me trembling. I clutched at his shirt, tugging him closer, needing the weight of him, the heat of him on top of me.
He groaned into the kiss, low and rough, the sound vibrating through me. His hands found my hips and dragged me into his lap, his body was hard and unyielding beneath mine. My thighs tightened around him, pressing close as I moved against him. His breath hitched, and the sound he made was deep, almost helpless, and it made me ache.
“Tell me to stop,” he said against my lips, his voice strained, desperate.
“No,” I whispered.
He growled; the word lost between us as he laid me back on the futon. The press of his body covered mine, heavy and grounding. His lips traced down my jaw, finding the spot just beneath my ear. His teeth grazed my skin, and I gasped, my nails digging into his shoulders.
His hands slid beneath my shirt, palms rough, fingers splayed over my ribs as he pushed the fabric higher, revealing inch after inch of skin. His mouth followed the path his hands made, lips warm, tongue teasing. I arched beneath him, chasing every touch like I’d been starving for it.
He lifted his head, his eyes dark and unfocused and his voice was nothing more than a rasp. “I’ve waited too damn long to taste you.”
“Then don’t wait,” I whispered. “Idon’t want to wait anymore.”
His mouth came down on me again, hot and hungry. My breath stuttered as his hands explored every inch they could reach. I wanted to lose myself in it, in him.
“Gracie, this is crazy,” he broke the kiss, still running his hands over my thighs.
“I want you, Peter. I always have. Please, don’t leave us like this.”
I could feel the hardness in his pants brush over my panties, and I arched my hips, humping at the rough material of his jeans. His mouth was hot on mine, his tongue licking at me right before I sucked on it. He grunted and I knew I had him. But just as the edge began to blur, his body went still.
The air shifted and a chill crept in.
“Hellsing?” I whispered.
He blinked, but the man I knew wasn’t behind those eyes anymore. Something darker was there. Something that made every nerve in my body lock.
“Peter,” I said again, softer this time.
