With every beat of his cracked, hardened and deceitful heart.
His eyes tracked to Amelia. “Excuse me, Rodney, I have a certain witch I need to convince I care about.”
As he stalked toward her, he felt like it was pouring.
Chapter 60
Take My Breath Away
“May I have this dance?” His voice sent tingles firing through my blood.
Ethan stepped back but kept his hands on my waist. “You sure that’s a good idea?”
Ethan was right, Karson shouldn’t be dancing with me. Though we did need that photo. Karson didn’t look at him. He didn’t take his eyes off me. They were soft and cloudy and filled with emotion. My heart pattered against my chest. It was almost too much to hope he would be anything but cool when others were around. And yet here he was, all his attention on me, his gaze burning with desire, with love.
“There has never been anything in my life I’ve been surer of than dancing with you, Amelia,” he said quietly. “If, of course, you will allow me?”
And now he looked hesitant, as if he was worried I wouldn’t dance with him. Emotion choked me, stealing my voice. I nodded.
Ethan’s hands fell from my hips and he took a quick step back. Before he turned away, I was sure I caught a glimpse ofdisappointment, of hurt on his face. He disappeared into the crowd.
Karson closed the space between us, his hands falling to the place Ethan’s had left. He leaned in and his forehead rested softly on mine, whispering, “You have no idea how crazy I’ve been going since you left, how sorry I am for pushing you too hard, too quickly.”
I pressed my hand softly against the side of his face. “It’s alright, it needed to surface. I never understood why I was so afraid of the darkness and now I know.” I drew in a breath. “It’s much easier to defeat the monsters you can see.”
Karson took my hand in his and kissed it, then letting it go, he ran his fingers over my hair. “My beautiful, brave girl. My beautiful, brave, wise girl.”
“People are watching,” I murmured. I could feel the eyes of the room scorching over us. “Aren’t you worried?”
I didn’t add they might hurt me if we seemed too close, but he must have seen it in my expression because he raised his chin and said in a strong, sure voice, “I protect what is mine, Amelia, and make no mistake, you are mine.”
Something curled in my stomach at his words. I shouldn’t like being his, but damn him, I did. Just when I thought I couldn’t be more pathetic. I’d never felt as cherished as I did right now. My vampire boyfriend showing everyone how much he cared about me—a human girl—a human witch girl. Finally.
My heart bloomed, my smile filling my face. “I’ve never been called wise before. It’s quite the compliment, especially from someone older than the heritage building we stand in.”
His returning smile brightened the entire room. “I was enamored by seeing you, I may have gotten carried away with my compliments.”
“Oh,” I said, raising my brows. “What are you saying, you lied and I’m not beautiful, brave, or wise?”
His fingers slipped down my face, trailing over my lips, leaving a tingle in their wake. “You are brave, though a little reckless. The jury is out on wise—you fell in love with me, after all. And even stoned, you are the most beautiful girl in the room. You, Amelia, will forever take my breath away.”
My heart leapt so high it touched the roof, bubbles fizzing in my veins and through my head.
“I think you should stop talking and take mine away.” It was tacky, corny even, but my brain was impaired and the words just felt right.
I didn’t need to ask twice. He made a sound like a hungry groan and his lips locked with mine.
Chapter 61
Hell Would Freeze Over
Karson placed me on the bed gently, but his kiss was not. It was hard, hungry, claiming. His tongue flickered across my own, sending shivers of pleasure all over my skin.
My hands slid up his back, my finger tugging his shirt up. He stopped kissing me for a moment to yank it off, tossing it to the floor. My eyes took in his rippling chest muscles in the second before his lips crushed mine once more. My fingernails grazed his skin, digging into his shoulder blades.
A groan fluttered from his lips as I shifted my mouth and buried my face into his neck, my teeth nipping at his skin. He reacted instantly, clutching hold of the bottom of my dress and ripping it up. I bucked my hips and ass up, and he left the fabric bunched on my stomach, his fingers finding me soaked as he slid two inside my wet core.
“You’re mine,” he breathed as his fingers pressed against my clit with a force that made me moan. “Mine,” he repeated. “No one else will ever touch your skin.” He planted a quick kiss on my lips, and grazed his thumb down my cheek, his eyes dark, stormy, ablaze with a fire that made my body quiver. “No one else will kiss your lips, and no one else will ever make love to you again.”
