Kai’s mouth skims over mine, a barely there touch that has my breath catching in my throat. The simple contact sends a shiver down my spine, igniting a spark that chases away the lingering darkness. His hands slide lower, gripping my ass with a possessive hold, and in one smooth motion, he pulls me onto his lap, guiding me tostraddle him.
The moment our bodies align, a rush of heat floods my system. Butterflies come alive in my stomach, and my core pulses with a deep, insistent need. The world around us fades into the background, leaving just the two of us, alive and breathing, the only proof we need that we’ve survived this nightmare.
Desire coils low in my belly, and the urge to tear his clothes off, to feel his skin against mine, is almost unbearable. I want to lose myself in him, to feel him move over me. It’s not just about desire, it’s about reminding ourselves that we’re still here, still alive, still capable of feeling something other than the pain and fear this horrid place brings.
My hands slide up his chest, and I curl my fingers into the fabric of his shirt, my lips parting to deepen the connection.
“Why does watching you make my body hot and tingly?” The woman’s voice is jarring, reminding me we aren’t alone.
I spring off Kai’s lap and swiftly pivot to face the woman. She lingers just inside the cave, making no effort to approach.
I look over my shoulder at Kai as he rises gingerly and steps closer. “See? This is what you do to me,” I admit. “I forget about everything else when your lips are on me.”
Kai’s face breaks into a wide grin, the corners of his eyes crinkling with that familiar mischievous glint. He winks at me, playful, confident, and completely unfazed by the chaos around us. I shake my head, a faint smile tugging at my lips despite the tension.
I turn my attention back to the dragon shifter still observing us from the cave entrance. Her gaze, sharp and curious, shifts to Kai, her head tilting ever so slightly as she studies him. The intensity of her curiosity is puzzling.
Why does she find him so intriguing? Or is she simply trying to understand the bond between us? The way she watches him, with an almost childlike fascination, unsettles me.
“What’s your name?” I ask, drawing her focus back to me.
“Seraphina.”
“I’m Ash, and this is Kai.”
Her gaze shifts to the witch lying on the ground. “There are two of them.”
“Ummm, what?” I reply.
“If you help me, can I kill her?” A flash of something feral crosses her face.
Startled, Kai and I share a look.
“Why?” Kai asks her.
“I’ve been held here in this cave as a prisoner for so many years. They were using my blood to keep us hidden and to top up their magic.”
Shock rolls through me. “You’re a prisoner here?”
Seraphina shrugs, the movement so innocent it doesn’t match her next words. “Yes, and I want both of them dead.”
“You mean to tell me there is another fucking witch out here?” Kai snaps.
“Well, I can tell you now, if the other witch shows up, I will let you at it,” I reply. “In the meantime, we should leave.”
“So, I’m to go with you then?” Seraphina asks, her eyes lighting up with a glow.
I frown at her. “Why would you want to come with us? Don’t get me wrong, if that is what you wish, I won’t stop you.”
Seraphina’s focus shifts to Kai and interest gleams in her eyes. “Will he put his lips on me, like he did you?” she whispers, reaching up and running her fingers over her bright-red lips.
Jealousy cuts through my chest like a hot knife and I let out a savage growl, stepping in front of Kai, my daggers flashing in the moonlight.
Kai’s hands land on my waist, and he steps flush against my back. “I don’t think she has seen a male before,” he whispers in my ear.
I jolt, some of the dark haze fading from my vision. That makes sense.
“Now put your daggers away. We don’t want to kill the person we are supposed to deliver to your bosses.”
