Fuck it.
Tightening my grip on her hand, I slide the other across her cheek to cup the back of her head, then lean in. When our lips touch, she tenses against me, and the weird electric ripple runs through us both. She shivers, gasping under the force of it, but I just pull her mouth back to mine and give myself up to the raw intensity of my desire.
Chapter 16 - Grace
Dan’s lips on mine are so hot, it feels like my skin is being scorched. The shocks that flicker between us bloom where our mouths touch, rippling through me with so much force, it feels like my bones are catching fire.
My hands come up to grab his shoulders, and for just a moment, I give in to the feeling and almost pull him against me to kiss him even harder. Somewhere deep inside, though, I hear a whisper of fear and doubt, and that sliver of ice is enough to cool my passion.
I shove him off me, gasping as I stagger backwards off the couch, almost falling straight on my ass. Dan looks up at me, his eyes wide as the color drains out of his face.
“I’m sorry, Grace,” he gasps. “I thought you wanted to kiss me.”
I did!
“Don’t!” I yell, not even sure what I’m denying. “I can’t!”
I turn and bolt from the room, performing my run up the stairs and slamming the bedroom door like a conditioned response. The idea flickers through my mind that I could make a routine out of it and never go to bed any other way. A high-pitched giggle sings through my teeth, scaring me.
Fuck, I’m cracking up. I’m actually losing it.
My lungs heave as I try to take a deep breath, but all I can manage are shallow gasps. My body is on fire, blood racing, heart pounding. I’m shaking so hard, my legs give way, and I slide to the floor with my back against the door.
What the fuck am I going to do?
Hot tears streak down my cheeks, and I put my face in my hands, trying to cover the sounds of my sobs.
I can’t do this, I really can’t. How am I supposed to stay in this house another second? All we do is fight or almost kill each other. Or… almost fuck each other’s brains out.
The worst thing about the situation is that my body still has not calmed down. My nipples graze against my dress, so sensitive that even the slightest touch feels like pain. The throbbing between my legs is a hot, pulsing ache, and I press my thighs together, trying to stop it, but it only makes it worse.
What do you want right now?I ask myself, trying to calm the chaotic stream of thoughts by focusing on something that might make me feel better.
I want to run downstairs right now and wrap my legs around his pretty face.
Okay, that didn’t help.
With difficulty, I summon up the feeling of awkwardness that usually exists between us, and my annoyance that he can’t act in a basically civilized manner, even when he’s trying to. Now that I know something about his past, these feelings are a lot gentler, but it helps to take the edge off my desire.
Physical chemistry doesn’t equate to love and balance. I know this better than anyone. It will hurt so much worse if I give in.
Slowly, my breathing begins to settle, and the heat dies down. To my frustration, there is still a flicker of arousal inside me, but I don’t think it will ever go away, so I resolve to just get used to it.
After a while, my thoughts begin to wind down, and I turn off the light and climb into bed. Even though I feel tired, my anxiety doesn’t leave me, and all I can manage is a light doze.
Suddenly, I sit bolt upright, a splash of light behind my eyelids waking me. The thought of Kyra fills my mind, and I know she’s somewhere nearby, waiting to speak to me.
She’s the youngest, but also the most powerful. Stronger than me—even stronger than Alisha.
I open the door slowly so it doesn’t creak and go downstairs. Dan is stretched out on the couch, snoring, and I breathe a sigh of relief, slipping on my boots and hurrying out the back door.
Out in the woods, I follow the pull of magic to a nearby hill and find Kyra and Trix waiting for me.
“Blessed be,” Trix says, taking my hands and kissing me on the cheek.
“And to you, too,” I answer, hugging Kyra as well. “I understand this was probably urgent, but did you have to contact me via migraine?”
“Sorry,” Kyra winces. “I’ll try to tone it down. I didn’t think the surge of energy I sent was that strong.”
