They slid closed and his lips pulled mine into a kiss that made my knees grow weak. He took hold of me, pulling me against him, his arms claiming me as I allowed him full access to my mouth. His hand controlled the arch of my back, the other behind my neck, deepening the kiss. The back of my legs hit the bed and his hand lowered me against the surface, all while his mouth devoured mine. With nowhere for my body to go, he pressed against me. I held onto him, slipping my legs around his waist, taking in every sensation he was offering me. It was overwhelming. I felt nothing but him, surrounding me, claiming me with every nip at my lip. His labored breaths made my skin tingle, and I yearned for more. The sensation spread throughout my entire body. When his lips slowed, he held his forehead against mine, his lids heavy, his breathing uneven.
I was still gripping his shirt with white knuckles when he lifted his forehead from mine, the muscles in his arms taut as he pushed away from me. There was a moment when our eyes met—still lost in the induced state of our kiss—in which I’d forgotten what started all of this.
“Blake?”
I could feel it—a new and visceral sensation that took control of me. All around us, dozens of candles burst into flame. The shadows danced around us but the light was dazzling and beautiful. I was connected to them.
“Why?” I asked. “What is this?”
Blake looked down at me with a smirk. “You have found a way to it.”
His warmth, his pleasure, and his desire were nourishing something within me.
It was because of him.
His lips touched mine, teasing me with his mouth and my lips parted, wanting him to taste me. The feelings were raw and visceral. He’d brought whatever this energy was inside of me to life, and now it was responding to him in a way I couldn’t control. I kissed him, drawing him nearer. I was lost in him, unable to get enough, his mouth and body pressed against mine in pure ecstasy. When he pulled his lips away, the withdrawal was nearly painful.
“Blake, please,” I said.
“Shh,” he said, resting his head beside mine, taking each of my hands and holding me beneath him. “I think we should stop.”
I took a deep breath, trying to hear reason, but it was difficult. My body was coursing with desire and my heart was pounding. This new energy thrumming within me was impossible to quell.
“I don’t want to,” I said.
He growled softly. “You certainly do not make it easy.”
I stilled, relieved that he wasn’t moving away yet, and searched for relief in my body that was feeling increasingly out of my control. This energy and my raging desire were amplifying each other and I could hardly think straight.
“Is this always like this for you? When you’re with someone?” I breathed.
Blake was silent for a moment before he answered me. “No.”
His answer both pleased and scared me. After several more moments, my body calmed to a manageable level. He stayedwith me, waiting until I was ready before pulling away. Slowly, I sat up and moved beside him, but sure to keep some space.
“What is this?” I asked. “I feel heavy. Like there’s something within me that wasn’t there before.”
“It was always there,” he said. “Locked away, waiting for you to release it.”
I took a shaky breath. “It was you, though. You released it.”
He said nothing, standing up and putting more distance between us.
“You should get some rest,” he said. “You can stay here. I’ll sleep in the parlor.”
He stood to leave but hesitated. I knew why. Everything was raw and the connection between us was alive and jolting through my body.
“Why?” I asked, lifting my chin in search of his attention. “I know your reputation; why stop?”
When he finally met my gaze, he looked at me as if seeing me for the first time.
“I don’t know. It’s not something I usually do.”
My eyes burned,and my hands shook. A blinding pain flashed through my forehead. I winced as my vision blurred, cradling my forehead in my hand.
“Anna?” my mom called sharply.
A ripping flash as cold as ice tore across my skull.
