The longer we stared, the more the world fell away.
“Fuck, you’re far too tempting.” He stepped toward me with a slightly uneven step. “I want you so badly.”
A gush of ice flash-froze my body, rustling his hair with a chilly breeze.
The oddest sensation of raw power. A bubbling fountain ofsomethinginside me. Something new and strange and dying to be called upon.
My breath turned to fog and a cape of snowflakes dusted my shoulders.
“Look at you.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe it. “I knew I couldn’t breathe around you for a reason. You’re absolutely...breathtaking.”
I jolted at the depth of need in his voice as he padded barefoot over leaves that’d long since turned to ash. Silhouetted by blazing trees and embraced with spiralling smoke, I couldn’t look away from him.
Ice flowed out of me in ways I couldn’t understand, freezing the ground.
Lucien just watched me as if I was the most fascinating creature he’d ever seen. Coming to a stop, he tortured both of us by not reaching for me.
In the reflection of his eyes, I saw how he saw me. Saw how I glittered with frost and snowdust. His pupils blew wide as his gaze dragged over me—slow and hungry and hot.
Smoke curled from his back, spreading outward like sooty wings.
A surge of molten-ice darted out of my heart, locking around his like a cosmic noose.
My breath hitched as something slammed into place inside me, threading through every nerve and strand of my soul, tying me permanently to him.
Ineededhim.
I reached for him.
With a guttural groan, he backed up and shook his head. “I can barely move with how much I want you, but...we need to get out of here. In case someone’s seen the fire.”
He talked sense.
He was wise.
But Iwanted—
“Fuck, stop looking at me like that.” Marching into me, he clamped his scalding hands on my frigid cheeks. “I want to fuck you so much I can hardly breathe. I’m seconds away from breaking but—” He kissed me hard and fast,breaking.
I cried out as he plunged his tongue into my mouth. My hand found his hardness as he stepped into me.
Tearing himself away, he growled, “You want me? Fine. Then put out the fire. Keep us hidden, and I’ll drop to my knees right here and make you come.”
“W-What?”
His fingers went to his fly, ready to unzip. “Snuff out the flames like you always do, and I’ll show you exactly how badly I need you...and probably never stop.”
Chapter Forty-Five
HE EXPECTED ME TOSTOPTHIS?
He thought I could just wave a magic wand and stop whathe’dcaused?
The burning trees had spread, becoming a burning valley instead. Embers danced across the river, igniting the other side, while poor creatures scrambled for their lives.
Even though the fire didn’t hurt either of us...it hurt others. Killed others.
Staggering backward, I shook my head. “I can’t just put out the fire, Lucien. Don’t be ridiculous.”
