“Youmake me happy,” she whispered.
He slowed to a halt at a red light. Sliding his palm behind her nape, he pulled her to him, and laid his mouth on hers. Warm and possessive, he nibbled at her lower lip then swept his tongue inside her mouth.
Lost in his kiss, it took her a moment to hear the irate honking. Growling, he let her go and cut an impatient stare through the rearview mirror before he took off again.
As the car gathered speed and ate up the miles, Darci cast Blaéz an anxious glance. The lights from the dashboard highlighted his taut features. A fine sheen of perspiration gleamed on his brow. He overtook several cars, ignoring the flashing headlights and honking of an oncoming one.
“Blaéz, slow down!”
In a screech of tires, he brought the car to a shuddering halt on the grassy curb of a small moonlit clearing. The headlights shut off abruptly.
Her heart still in her throat, Darci glanced about her. Tall trees surrounded them, cutting them off from the rest of the world. In the night, everything appeared unfamiliar. “Why did you stop here?”
He didn’t respond but stared moodily through the windshield. His knuckles gripping the steering wheel showed white. Her unease increased as more sweat gathered on his brow. Then he fumbled with the door, shoved it open and, with agitated movements, stumbled out of the Veyron.
Darci threw open her own door. She rushed after him, almost tripping in her heels on the uneven ground. “Blaéz—”
“Stay in the car,” he snapped the order, stopping several feet away from her. Darci watched helplessly, had no idea what was happening. He’d been fine moments ago.
A wave of his hand, and the night air shimmered and split apart, revealing a black abyss.
“Blaéz, nooo!” Darci kicked off her shoes and sprinted after him. She grabbed his arm. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Opening a portal. I’m going to kill that bastard!”
“No—no you can’t! If you step through that, you’ll never come back!”
His eyes glowered eerily. “I’ll always come back to you.”
Her lungs seized in fear. Something was drastically wrong. He didn’t just open this gateway on the spur-of-the-moment to go back to Hell.
As if under a compulsion, Blaéz turned to the opening portal again. Panic exploding into terror. Darci struggled to pull him back, but it was like trying to move a brick wall. She darted to his front and seized his shirt. Buttons tore free, flying everywhere. Desperate, she grabbed him by his nape, pulled his head down, and pressed her mouth to his.
His gaze lowered, but he remained motionless as a pylon…watching her.
At his utter stillness, a sob caught in her throat.Oh Lord, please!She deepened the kiss.Come back, Blaéz. Please, come back!
He blinked. Then his arm banded around her waist and he kissed her hungrily, tongue tangling with hers. He picked her up, his lips not breaking contact from hers and walked away from the black hole. He set her on the Veyron’s hood.
Despite desire flooding her, she broke free from his kiss. Needed to see that he was fine. But his mouth found hers again.
“Blaéz, wait—wait.”
“No—now.” His tone low, guttural. “I must have you.” Then he shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. For the length of a breath, Darci had the feeling he didn’t really see her, even though she was right in front of him. Behind him, the place where he’d attempted to open the portal shimmered and widened.
Her blood chilled. He was still connected to that thing.
Seizing her chance with him distracted, she slid off the hood and ran to the open car door. Her heart in her throat, she grabbed her purse off the floorboard and snatched the small white disc inside it. There was no more waiting, it was now or lose him forever.
Growling his displeasure, Blaéz came after her and carried her off, dropping her back on the hood. “Don’t run from me,a leannan.”
He planted his palms alongside her hips and seemed to be back in control. But the next instant his gaze bore that terrifying, unfocused look again.
“Blaéz, please don’t leave me,” she begged, grasping his face.
“I’m not. I—I just need a moment.” He squeezed his eyelids tight. The portal behind him flickered ominously, opening some more. Darci knew they didn’t have a moment, just mere seconds. Whether Blaéz realized it or not, she didn’t dare wait.
With him unfocused and mentally tethered to the pull of the sinister portal, tears burning her eyes, she made the decision for both of them. She slipped the disc into her mouth. It dissolved in a brisk swirl.
