“Whatever.” She was falling, tumbling out of control, sinking to the bottom of a well of lust. “I don’t care. It doesn’t matter right now.”
“Too bad. I care.” He felt like an ass for allowing her to continue believing he’d caused the fever that was rushing through her veins. “It matters to me. You matter to me.”
Her body was aroused, but her mind was confused. She believed what was happening was unnatural. She believed he’d put a spell on her. She needed to get away from him, but she didn’t have the strength to walk away. She ached for him to touch her, to fill her.
He was also aching, but he wouldn’t take her body at the risk of losing her heart. He held her face, forcing her to look into his eyes. He reached into her mind, her soul. It was a slow, deep penetration. He built a barrier between her body and the symptoms of her wolf being in heat. He knew it had worked when she closed her eyes and collapsed on top of him, resting her head on his chest. He felt her heart slow down to an even, steady pace as his heart slowed.
She was absolutely silent and still for a few seconds. Then, wrenching her body out of his arms, she threw herself up off him. “I can’t believe you would do something so … oh, damn it.” She turned to walk away. “You’re such an imbecile, Joseph.”
He jumped to his feet and caught her wrist. She tugged on her arm, but he kept it and forced her to turn around. He stood motionless as he stared down at her. It was a single moment that seemed to last for forever. “I didn’t do anything to cause it.” When she attempted to pull her wrist out of his grip, he pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. “I did not do it.” He rested his chin on top of her head.
“Yes, you did. I know it was you. It wasn’t me. That doesn’t happen to me. I don’t have urges like that. I don’t even want to have sex with you.”
That brought a smile to his face. “You’re lying. You want me. You’re just not ready.” He lifted her chin to force her to look into his eyes. “I don’t mind waiting. What we have between us is much more than sexual chemistry.”
“I am well aware of that. You want it all. You need it all, Joseph.” The sadness in her voice caused his heart to ache. All he wanted, all he needed at that moment, was to comfort her. “You deserve to have it all.” She closed her eyes. “But if you choose me you will never be able to have it all. It will end before it truly begins.”
“Look at me.” He framed her face with his hand and traced her lips with his thumb. “It’s not a matter of if I choose you. I chose you the day we met. And with you, I have it all.” He moved his hand to cradle the nape of her neck, his fingers massaging gently as he pressed her head against his chest. “Without you I have nothing at all.”
He felt her resolve to put some distance between them, but as she shoved at his shoulders and chest, he also felt her need to get closer to him, to feel the heat of his flesh against her. “You’re being irrational, Joseph.” He felt her confusion, her frustration, but above all else he felt her love for him, her aching, burning need for him.
“Me? You’re the one freaking out over a kiss. Why are you upset now? It’s not like it was the first time I’ve ever kissed you.”
“That wasn’t you kissing me, Joseph. That was me practically raping you.”
“First, in this case, practically doesn’t count.” Winking, he pointed down at his still swollen, hard-as-a-rock, aching-like-hell cock. “And second, you can’t rape the eager and willing, angel.” Just as he knew she would do, she stared down at his crotch.
Looking up at him, she blushed. “You’re going to get your ass kicked if you keep smiling at me like that.” There were tears in her voice. “Nothing about what just happened is even a tiny bit funny. And it’s never happening again.” She turned away from him to leave.
“Where are you going?”
“The boutique. I have a busy day”
“You might want to button your shirt first.”
“I really, truly hate you with all of my heart.” She pulled her shirt together and buttoned it up, and then she glanced over her shoulder. “And soul. Definitely my soul.”
Using supernatural speed he got in front of the door before she reached it. Lifting her chin, she glared up at him. “Move out of my way.”
“Do you still plan to paint the boutique tonight?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be there around eight to help you.” He bent his head and nuzzled her ear as he reached behind her and pulled her skirt down over her hips. “You’ve a beautiful, sexy ass, but I’m betting you would rather not show it off from here to your boutique.” She opened her mouth as if to respond, but he silenced her with a gentle and yet passionate kiss. “It’s okay—there’s no need to thank me. I also would rather you not show it off.”
“Very funny.” She smiled, but the pain in her eyes caused his heart to ache.
He rested his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry I allowed it to get out of control.”
“It’s not your fault.” She stepped beyond him, unlocked the door, opened it, and then stepped out into the hallway, but then she stopped and turned to face him again. “And, Joseph, I’m sorry I came in here accusing you. Do you know what caused me to get all freaky on you? Is it the morphine?”
“I do. And, no, it had nothing to do with morphine.”
“Tell me what caused it.”
“I will explain it all to you when I come over to help you tonight.”
“I want to know now. Why wait?”
It wasn’t something he could explain quickly. Plus, he didn’t know what to say or how to say it. He wanted a little time to think about it. And he had no idea how she was going to take it. “I have an urgent appointment I need to keep.” It was a lie. Since he’d chased Larissa out he didn’t have much to do at all, but he figured it was a necessary, harmless lie.
“You will tell me everything later, right?”
“I promise,” he lied again. He had no intention of telling her about Eli. Again, it was a necessary lie. Okay. So, it wasn’t necessary, but he was demon; he could lie with impunity. There was no way in hell he was going to tell the only woman he would ever love that she belonged to another man.
“I’m sorry for blaming you.” She took a deep breath and released it slowly. “And I really am sorry for rushing in here like a sex-crazed lunatic and attacking you.”
To prevent her from seeing how close he was to laughing, he pulled her closer to cradle her head against his chest. He bent his head and kissed the top of her head. “That’s too bad. I’m not sorry at all.”
Since his shirt was still open he felt her smile against his chest. “You’re such a man. And you’d better not post anything about this.”
“I’m glad you noticed. And no worries, I would never want the world to know you rushed into my office and threw me to the floor and jumped on top of me and tried to have your way with me like some sex-crazed lunatic.” Yep. It was another lie.
She leaned back and looked up at him. “I swear I’ll kick your ass if you do it.” She stood on the very tips of her toes and kissed his cheek. “And I’ll make sure you don’t enjoy it.” He figured she was just as talented at lying as he was. They were a great match.
It was at that moment Joseph was reminded some demons, most likely due the ‘damned souls for all of eternity’ thing, had the worst luck. He just happened to be one of those with the worst of the worst.
About Candice Stauffer
I live in Zeeland, Michigan, where half the year is winter and the other, much shorter half, is summer. It’s a wonderful place to live as long as you own a four-wheel drive vehicle and happen to get a kick out of measuring the snowfall in feet rather than inches.
I write paranormal romance because I love to explore and manipulate the limitless possibilities of the genre. To be completely honest, I’m also very fond of taking a totally hot, powerful, immortal hero and using a strong, confident, beautiful heroine to turn his world upside down and make him fight like hell for a victory th
at seems impossible to achieve. Some might call it torture. I call it entertainment and character building. Regardless, it’s great fun!
I have a strong aversion for helpless heroines. Though she’s afraid, a heroine must always be willing to fight like hell—and, yes, even if the fighting is against the hero. I’m not sure why, but I tend to really enjoy it when the heroine fights against the hero. Putting a hero through the wringer builds personality, right?
I’m often accused of being a little bit naughtier than nice and slightly rough around the edges. Okay, I lied—very rough around the edges. Life has been a challenge. But I’m grateful for every challenge I’ve faced. Through them, I’ve learned to focus on the goal rather than the walls surrounding it. Basically, I figure that as long as I enjoy life and do all I can to encourage and help the people around me enjoy life, it’s all good.
To find out more about me, please visit my website:
http://www.candicestaufferparanormalromanceauthor.com.
And for the latest news, check out my Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CandiceStauffer-Paranormal-Romance-Author/135025903252623
INSATIABLE BREATH OF DARKNESS Page 33