Page 20 of A Touch Of Death

My eyes bore into his, trying to tell him with my gaze that he's not to blame, and I don't want his guilt or apologies. His gaze flickers between my eyes, and he suddenly deflates like a punctured tire, dropping his forehead to mine while his eyes close slowly. The tables seem to turn in that moment; Nix needs my support and comfort, someone to hold him and lend him their strength. Now that I'm almost over my episode, I have the strength to give him, so I untuck my arms and wrap them around his neck, pulling him closer until his head lands on the shoulder and his arms wrap tighter around my waist.

The skin of his cheek presses into my bare shoulder where my shirt has fallen, a warm tingling sensation blooming from the contact. The feeling makes my heart thunder under my rib cage, and a flush runs through my body, eliciting a shiver that I can't hide. Why is it that any time one of them touches my bare skin, I have the same reaction? Where my heart feels like it's going to crash through my chest, my body tingles everywhere, and butterflies form in my belly? And why doesn't it feel wrong, like some alien sensation that shouldn't be there? The feeling is familiar, as though it's supposed to occur any time I'm touched by them. Like they were meant to touch me. The only thing I know that causes that is a mating bond. But fae don't mate with any other Natural other than fae,so what's happening? Why does it feel so right to have their hands on me, in any sense of the meaning?

Nix's arms squeeze a little before loosening a fraction. His head tilts on my shoulder, and I feel him press the softest kiss to my skin. The move causes me to inhale audibly. My hand trails up the back of his neck, and I sink my hand into his thick hair.

When I don't pull him away, he presses a firmer kiss to the crook of my neck, the bristles of his beard rasping over my skin in a way I'd never thought would feel so good. My breathing has picked up, and I'm sure Nix is able to hear how hard my heart is pounding in my chest.

He moves away from my neck, his head moving until his face is directly in front of my own. His ocean blue eyes bore into my unusual mismatched pair, and what I see in them has my breath stopping in my lungs; pure, unadulterated lust. That's not a look I've seen directed at me before, and it damn near sets me on fire, lighting me up from the inside out. Surely I shouldn't be reacting this way after having a crazy episode, but it's like my body can't help it. The way Nix is looking at me right now, like I'm all he sees and wants, has my blood heating up and a sudden ache forming between my legs.

His eyes search mine briefly. I don't move, just stare into his deep eyes like I'm seconds away from falling into all that is Nix. My eyes must give him the answer to an unspoken question because he slowly moves closer, his eyes watching me carefully. His mouth draws nearer to mine. Subconsciously, my tongue sneaks out to wet my dry lips. Nix's gaze darts down to my mouth before flicking back up, a deeper need burning in his eyes when they connect withmy gaze.

In a blink, his mouth is on me. His soft lips push firmly into mine, the scruff of his beard tickling my skin as he moves his mouth over my parted lips. The hand I have in his hair tightens and tugs him closer while I kiss him harder, a growing need building inside of me, so intense that I begin to fidget on his lap. One of his large hands skims over my side, over my shoulder, and into my hair, holding me at the angle he wants me.

His tongue strokes my bottom lip before sliding inside my mouth and tangling with my own. His grip tightens on my hair, and an animalistic growl vibrates through his chest when I squeeze my legs together and shuffle on his lap again. My heart is pounding heavily, and something deep inside me stirs, begging for release…to claim.

Nix distracts me from the feeling. With every stroke of his tongue and nip of his teeth on my bottom lip, my brain turns to mush, so when he slowly pulls away, I follow, planting my mouth back on his and kissing him with all I have. Another growl leaves him, and the ache between my legs grows stronger, liquid pooling at the apex of my thighs.

This time, when he pulls away, he nips at my lower lip again before moving away completely, the hand in my hair preventing me from stealing another heart-racing kiss. He leans his forehead against mine, both of us catching our breaths.

When our breathing evens out, Nix pulls his head away. With a delicious rasp to his already deep voice, Nix says, "I think we should all sit down and have a long conversation."

My eyebrows furrow in confusion.A conversation about what?

Chapter 11

Nix

Novialooks at me with confusion, a small crinkle forming between her eyebrows. “What kind of conversation?”

Her voice is still a little shaky, but I’m hoping that it’s because of my kissing and not leftover trauma from me yelling like a fucking brute. Considering Zayn had told me Novia planned on leaving soon, it was understandable why I’d yelled, but the anger in my outburst must have triggered some sort of PTSD. I’ve never felt a more consuming guilt than what I felt when I saw the sheer panic in Novia’s eyes after I yelled or the terror that overtook her, bringing her to the floor and causing her to scrape her soft skin on shards of broken glass.

The pang in my chest almost had me doubling over when I saw the tears in her eyes and the way she was staring at absolutely nothing like she wasn’t even here anymore. That scene will likely haunt me for the rest of my days.

When she came back to us, she was embarrassed. I could tell by the way she wouldn’t look at us directly, and her cheeks turned bright red. If that didn’t pile on the guilt a heap ton more, then it was the way that her entire body trembled and shook even after I’d snatched her off the floor and held her while she calmed.

Honestly, I think I needed to hold her more than she needed me to. My animals were clawing at me, putting my nerves on end, but as soon as I had her in my arms, they settled instantly. And then they started clawing at me for a whole new reason when the need to kiss her became almost unbearable.

That pretty much confirmed that she’s my mate and my animals have already claimed her. I had my suspicions that it wasn’t justa fae mating bond for me because my animals have been riled up, pacing inside me with restlessness. Since finding Novia, the pacing has started growing stronger, the need to shift coming in more spurts with less time between each shift. Only, when I go to shift the stubborn fuckers dig their feet into the ground and refuse to move too far from the damn house.

If that didn’t confirm the fae is mine, then I don’t know what would. It’s a strange thing, given our races aren’t the same, and I’m already aware that fae only mate with other fae.We’ll need to research what that’s all about. But first things first; removing the idea that Novia is going to leave us.

“Nix? What conversation?” Novia asks again, tilting her head to the right while her stunningly mismatched eyes search my own.

“You’ll find out soon enough. We need to gather the others.”

Without removing her from my lap, I lift us both off the floor. As soon as I’m upright, I deposit her on her feet, reluctant to let her go at all. As soon as she’s stable, Ezra walks into the room with a fresh set of clothing. It doesn’t escape my notice that they’re his clothes again. The man has a crush, but he’s trying to deny it. Stupid man.

He hands them over to Novia, who accepts them with a small smile.

“Seems like I’m saying this a lot, but thank you.” She gives him a bigger smile, her embarrassment wearing off now that the worst of her episode is behind her.

A smile pulls at Ezra’s mouth, but he fights it. He gives her a nod instead and turns around, heading to the kitchen to clear away the remainder of dinner. Before he throws all the food away, Novia speaks up. “Can you leave mine, please? I know it’s probably cold, but I was enjoying it, and I’d like to finish eating it.”

Ezra looks at her with surprise but nods his head and says, “Of course, love. I’ll put some film over it and keep it in the microwave for you until you’re ready for it.”

“Okay, thanks,” she says before snorting and rolling her eyes at herself. “I’m going to go change. Sorry about your clothes, Ezra.”

He turns his head slightly, keeping his back to her, and says, “It’s fine. I have more where they came from.”

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