Page 97 of Cursed Lifeline

Raising a mischievous brow, I turn into her just as her body eagerly rotates into mine. Rubbing my fingers together, a spark ignites. As it singes my fingertips, I throw it into the heavens and grin wider than I have in over a century when a shocked gasp falls from her lips.

“Alfred,” she exclaims. “How…”

“I may not be considered a full fae, princess, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t inherit some immortal powers.”

“Why are you just now showing me this?” she asks, slightly irritated. “If we’d have known sooner, maybe we could have already devised a plan to have the upper hand and…”

“No,” I shake my head and lock my determined stare on hers. “This is just for you and me.”

“We need to tell the others,” she continues, disregarding my statement, and I release a deep sigh. “Do Caelum and Silas have powers, too?”

“Not that I know of.”

“If they do, that could make all the difference. Why would you keep this secret? Why wouldn’t you tell Esme?”

Shaking my head, I confess, “I haven’t known too long. I spent most of the last century drunk and disorderly, Evangeline. Not honing a power you think I’ve been withholding. After tonight, you can tell whoever you please. But right here, right now…” I take a timid step forward. When she doesn’t step away, I take her hand. “I just want to share this with you.”

Blushing, she looks down and bites her bottom lip.

Wanting to push things further but not wanting to scare her off just the same, I bring her hand to my mouth. Her eyes follow their apprehensive rise. When she doesn’t stop me, I place a tender kiss on her fingertips and ask, “Is that okay?”

She holds my stare for a thrilling, anxious moment. Eyes locked, hearts beating wildly in our chests, she wets her bottom lip, and my eyes trail the alluring path her tongue just took.

Speechless, our chests rise and fall quickly. Mine with apprehensive worry. Hopeful dreams. Crippling fears. Teetering on the panicked edge of giving in or closing myself off completely, I stand paralyzed by my growing feelings for her. I can only pray she feels the same as her breasts strain from a throbbing, mesmerizing pulse that threatens to destroy us if we don’t give in, walk away, do something besides just fucking stand here.

Snatching her hand back from mine, Evangeline studies me with a telepathic insight that quickly reminds me some fae can read minds. Shyly hanging my head, I take a step back.

“Do you have a favorite?” she asks.

My optimistic gaze locks on hers. She smiles softly, then surprises me by sitting on the blanket and lying back to look up at the stars.

When I don’t answer, she asks, “Why the red hue?”

Grinning, I sit beside her, lay back, and prop my hands underneath my head.

“Red light is much better for stargazing,” I say. “White light can harm your night vision and make the stars more difficult to see.”

“You’re a wealth of knowledge on the topic. No wonder your powers include photokinesis,” she teases. “Have you stolen a lot of girls away to look at the stars?”

“I never found one worthy enough of sharing any part of myself with,” I shrug.

“But you found sex an expendable asset to share?”

The bitter taste of my past causes my next words to be laced with resentful venom. “I wasn’t raised with a golden spoon in my mouth, contrary to what some may think.”

Evangeline falls quiet. After a moment, she says, “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.” I sense her stare but don’t turn my head. “What was done to me, I can’t change. But I’ve never taken a partner against their will.”

My head turns and my eyes land on hers.

“That includes you, princess. Especially you. If you ever want me to show you how I feel for you, you’re going to have to be the one to ask. You’re going to have to be the one to make the first move.”

Swallowing hard, her voice shakes as she says, “I’m not very confident when it comes to members of the opposite sex. You’d be waiting a lifetime for me to find the courage.”

“Then I’ll wait a lifetime,” I insist. “Because since I laid eyes on you, Evangeline, there hasn’t been anyone else. There could never be anyone else. One look at you, and my soul knew it could never again be happy with temporary fulfillment when just the thought ofusoffers permanent happiness I know I’ll never find in anyone else.”

Hope fills her eyes, but it’s quickly replaced with disbelief and she hurriedly looks away. “You’re not theonly onewith a past. A story.”

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