Page 38 of Sanctuary of the Shadow
That didn’t last long, however. This powerful man was hauling her up against his hard body, his lethal claws inches from her tender throat, yet they held her with care.
She melted.
She gripped his forearms weakly, unable to think, unable to do anything but give herself into the kiss. Her eyes fell shut, and she forgot everything except the feel of his lips against hers, firm and unyielding.
Amid the consuming tsunami of sensation, she felt the Water rising.
The power was responding to him the same way it did when she felt threatened, which didn’t make sense. She wasn’t in danger in any way, and yet it was surging within as if ready to defend her.
Wasshe in danger? Was Raith the threat?
But it certainly didn’t feel that way. His mouth on hers, his hands holding her so firmly… All she wanted to do was surrender and be swallowed by his strength. That didn’t feel like danger.
“Harrow!” a voice hissed from the darkness.
Reality returned. Raith released her quickly, drawing back, his black eyes wide. She stared at him, fighting to breathe, her heart beating erratically and her power swirling like a waking tornado gathering force. Never had she felt the like before. Raith had done this to her. But how?
“What are you?” she whispered.
The tortured look that flashed through his eyes could have torn her heart from her chest. He truly had no idea who he was.
Harrow was going to find out.
The conviction crystallized within her soul, and suddenly, as if pleased by her decision, the Water settled. The rising power retreated to the core of her, slumbering once more.
“Harrow!”
Malaikah was running toward them. “What in the Goddess’s name are you thinking, snogging out here where anyone can see?” She kept her voice a whisper. “I tried to wait out of sight because I, for one, don’t want to get caught, but I wasn’t sure you’d ever stop! For the love of— Let’s get going, yeah? Before Salizar peeps out the window of his caravan and sees you standing right there? And do you have to have the wings out, Raith? I mean, I thought we were trying not to attract attention to ourselves!”
Harrow looked at Raith, suddenly remembering why they’d ended up near Salizar’s caravan in the first place. “We’re coming.” The words were a statement for Malaikah and a question for Raith. Their gazes met, and she silently beseeched him to give up his vengeance.
Raith looked anything but pleased, but finally, he nodded, and Harrow let out the breath she’d been holding. With one last flick and stretch of his leathery wings, he folded them into his back again, and they disappeared.
Crisis averted. At least for now.
She could only hope the next phase of their plan went smoother.
Chapter Nine
Raith allowed Harrow to lead him away from Salizar. The bastard was so close, Raith could smell him, practically taste his blood spilling. Vengeance had been within his grasp, and yet he’d allowed Harrow to distract him with her kiss.
But what a kiss it had been.
Her warm flesh beneath his palms, her silver eyes full of desire, her sweet lavender scent swamping his senses… It drew his mind from thoughts of blood and made him wonder why they seemed so important in the first place. Any other priority paled in comparison to tasting Harrow again.
Even now as she hurried ahead of him in the dark, he found it hard to worry about what they were doing or where they were going. He just wanted to pull her against him again and explore her further. Imagining it sent blood rushing down the center of his body, hardening him.
He knew what was happening. Though he had no memory of ever having done this with another, he knew what he wanted.
He wasn’t sure he should want it, however. Not when his past was nothing but a black hole and he couldn’t say for sure that he wasn’t the monster Salizar thought he was.
But Harrow didn’t think he was a monster, he reminded himself. Harrow had sworn he wasn’t, and she believed it so strongly, she was giving up her home to help him—not that he wanted her to. Why shouldn’t he believe what she did? She was the only person he’d met whom he felt something for other than cold indifference or a desire to kill.
He glanced at the back of her curly black head, and again he had to fight the urge to pull her against him. He didn’t understand what he felt for her, but whatever it was felt…warm. Safe, yet exhilarating. It was intoxicating, and he wanted more of it.
“This has to be fast,” Malaikah whispered. “We’re way behind schedule, and I’m starting to get nervous.”
“Startingto get nervous?” Harrow breathed a laugh. “I’ve been all the way there for a week.”
