Page 144 of The Immortal's One

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I strain my ears, but I don’t hear anything. No one has found us.

I swear I feel Des’s eyes trained on my face. My cheek twitches as I try, but fail, to open my mouth.

Ugh!

Why can’t I just open my stupid eyes!?

The silence between us stretches, thick and heavy with tension that I don’t understand.

Des lowers my hand back to my side. Then, in barely more than a whisper, he says, “Please forgive me.”

My throat tightens. I want to scream.

Forgive you for what?!?

Des shifts once more. I sense his broad torso hovering over me. My heart stutters as the air shifts. He draws closer.

Breath tickles my lips as he whispers, “Creator, let this work.”

Then, his mouth is on mine.

38

Shock strikesme like a lightning bolt, crashing through my body, ripping through my cells, sending my heart soaring to new heights.

Des is kissing me.

His hands hold either side of my face, his fingers pressing against my temples as his lips move against mine.

Blood thunders in my ears.

For weeks, I’ve refused to admit to anyone, barely even myself, how attracted I am to Des. I didn’t want anyone to get the wrong idea—to think that my attraction meant we are soulmates.

But the way his mouth moves against mine with gentle, expert precision makes the truth impossible to ignore.

I’ve been lying to everyone.

Iamdrawn to Des.

But as much as I want to shake off whatever power holds my body hostage and return Des’s kiss, my lips remain unmoving. Still, his touch makes me feel so…alive.

“Wake up,” Des whispers against my mouth, pleading and desperate. “Please, Darcie.” Another kiss. “Please wake up.”

I want to!

Desire burns in my core.

God, do I want to.

His lips brush mine once more before he draws back.

I try to protest, but I only manage a barely audible whimper.

“That’s it, Darcie.” His hands slip under my back, and he lifts me off the floor, shifting me to sit in his lap. “Wake up.”

He adjusts my head against his chest. A sigh of contentment slips past my lips.

“Good girl.” His hands rub up and down my sides. “You’re almost there.”

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