Page 88 of Insidious Monsters
But it made me feel good. Powerful. Strong and in control. It was mine by right. Mine.
“Let it go, August.” He squeezed me as if he could force the power out of me.
I cried out in pain.
“Stop it,” Nandi cried. “You’re hurting her.”
“The power she’s consumed will hurt her more. She needs to release it now.” He spun me to face him. “Give it to me, August. I can burn it up.”
“No,” I growled.
He gripped my chin. “Then I’ll take it.” We were moving away from my friends back to the house.
“Where are you taking me?”
My question was answered a moment later when he kicked open my bedroom door and shoved me inside before slamming it closed.
“Give me the power, August. Don’t make me take it from you.”
It was writhing inside me, lending me strength. “You try and take it and I’ll kick your ass.”
He moved closer, pantherine and lethal. I tucked in my chin, ready to fight him, to keep what I’d earned.
He moved fast, blur-like, and the next moment his hand was tangled in my hair, forcing my head back.
“What are you—”
He kissed me hard, drawing from me, taking the green that I’d siphoned from Hawlee. He claimed it in gulps that tugged at my solar plexus. The monster inside me wanted to fight him, but the woman who craved his touch was stronger. She melted against him, giving in to him and allowing him to take the poison from her body and touch her heart all at the same time.
I came back to myself. August once more. Mouth melded to Telarion’s, fingers sliding though his silken locks. The power exchange was now a forbidden kiss. He broke it and our gazes tangled. I saw in his eyes the one thing that could break all promises and all reservations.
Love.
He loved me.
Oh, God, he loved me. I let myself feel it, showing him my heart through my eyes.
“August…” He traced my mouth with his fingers.
“When Barathos ordered me to fuck Lothos, I closed my eyes and thought of you.”
He sucked in a sharp breath.
I curled my hands into fists, tangling them in his hair. “I imagined you between my thighs. I wanted your cock inside me. I wanted you to fuck me, Telarion. It’s you, always you.” I let the tears come, let them fall because I was done being stoic and strong. I was done fighting it. “I love you.”
He groaned and buried his face in the hollow of my throat. “August. Why did you say it? You stubborn fool.”
I used my grip on his hair to urge him to look at me. “You’re the stubborn one. Can’t you just admit it. Say it.”
He brushed his lips against mine, feather soft. “If I say it, then I’ll have to show you just how fucking much.”
My stomach flipped. “Then do it. I don’t want to wait for tomorrow. I want this moment. We’re owed it no matter what tomorrow may bring. We’re owed this.”
He shook his head. “We can’t go there.”
This was the point where I let it go. Where I backed down and we settled into the push-pull cycle of angst and pain we’d been trapped in for months. The thought was a fist around my heart. I couldn’t do it. Not again.
I tightened my grip on his hair. “No more running.” I tugged his head down and he allowed me to. I brushed his lips with mine. “No more running, Telarion, please.” My eyes heated. “Please.”
