Page 22 of Darkness Rising
“You really thought you could tame me?” I bump my shoulder into his, letting his body heat wash over me.
A smirk tilts his lips. I think he’s just happy I spoke at all.
He bumps my arm right back, teetering me off balance.
“Someone needs to,” he says with a growing smile that has me gaping at him. I can’t believe I actually want to smile from his taunting words.
The corded muscle of his bicep meets my arm and I shove hard at him. He pushes right back.
His fingers feel good against my body, sending energy swirling through me just from the small contact.
Link’s always been a friend to me. The way my body’s reacting to his touch doesn’t feel friendly right now. The alive and buzzing feeling racing through my veins is the least friendly thing I’ve ever felt.
“You’d never have the balls to control me.” I try hard not to laugh when he attempts to grip my hands but I sneak out of his grasp.
I quiet my laughter to keep from waking the others, but I can’t help it. His palms push relentlessly at mine. Finally, I turn, straddling my legs over his and clutch his hands to his sides.
But then I’m against him. And we’re eye to eye. And he’s holding my hands.
His smile grows somber. His beautiful gaze shifting down to my lips before meeting my eyes again.
“No one will ever control you, Vi.” The whisper in his voice sends a tingling feeling into my core. It has me leaning into him.
Warm fingers tangle through mine. The heavy look in his gaze makes my breath catch.
Link’s this mixture of intelligence and confidence. The two traits go hand in hand for him. I’ve never noticed how sexy he really is until right now.
Deep, assessing eyes trail over my features.Slowly, ever so slowly he leans into me. His chest brushes mine and my heart pounds harder from his simple closeness. Just lightly his soft lips skim mine. His eyes never leave mine as he pulls back as if he’s studying my reaction. He’s testing me. For a single second, I just stare at him with stunned attention.
I can’t believe he just kissed me.
The energy swirling within me urges me forward. Gently, I angle my mouth over his. Soft lips press against mine. It’s a hesitant and careful kiss. It’s as if we’re both worried what the outcome will be.
Something that feels this good can’t be bad, can it?
His tongue parts my lips and I taste every part of him. Soft cotton meets my fingertips. The lines of his hard stomach guide my path as my fingers push up his chest before tangling through his hair. My body melds against his, pushing to get even closer.
We fit perfectly against each other.
Harder, my hips press against his until a groan rumbles over his lips. His fingers trail down my ribs, digging into my sides as he holds me against him.
Vengeful energy coils through my body. It’s demanding and wanting, and I wonder if he feels my needs the way I always seem to feel theirs. More than anything, I want to feel something other than the numbness I’ve clung to lately. This is exactly what I need.
He’sexactly what I need.
My palm pushes down his body. The lower my hands explore the more he shifts against me. Hard panes meet my touch before I work my hand beneath his jeans. My fingers wrap around his hard length, sending my adrenaline even higher. The moment I touch his dick, he jerks back from me, his hips shifting until my palm slips away from him.
With confusion, I stare at him. Our breaths heave between us.
“Sorry.” He’s still holding me to him, but a line creases his brow. “I just … ”
My hands are held between us, unsure of their proper place.
“I like you, Vi.” His eyes close slowly as I try to understand what he wants. “I want you.”
That simple confession sends my heartbeat into an impossibly fast pace.
“I don’t want to fuck you and then have you avoid me for the rest of our long lives.”
