Page 12 of Fire Kissed
“Rhys, I need you to quit breathing in my ear like that before my cock gets any harder.” He releases me fast, his big hand lowering to adjust something veryun-innocent.
His throat clears hard, and he’s suddenly incredibly interested in the weird open door/death cliff to our left.
Right. More important things are at hand here.
Not his cock... Even if I can’t get the idea of it out of my head now.
“This is—”
“A portal.” I finish for him.
He arches a thick brow at me, smoothing his beard slowly before nodding at my good guess.
After cliff diving out of the human realm and free falling into the Realm of Hell, I’m starting to see that portals have a certain dramatic flair to them.
“Where does it lead?” I ask quietly, the cool night wind catching my hair as I look out into the dense night sky.
“Niflheim.”
My eyes narrow.
“Bless you,” I excuse him.
“No.” He rolls his pretty green eyes at my apparent stupidity. “Niflheim is the realm below Hell.”
My mouth opens and closes at that. “There are other realms beneath Hell?”
The pictures of snakes and dragons from his book circle my mind. I can’t help but wonder if Niflheim has dragons and other rare creatures there.
He nods again. “Worse realms. Realms for dishonored men and monsters.”
Monsters...
“Where we’re going isn’t safe. It is just as deadly as this realm but much more dangerous.”
I blink at that.What does that even mean?
“Stay by my side. Always question the shadows. And don’t think for a second you can charm these creatures the way you did the Garm.” He takes my hand in his, and I have so many questions, but ultimately, I know I have to listen to him. He isn’t my tormentor. He’s my friend and protector. Even if tomorrow, he’ll have to be my tormentor once again.
My gaze focuses on the abyss. But I feel his eyes on me. I feel him warming me.
Just when I peer up into the hidden part of him that he shows no one else, he leaps out over the edge, dragging me with him.
And then we’re gone into the swirling, cold breeze.
Men and Monsters
Rhys
I can’t feelmy limbs. My body doesn’t exist. Only my consciousness is prepared for the brutal landing I know will greet me once I’m spit out on the other side. I stiffen hard when light sparks into my vision, and the gray-white light startles me into the realization that I’m whole once again.
Every muscle in my body clenches for the landing.
But only strong arms and a warm chest rattle my teeth. My eyes open fully to find Torben cradling me. He stands tall against the earth, holding me to him like he’s prepared for literally every monster of life to come his way.
Green eyes flick to mine, and I find myself with my arms wrapped around his broad shoulders once more. Except this time, his palm is spread wide across the smooth curve of my ass.
That jaded gaze slides low to my lips.
