Page 35 of House of Darkness
Estrella’s eyes widened, first in uncertainty, then in determination. She kicked off her heels and hoisted herself onto the railing. I caught her hips, that sweet scent of lilies and her warmth seeping into me like the electricity of life. Holding her tight, we jumped to the sand several feet below.
The sand and sea brought back memories of different times, when I swung from the sails and dared to sweep over the water on unsteady wings. Not necessarily good times, but I loved the freedom of escaping the castle in those days. I kicked off my shoes as sand threatened to fill them, stuffing my socks inside. Estrella held her skirts up with one hand, spinning through the sand. She looked from her toes to me and grinned with pure joy.
“Is it everything you imagined, doll?” I kept my voice steady—a façade, really.
“And more!” she squealed, kicking up sand.
She turned toward the water, anticipation lighting her features.The rapid thrum of her heartbeat warned me of what was coming. “Don’t! It’s freezing.”
Even in the dim light of dusk, I caught the mischievous glint in her eyes. Before I could say another word, she leapt in, dress and all.Shit.I sprinted to the water’s edge. She disappeared beneath the surface—one second, two seconds, three seconds...
Panic crept in as time ticked by. Had her dress pulled her down?Fuck. What was it with this woman and jumping into bodies of water in the dead of night? I tore off my suit jacket and plunged into the icy depths. The cold water soaked my shirt and tangled my hair around my face. My hands found the corset bodice of her gown, and I breached the surface with her in my arms. We both gasped as water showered around us, and she wiped her face with a grin.
“I knew that would get you in the water,” she proclaimed triumphantly.
It took a moment for my body to register that she wasn’t drowning, then incredulity surged. “Are you kidding me? You gave me a heart attack!”
Estrella giggled. “Got you in, didn’t I?”
“You could have just asked.”
“You would have said no.”
“Exactly.”
I sighed in exasperation but kept my hands on her sides. I told myself it was out of caution, especially with her soaked dress possibly dragging her down, but if I were honest, I just liked holding her.
She ran a hand through my hair, her delicate fingers tugging at the slick curls and pulling them back from my face. Then her hands dropped to my shoulders, digging in deliciously so she could get closer. Such simple touches, yet they nearly unraveled me.
Then she dunked me.
I yelped as my head went under. She did all that just to distract me—what a brat. I sprang back out of the dark water, sputtering and trying to see through my matted hair.
“You are… a heathen.”
Estrella laughed. A true, deep-seated sound that made me shove my hair back to watch her in awe. Her arms twined around my neck, and soon I found myself laughing too. She actually dunked me. Maybe it shouldn’t thrill me, but it did because it meant she didn’t fear the monster that would spring back out.
“I could kiss you for today,” she whispered. Her eyes searched mine for an answer to the question she didn’t need to ask. My breath caught in my throat. If I were a better man, I’d end this now.
But I was not a better man. “I wouldn’t stop you.”
Time slowed as her gaze dipped, her sigh warming my wet skin. Then… stars. It was as if the chains of restraint fell away the moment her lips touched mine. I craved to explore every inch of her. I lifted her by her thighs, and she responded by practically climbing me to get closer. The monster inside reveled in her desire.
I felt her every curve as her body pressed against mine—the way her stomach grazed my hips, her breasts. My hand tangled in her silky hair, that magical sweet scent overpowering the smell of brine and hazing my mind in a blissful fog of her.
Her tongue brushed against my fangs in a quiet request. I parted my lips in invitation, twisting my tongue with hers. My fangs grazed her bottom lip, and I savored her sweetness. She was utterly delicious, just like last time. My vision reddened at the edges, but I pushed past it, refusing to heed the monster within.
I groaned as her fingers found the top button of my shirt and began to undo it. “Fuck.”
Everything accelerated. My fingers slid beneath her skirts, eachinch of her silky skin scorching into my memory. She grew impatient with my shirt and tore it open. Her hands splayed across my chest, each heated touch searing into my flesh.
I want you.I pushed the thought to her, unwilling to sever the connection of our lips.
You have me. Her fingers trailed over my pecs, slowly working their way down to my stomach, leaving a trail of electricity in their wake. I growled, dipping her backward, pressing harder into her, needing more, more, more. My breath turned ragged, one hand gripping her hips, the other cradling the nape of her neck, controlling her descent into the icy depths.
I stared in awe at the beauty before me, her hair spread through the water like a golden halo. It wouldn’t take much—just a tilt of her head to expose that pretty little neck to me. Then I could sink my teeth in and truly taste her sweetness. I knew she would taste even more exquisite from there. As if to prove I could, I tweaked my wrist, tilting her head back. Her heartbeat raced to a staccato rhythm that blurred my vision, but she wasn’t afraid. No, she was excited. So perfect, yet so utterly wrong. She should be terrified.
I closed my eyes and brought her back up, softening my grip. I had come too close to losing control. Even now, I didn’t entirely have it. I focused on the crash of the waves and the smell of brine—anything but her racing heartbeat.
