Page 29 of To Crave Darkly
My attention snapped back to Jasper and I closed my eyes. I had to try. I walked my mind back along the threads of Jasper’s. It was like walking along a tightrope backwards. One misstep and I knew I’d fall into oblivion. Slowly, my grip unfurled on Jasper’s mind and whatever this power was faded around me and fizzled out.
I opened my eyes and the square came back into focus. Jasper’s nostrils flared as a rumble erupted from his chest. He was still in defensive mode. We stood there, staring at each other, our chests rising and falling in sync.
Slowly, he uncurled his hand from around my throat. Without his strength to support me my knees buckled and I fell to the ground. Energy swirled through me, overwhelming me. I felt giddy, like I was riding a high.
“Wow, what a head rush.” I laughed. At least I think it was a laugh, but it sounded manic and wild. Dizziness made my vision hazy, my heart pounded in my ears and suddenly I didn’t feel so good. The last thing I saw was the floor as my face fell to greet it before unconsciousness claimed me. Again.
Chapter 14
LORI
Gentle fingers stroked through tendrils of my hair and the soft warmth of a crackling fire danced across my skin. A feeling of relaxation sank deep into my bones, and for the first time since leaving home, a sense of peace swam over me. Sleep clung to me like sticky toffee, keeping me in that state where you’re not quite asleep and not quite awake either.
“Wake up, sleepy head.” A deep rumble pulled me from my slumber. It was a voice I was starting to become all too familiar with and all traces of sleep vanished with the sound of Orion’s sensual drawl.
My eyes flew open to the sight of a lopsided grin set into a face that could have been made to tempt even angels to fall.
“Hello again, Lori.” He purred over the syllables of my name, his mouth caressing them like they were the most exquisite thing they’d ever tasted. My body tightened in response.
“We need to stop meeting like this.” My tone was light, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was in way over my head in something I hadn’t even begun understand. I still had way too many unanswered questions and so little understanding about what was going on that it was fucking scary.
Orion chuckled, a deep throaty sound that had me aching to make him laugh just so I could hear it again.
He was still playing with my hair, and I realised my head was cradled in his lap. It felt like such a normal thing to do that, for a moment, I forgot he wasn’t just a man, that he was in fact a very powerful demon. It was easy to forget that when looking at him now, sprawled out on the floor in front of a massive open fire. His back was propped up against a sofa with one arm thrown casually across it whilst he nursed a glass of whisky. And here I was, my head in his lap, staring up into those strange eyes that now matched my own.About that…
“What the fuck have you done to my eyes?”
“I haven’t done anything other than bring your true nature to the surface.”
I didn’t like the sound of that at all. “Undo it.”
“Don’t you like them?” he drawled.
“No.”
He took a deep breath and a small smile played about his mouth. “Hmm, you really shouldn’t lie, Lori.”
Dammit. I’d forgotten about the whole lie eating thing. “Fine, I don’t hate them but I’m not overly happy about them either.”
He nodded. I guess that meant he was satisfied with my answer.
I pulled the neck of my shirt to one side revealing the brand. “This on the other hand, I am not best pleased with. What is it?”
Orion traced his finger over the brand and my body hummed. He moaned deep in his throat as our connection pulsed. “This is a manifestation of the magic that binds us. It is a symbol of you and me. I have one too.” He flicked his shirt to the side, and I saw the same mark burned into his own flesh.
“But what does it mean Orion? Why is there a mark at all?”
“I do not fully understand. This magic is older than me.”
“How old are you?”
He laughed derisively. “I am older than you, little dove.”
I scowled at the pet name. It spoke of an affection between us that I wasn’t entirely comfortable with. “I figured that. I was told your eyes are those of a powerful demon. Is that true?”
“In a manner.”
“Do you always talk in riddles?”
