Page 60 of To Crave Darkly
“My private quarters,” Orion replied, amusement brightening his tone.
“How did I get here?” My head was still fuzzy with coming back from the brink of death, and I was struggling to make sense of my surroundings.
“I believe we are sharing a dream. I was asleep when you nearly killed us and in your unconscious state I managed to pull you into my mind to save you.”
“How?”
Orion shrugged. “No idea. I felt your pain and your essence flicker. I reached out and then you were here. I channelled some of my power into the bond, which I believe gave you the strength to heal yourself.”
“What about Fenris?”
“I imagine he will be fine. You poured quite a lot of energy into healing him.”
I nodded. At least I had managed to do something good after the carnage I had left behind.
Orion brushed his finger across my cheek before tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. The gesture was gentle, and it felt like a profound juxtaposition against his intensity.
“Is Lucifer coming for me?” The words tumbled from my mouth as fear played havoc with my heart. I wanted to know, and Orion was probably the best person to ask. I imagine he knew more about him than any of Jasper and his team.
Orion’s brow furrowed, and he pursed his lips in thought. Perhaps he was deciding if he should tell me the truth. “Yes. But I will be there. If you ever find yourself in danger, you know I will always be there. We cannot escape each other.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, suddenly nervous at his closeness. Everything about him was intense and, through our bond, his emotions were bleeding into mine, blurring the line between us. His gaze dropped to my mouth and desire raced through my body. It was dark and spoke of obsession. A delicious thrill ran up my spine at his lust for me. I felt his dark craving, his insatiable need to have me and it terrified me just as much as it excited me.
“Are we to only ever meet in dreams?” I whispered against his lips. His hand snaked around the back of my neck, and he pulled me closer. His lips brushed mine, but he didn’t kiss me. Instead, he held me there, waiting on the very cusp of claiming my mouth. His warm breath teased me and made me desperate for his touch. I was at his mercy, and he was waiting for me to submit. My core tightened at the thought and heat simmered in my veins. He was mastering my desire and I knew he would make me a slave to it.
I relaxed in his hold and surrendered to him willingly. I felt his smile against my lips before he finally claimed my mouth with his own. It was a brutal kiss and it spoke of his need to own me. He forced my lips open wide, and he ravaged my mouth with his tongue. It was carnal. Hungry.
Desperate.
I felt his touch everywhere. My body trembled, and I felt not only my need, but his as well. It flowed through me and I burned for him. I moaned into his mouth, and he swallowed it like a man starved. He pushed me backwards onto the bed and settled his weight between my thighs. My hips rose to meet his, seeking relief from this sweet, sweet torture. His answering growl had my heart pounding and my core aching with need.
Fuck. I needed him and I needed him now.
I broke the kiss. “I want you.”
He made a sound that was part desperation, part regret. “You’ve no idea how much I’ve longed to hear you speak those words. Fuck, Lori, do you have any idea what you do to me?” His words were a growl and my body hummed at the primal way he looked at me.
“No,” I breathed.
“You make me weak, and you’ve no idea how dangerous that is.”
I felt the desperation and conflict in his words. He scared me but as I brushed his golden hair out of his eyes, I also understood that he would burn the world for me, if I only asked. I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to commit to that kind of level of extreme. There was a darkness in him that simmered beneath the surface of his control and I dreaded to think what would happen if he ever snapped.
Yet despite all this, despite knowing how fragile his veneer of goodness was, I was still drawn to him. He made my soul burn, and he called to my own darkness. I could feel my demon purring at the thought of staying here with Orion. She wanted him just as much as I did.
The bond that existed between us was too strong. It pulsed, ached, and pulled me toward him blindly. I needed to step away from him. I needed to breathe. I was drowning in his dark eyes that promised sinful pleasures and, as much as I wanted to surrender, I also wanted to be able to think straight.
“We don’t have much time,” Orion said, sadness lacing his voice.
“We never do.” I traced his bottom lip with my thumb. “Why is that? Why do we only meet in dreams?”
A pained look crossed his face. “I cannot manifest on the mortal plane without serious consequences.”
“Why?”
“Part of my punishment.” He pulled away, clearly signalling I wasn’t going to get to hear that story today. It also reminded me how little I actually knew of him. I could feel his intentions to go to the end of the world for me, but I still didn’t even know his name. This was all kinds of fucked up.
“Orion, will you tell me your real name?”
