Page 5 of To Crave Madly
I took a step towards the monolith and held out my hand. “Hello, Torsten, pleased to meet you. I would like you to speak freely with me.”
He looked down at my hand like I’d just offered him something distasteful. Now I just felt awkward with my hand hovering in the air. Perhaps I had been too presumptuous or overstepped some boundary I was unaware of. The silence lingered in the air like a bad smell and I started to pull my hand back. I was just on the cusp of apologising when he took me by surprise and wrapped his hand around mine.
I held back a gasp as I looked at his large hand engulfing mine. His hands looked like they had been dipped in ink. The entire lengths of his fingers were as black as pitch and his nails, shaped into wickedly lethal-looking points, were shiny obsidian.
“I am pleased to meet you also.” His voice was deep and rich as honey. The sonorous timbre clung to me and I felt the bass of it resounding through me all the way to my toes.
His thick black brows pulled into a frown. I didn’t think he was pleased to meet me at all.
Torsten released my hand and resumed his soldier’s stance, both arms clasped behind him and his back ramrod straight. Lucifer claimed my attention and pulled me off to one side, clearly not wanting Torsten to overhear our conversation.
“You will be safe with Torsten; he will protect you. I am sorry that I cannot come topside with you, that the mistakes of my past chain me here.”
“But you are never very far away.” My hand found the mark on his chest and the connection between us pulsed with longing.
“I will find out who is after you and Iwillhave their heads.” The fire flared in his eyes and I knew he would go to the ends of the world for me.
“And I will spend my time trying to figure out how to bring my demon in line and find my magic.” I felt my demon give a little warning growl at the back of my mind; she didn’t like the idea of being forcibly coerced.
Lucifer glanced at Torsten over my shoulder. “I believe your new shadow may be able to help with that. He’s a Shadow Fiend and a very powerful demon. I will insist that he help you in bringing her to the surface.” He made to move around me, but I halted his progress.
“Lucifer, if I need help, I willaskfor it. Not demand it.” Confusion marred his brow, and I laughed. “You’re a King, I am not. I am not used to ordering people around and I will not start now.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. He is a servant and will do as he is bid, or he will be punished for it.” His words were harsh and arrogant as he looked down on me from his lofty pedestal. I had only seen him in quiet, intimate moments, and being confronted with the side of him who wore the crown had me straightening my back and standing up for Torsten.
“Lucifer,” I said shortly, “I will not have you threatening my bodyguard with punishment. Did you not say he wasmineto order around?”
His face lit up with unbridled amusement. “You are a pert little thing, aren’t you? That smart mouth of yours will get you into a heap of trouble.”
“So I’ve been told.”
“Very well, minx. I will not order your bodyguard to do anything. He’s all yours.”
I looked back at Torsten and found him exactly as I left him, staring stoically at the other side of the room. I’d have to tell him not to stand quite so rigidly, but I would do that away from Lucifer. I had a feeling I’d already pushed my luck with him today enough. He was the Devil, after all.
“Thank you,” I said, leaning up to place a quick kiss on his cheek. I took a step towards Torsten, but Lucifer captured my waist and pulled me bodily towards him before claiming my mouth with his own. My body reacted instantly, welcoming his invasion into my mouth. He kissed me like he owned me, like he could taste my very soul. His hand fisted my hair as he deepened the kiss and I gasped at the sudden pain across my scalp.
The bond between us came alive at our closeness and my body throbbed with the sudden need to be claimed by him. The desperation I could taste on his lips had me pulling away from him.
“Why are you fighting me?” he said against my lips, his hand still twisting my hair tightly. I couldn’t think around him. He addled my brain and made me incapable of coherent thought.
“Because all this is too intense and I just need time, Orion.”
He smiled at my use of the name I had chosen for him before I knew who he was. His kiss had stolen my ability to think clearly and I had momentarily forgotten who he was.
“Very well. I shall let you go for now. Torsten will take you back to the Conclave but promise me you won’t go anywhere without him.”
“I promise.” It was an easy promise to make. I did feel like having Torsten by my side would make me feel a lot safer.
His lips pressed against my forehead in a tender goodbye and as he stepped away from me, I felt his loss keenly.
I walked over to Torsten, but he kept his gaze fixed firmly at the point on the opposite wall. How did I get this man’s attention? I tapped his bulging bicep lightly and let out a cough. “Torsten?”
He looked down at me, his mismatched eyes piercing and stern. I swallowed nervously, intimidated by his direct gaze. He made me feel like he could see straight through me.
“Would you return me to the Conclave?” He didn’t respond but kept staring at me like I was an idiot. “Please?”
I could hear Lucifer chuckling behind me, clearly enjoying watching me squirm in front of him. I scowled at him over my shoulder and caught him rolling his bottom lip between his teeth to stifle his laugh.
