Page 7 of Underworld
“Oh.” Tears pricked my eyes and I blinked them back. I couldn’t do much about the ache in my heart, though.
Orion kept staring at me, fingers sliding from my cheek to stroke down the sensitive arch of my neck. “I still can’t believe you’re here. Is this a dream?”
“I’m really here,” I assured him.
Guilt panged in my chest. And to think I’d yelled at him. He was a demigod who thrived on sexual energy and I’d been gone—dead. He’d thought I was lost to him. What would have happened if I hadn’t come back now? Would he have—
“Stop thinking so hard.” He threaded his fingers into my hair and tugged until I met his eyes. The magnetic, magical glow grew stronger and the scattering of freckles across his cheeks once more held the warmth of life. “I’m a demigod, Lily. I don’t die that easily, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Throat thick with unspoken emotions, I kissed him again. Each successive touch between us made the bond strengthen.
But it wasn’t enough.
Too much of his formidable strength had ebbed in the time I’d been gone.
Glancing behind me to ascertain that the door was still closed, I raised my hand to tug at the thread holding up my halter top. “My darling demigod, I’m about to show you how much I appreciate your… endurance.”
“Wait.” He caught my wrists and eased them down, holding them at my sides as I stared at him in surprise. “Just… wait. I want to look at you.”
And he did, gaze searching mine before moving off to roam over me hungrily—but not just the curvy parts. He stroked my cheek, combed his fingers through my hair, leaned in close and rubbed his cheek across my shoulder.
My heart clenched painfully inside my chest.
Who was this man?
Where was Orion the Demigod man-whore? I almost didn’t recognize this Virtue of mine who touched me so carefully and reverently, who watched me with such intensity, like he thought I’d vanish if he blinked.
Cole…
It came to me, that quiet understanding.
The Dean had killed me, yes, but the Dean wasn’t the only one responsible for Orion’s pain.
Cole was part of this. Cole was why Orion looked at me with the eyes a man pushed near to the point of breaking.
That damn demon was going to pay for this—Virtue or not.
As if in silent agreement with my vow, the ground lurched beneath me, roiling with rage.
Instinct grabbed me and once more, I snapped out my wings. The pain flared, the weight at my back far too heavy for my untrained muscles. Yet, something deep inside me yearned to leap, to see if these wings could take me soaring into the sky.
“Lily…” Orion breathed out, his eyes on the glorious feathery wings at my back.
In response to the rumbling under our feet, I braced my hands on Orion’s chest, but the rumbling had already stopped. I went to fold my wings away, but he stopped me.
“No. Not yet.” He stroked one hand along the upper inner arch, threading his fingers into the down of my feathers.
I gasped at the shock of sensation that swept over my entire body. It was as if Orion had touched every single part of me with that lazy, teasing touch. “Wow…”
A familiar inner heat appeared in the dark golden depths of his eyes.
As tension pulsed between us, I rose onto my toes and curled my arms around his neck. “Do that again,” I said with a smile.
He did.
I moaned in response, my toes curling as I pressed against him.
Orion’s lips curved, smug satisfaction in his gaze.
