Page 41 of My Demon Desire
I feel it deep inside like an invisible force binding us together. Except, there's a piece missing. A gaping hole gnaws at me.
Roaming through their home, I find no sign of Reis or Thorne. Fresh snow is falling and after I put my sneakers on, I hike out to the bathing shed. They aren't here either, but the fire crackles to life in the fireplace and the water churns.
Thorne said the water had healing properties. I take off the gown I'm wearing and slide in, the water warming quickly.
I sink deeper, allowing the steam to envelop my skin.
I lose myself in the peace and tranquility of the moment, letting go of all the worry and allowing my mind to drift. Underneath the safety of the water's embrace, I can't stop thinking about the hole inside me.
Reis and Thorne had been inside me, my body alive under their touches, my mind consumed with them. But still, I feel an emptiness that I can't put a name to it.
My thoughts drift back to Reis and Thorne, their dark eyes, their hard bodies, and the passion and fire we shared. I can't help the heat that rises in me at the thought of them.
I close my eyes, allowing myself to be submerged in the pleasure of remembering them, my fingers trailing a path between my legs. My body breaks into a million pieces when they reach my core and I'm consumed in a wave of pleasure.
I'm still panting when I open my eyes, realizing that the emptiness I feel is a lack of something. My heart and body are screaming for a third person. Someone who will complete our circle.
Kaden.
It has to be him. My skin tingles and my sex tightens at the thought of him. How his broken horn has me wondering if he got that from the queen. I've been so busy worrying about my father and then being here with Reis and Thorne, I haven't spent much time with Kaden.
Well, I'm not going to get anywhere turning into a prune in the bath. I chuckle and wash my body and hair. Then I duck underneath the water to rinse. When I come up, a trill sounds outside and my heart beats faster. Shadows in the bathhouse elongate and the fire dims.
"Hello?" I call out, fear clawing up my throat. "Who's there?"
No one answers and yet the trill sounds again. If it's Reis and Thorne, why aren't they coming in?
The trill comes again, this time from a different direction and the fire zaps out. All the water in the bath turns bitterly cold and I scramble out, grabbing one of the cloths to wrap around myself and drying quickly before putting my dress back on. The material sticks to my damp skin.
My teeth chatter and white puffs of air blow from my lips. I'm so cold.
The sense someone is watching me makes me shiver even harder. My fingers are numb and don't work right as I try to put my shoes back on. I'm shaking so hard from the cold I can barely manage to stuff my feet inside.
I can't wait for another second, feeling like I'm going to freeze to death in here or that something outside is going to get me.
But I won't just sit here and wait. If I run, I have a chance to make it to the house and safety.
I dash outside and the wind howls like it's telling on me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end like something is chasing me and I run hard and fast.
Tears sting my eyes, freezing droplets on my face. The house is within sight. Yet, as much as I pump my legs, I feel like I'm not getting any closer.
Then Thorne leaps down in front of me and I scream.
My heart hammers in my chest as he looks from me to the bathhouse.
"What were you doing going out alone?" His lips curl into a crooked grin.
"Sorry." I throw myself into his embrace. "I couldn't find you or Reis."
He growls, the vibration tickling my cheek. "Next time you don't go out without one of us. Understand?"
I nod and he leads me into the house, which is as dark as the bathhouse was, but at least it's warm.
"What's going on?" I ask, my teeth chattering as Thorne puts a blanket around my shoulders.
"Just some prankster pixies," he mutters.
Reis comes around the corner with his mouth pinched and I hold up a hand already knowing he wants to lecture me.
