Page 102 of Lucifer's Mirror

My mind turns dirty at that point, and I glance down at his crotch and smirk. “Really?”

He shakes his head, then exhales. “You know what I would really like to do right now?”

“No clue.” But a girl can hope.

“I’d like to sleep. I’d like to wrap you in my arms, crawl into bed, and just forget all the crap for a while.”

At his words, a wave of exhaustion washes over me. I smother a yawn. I’d think he’d cast some sort of spell if it weren’t for the fact that I haven’t been sleeping well. And it sounds wonderful. To forget, if only for tonight. I’m not sure lying in a bed with Khaosti will be conducive to sleep, but it’s still tempting.

I hold his gaze as I toe off my boots and step toward him, my hand held out. He slips his palm into mine, and that almost familiar jolt of electricity zings along my nerves. He feels it as well; I know by the widening of his eyes. He kicks off his boots and pulls me toward the bed. I’ve never done this before; never shared a bed with anyone.

But it feels natural. He pulls back the sheet, then sits on the mattress and pats it. “Come on, I won’t bite.” He seems almost playful—a new side of him. But I like it. “Not unless you ask me very nicely.” He smiles with a flash of white teeth, and for a second, the wolf slides behind his eyes, and a sense of foreboding flickers through my mind. I push it away—I’m getting really good at ignoring the things I don’t want to think about.

He tugs at my hand, and I sink down beside him, then stretch out on the bed. He follows me down, hovering over me. For a second, I think he’s going to kiss me, then follow that to its obvious conclusion, and I feel a moment of regret. I know deep down we’ll make love one day, but it will change everything, and maybe I’m just not ready.

I suspect he senses that because he gives a rueful smile and drops a soft kiss on my forehead, then stretches out beside me. “Go to sleep,” he murmurs.

And to my amazement, I do.

Chapter 48

Interrupted by the Arrival of an Old... Friend?

Iwake,envelopedinwarm,strong arms. Light is filtering through the curtains. I’ve had my first deep, dreamless sleep since we arrived.

Hell, maybe since I woke up three years ago.

Khaosti is awake; I can tell from the tenseness of his muscles. We’re wrapped around each other, my thigh flung over his hips so I can feel that he’s hot and hard beneath my leg.

I can’t resist a wriggle, and he groans.

So I do it again.

Suddenly, I’m on my back, and he’s looming over me, his tousled black hair falling over his forehead, his golden eyes sleepy. “Good morning.”

I blink up at him, speechless. He has that effect on me; he steals the words from my mouth. I moisten my lips with the tip of my tongue, and he groans again.

He lowers his head and kisses me slowly, and my body heats up, going languid and boneless. His lips part mine, his tongue pushing inside, and flames lick over me. I feel them in my breasts, in my belly, and my hips rise to press against him.

He deepens the kiss, and I slide my tongue along his. He drops more kisses along my jaw, then burrows his face against my throat and bites my skin, licks it, and I’m lost.

He goes still, and I almost growl. If he calls me a little girl now, I’ll likely kick him in the balls. Then someone thumps on the door, and the flames flicker and die.

Not fair.

Khaosti eases himself off me just as Hecate calls from outside, “Prince, remove yourself from that bed where you have no right to be and get out here. You have a visitor.”

“Fuck,” he mutters.

He sits up and scrubs a hand through his hair.

“Now,” Hecate shouts, and her footsteps stamp down the hall.

I haven’t moved. Khaosti turns to look at me, a rueful smile on his gorgeous face. “I didn’t mean to kiss you again.”

I glare at him through narrowed eyes.

He shrugs. “I slept well. That’s not happened for a long time. So, thank you.”