Page 48 of Cryptic Dreams

He backs me into the counter and brings his face closer to mine. “I’ll have you know my arse is anything but grouchy.”

“I know!”

Wraith somehow ignores that and plows right over it. “Then do not put words into my mouth, love. I said no such thing, nor have I ever thought such atrocities in regards to you.”

“I was there, you shithead! I heard what you said loud and clear, and I haven’t forgotten one word.”

Wraith puts us nose to nose, his eyes narrowed to slits. He looks so pissed off but I’m pretty sure it’s tinged with lust, purely based on the hardcore pheromones he’s throwing at me and…

Oh my god.

Oh my god he’s going to kiss me.

We are fighting and I’m pretty sure he hates me and I actually stood up for myself, but Wraith is going to kiss me.

And hell, Ireallywant him to.

“If that is so… ” His eyes move over my face before they drop to my lips. “If you truly remember every word… ” Wraith’s gaze travels to the noticeably thundering pulse in my throat before he leans in and ghosts his lips over mine in favor of nuzzling that instead. “I suggest you think long and hard about what exactly I said because I believe you will find in reality, I said very little aboutwhoorwhatmy mate is and more of what I know her totruly be.”

My chest is heaving, pumping so damn hard to get the air into my lungs. When Wraith meets my eyes again, his fangs elongated, his breaths matching mine almost perfectly, the goddamn doorbell rings and we both freeze.

“It is Orion.”

Well, that killed the fucking mood.

“It is imperative that I speak with him.”

“Ok.”

Wraith drops his forehead to mine and sighs. “I’d rather speak with you.”

“We were hardly speaking. That was more yelling than anything else.” I bite my lip as my gaze bounces around his face. “You should put pants on before my cousin and his mate come into your home.”

He smirks and releases me, then starts backing away. “Do as I requested, love. Think about what I said to you those weeks ago. I believe you’ll beeating crow, as they say, and surely then you and I will have much to speak about.”

The minute he’s out of view my entire body sags against the counter.

Jesus that was crazy. And hot. And scary.

I have no idea what just happened but I need to figure it out. Not just Wraith’s cryptic words either. I mean, yeah I need to figure that out, but I really need to figure out why I didn’t get flooded with hundreds and hundreds of years worth of memories when Wraith touched me. That has never ever happened before and I need to figure out why it did now. I have so many questions, and since the biggest piece to this screwed up puzzle will be happily distracted with my cousin, maybe I can get a jump start on trying to find anything at all that might help me begin putting things together.

Right after I take an ice cold shower to cool my libido that is now just as hot as Wraith’s touch.

Justwow.

15

Winding Paths

WRAITH

“Wait, you what?” Orion hisses as I close the door to my study.

Mysecretstudy that was actually a wine cellar with a nifty little hidden door-wall complete with fake candelabra you have to pull in order to open it. I was tickled pink when the bloke I hired to remodel portions of the house suggested turning it into a private room, a suggestion based on my lack of interest in using the room for its intended purpose, and it’s rather ideal for meeting with members of the Purists in secret.

It also doubles as a panic room of sorts if shite hits the fan, therefore it comes complete with all the creature comforts. A plethora of books, a king-sized bed, fainting couches, a lovely coffee table that can easily double for whatever purpose I may find, and the room is light tight, sound proof, and space for enough blood bags to service all of the medical facilities within a two hundred mile radius. I also have a complete security system installed and the control center is in my study, so if I happen to be in there I can see every nook and cranny of the house and track any potential threats or intruders.

And I have a bare minimum collection of toys and tools if I’m lucky enough to get locked down with a willing participant. Namely my mate that I nearly mounted right there in the kitchen a short while ago.