Page 53 of Dark Flame

What the fuck was that?

It’s the question plaguing me all the way down to the kitchen because, before retiring in my room for the day, I couldn’t not hear the way her stomach grumbled for food. I retrieve more of those bars she seems to enjoy, mentally noting to find something more substantial for her to eat soon.

I take the long way back to her room, and on arrival, open the door without knocking.

And stop.

And stare.

Andfeel.

She’s on the other side of the bed where I left her, wearing nothing but panties and a bra—both from the bag. It’s that damn black lace I fought like hellnotto imagine her in.

She screeches, but the noise sounds no louder than an echo from downstairs for how my senses tune everything but her out. My hands tighten until the food crumbles while my cock twitches for the one woman I should never crave. My gums ache, my fangs demanding to come out and suck the vein between her thighs.

“Alec!”

She’s…yeah. I can’t even let my thoughts formulate, to admit what the rest of me knows.

Creamy skin that’s undoubtedly pure velvet to the touch is all I see. Splatterings of freckles cover her arms and legs, now freed from those hideous pyjamas. There’s a sudden desire to rip the lace from her and explore every curve, to trace the path of those little freckles.

“Alec! For fuck’s sake!”

Take.

That fucking inner voice urges me to break my old promises and determine exactly how loud I can make the witch scream.

Sinclair.

Witch.

Prey.

I recite everything she is to remind myself of everything she isn’t.

“Alec!”

This time, her screech successfully pulls me from my haze, but it doesn’t clear it. Suddenly, I’m by her side, tossing the granola bars to the side. Her hips fit my hands perfectly, and I spin her around and push her onto the mattress.

Her hands come up to cover her chest, which is an effort long overdue, because I’ve already seen everything she has. Nearly every tantalizing inch. “What the hell are you doing? Get out!”

“You forget whose room this is. Whose castle. But by all means, I’ll return you to the dungeons if you’d prefer.”

I’m pissing her off only to make the redness in her cheeks expand to the rest of her body, chasing it with my gaze. Imagining the same kind of redness from her blood coursing from her neck and between my lips,finallyable to drink the flavour that’s teased my senses since day one.

“Alec,” she repeats, my name a growl in her throat. It’s cute, if not a little pathetic, how hard she tries to hold her ground. “Get out.”

Her heartbeat quickens, and I’m pleased. She can get a sense of what I felt when entering; the world tilting on its axis.

While I doubt this will be the thing to spark the buried emotion that’ll unlock her magick, everything must be tried and tested, right? I’d be doing her a disservice by backing away, by allowing her fear to subside.

“Why would I knock when this is the sight I’m greeted with?”

She pulls her bottom lip into her teeth to utterly torment me. I reach for her, pulling her lip free before she accidentally damages herself. A lifetime of control will unravel if she makes herself bleed.

When she speaks, her lips brush against my finger. It’s a sensation I can’t help but marvel at. “Because I’m related to the people who killed your sister. You can’t separate me from my ancestor to rationalize your actions, so this should be no different.”

She’s right, but it doesn’t stop me from leaning closer. From inhaling the sickle of apprehension. Her comment brings a smile to my face, this one unthreatening and genuine.