Page 64 of Dark Flame

Come on, powers. If there’s ever a time for you to return, this would be it.

“Alec!”

He growls before his fangs slide from my neck, but I’m anything but successful when his eyes clash with mine. They’re a red so dark, they’re depthless. A void I’ll lose myself inside. One hand comes up to my face, strangely tender, another revere.

“You taste fuckingdivine. Like my greatest sin. At least, that’s what you’re about to become.”

Before I fully comprehend his words, his mouth slashes against mine. He kisses as angrily as he drinks, dominating in his claim. His tongue slides over mine as his hand delves into my hair to control the angle. His fangs slip against my lip, but he’s careful. He releases my hair to instead rest his palm on the base of my neck. It’s there he feels my breathy moan, and his kiss grows frenzied—too frenzied—and for all his caution, one of his fangs nick my bottom lip.

He swipes his tongue along the stinging cut, blowing ragged breath against me. Him being so close shows the drops of perspiration on his forehead, the skin taut around his eyes.

Sweat.Didhe begin the transformation?

“I fuckinghateyour kind.” His harsh words contradict his gentle hold right before he kisses me again, his tongue pushing blood inside my mouth. It’s sour and metallic but not gross. It’s almostright, like kissing Alec shouldn’t taste like anything else.

He releases me, and the tree disappears. The air grows increasingly cold, my head a convoluted mess of blood loss and overtiredness as my vision completely blurs. I’m about to reach for him, beg him to stop, tell him I’m passing out, when I’m abruptly a lot warmer, the sky is darker, and then my back meets softness.

I look around. Stone walls. Above, there’s a black canopy. An unlit fireplace along the far wall.

“My bedroom,” he explains. “If I’m going to damn myself more than I already am, then I want your blood soaking my sheets when I do.”

Busy making sense of our environment change, the fact that he just ran through the woods at some crazy insane speed, I miss when he grabs my shirt by the collar and rips it.

He’s quick, and suddenly my bra is gone, torn at the centre, and his mouth descends towards my chest, sucking a nipple into his mouth.

Fuck, this feels like heaven.

Regardless, it shouldn’t be happening. I push his shoulders, but my fight only spurs him on. His tongue massages my nipple, sweeping me away to a place where right and wrong no longer exists.

“Alec…stop.”

Shockingly enough, he listens, but not without obvious effort. He rises on shaking arms. It’s then I realize he’snotmeaning to harm me. His next words, a whispered breath tinged with distress, solidify the revelation.

“Fight me, Harlow. Tell me you don’t want this. I won’t be able to harm you.”

I’d scoff if he didn’t sound so sincere. “Since when?”

“Since you’ve cursed me.”

“What are you talking about?”

Ignoring me, he reaches for my pants. “I mean it. Fight me. Right now. Fight me and run.”

“Why? So you can chase me again? I’m tired of your fucked-up games, Alec.”

“This isn’t a game.”In a flash, he’s above me, his fingers pinching my cheeks until my entire focus is on him. He breathes out once, his exhale warm against my skin. His brows lower, a tortured plea for me to really listen. “I mean it. I can’t—won't—hurt you, but youhaveto make your intent known. If you don’t…you’re damned. As damned as I am.”

Confusion clouds me alongside exhaustion, blood loss, and desire. Ishouldn’tbe lying here. I should be begging him to release me. But tell that to my libido, who’s apparently making every wrong choice.

Alec releases my face to trail down my body, his teeth nipping but not breaking skin. He chuckles into my stomach before his nose presses into the edge of my pants. He inhales deeply, his rumble filling the room’s silence.

“If your blood is divinity, then your pussy will be fucking nirvana.”

He wrenches my pants down my legs, and my feet move to help, not quite sure of my own actions. It’s only when I’m left in nothing but panties that the fog momentarily clears—the realization of where I am and who’s with me—and I push myself upright.

He goes stiff, watching me the way a snake stalks a mouse before striking. Slow and calculating. “Say it, Hellion, or burn alongside me.”

“What is happening? What have you done to me?”