Page 84 of Dark Souls

“Are you blushing?” I gasped, and his head snapped up, anger and disbelief on his face, which made me laugh.

“No. Fuck no. I just… I don’t do well at talking. I… er… never seem to say the right thing.”

“No shit,” I scoffed. He scowled deeper and I sighed. “Look. I’m not good at this talking stuff either. But I deserve to know… something. Anything about you.” He looked increasingly more stressed by the minute. “Okay, let’s start with why you are here right now.”

“I told you. I can’t stay away.” His eyes burned into mine and my heart flipped as those stupid, giddy flutters ignited inside me. I shifted my weight to my other hip and tried to look nonchalant at the confession.

“And why can’t you stay away? Because I’m your soulmate? Is that the only reason?” I narrowed my eyes at him, demanding the truth. I knew the bond was strong and only deepened the chemistry and need to claim, but if that was all this was, it wasn’t enough.

He shook his head. “I couldn’t stay away from you before I even knew you were my soulmate. I haven’t been able to get you out of my fucking head since the moment I saw you demand entry intoThe Undergroundon the club’s CCTV.”

“Wait? Were you there that night?”

“No. I wasn’t. But I saw the footage afterwards. And I wanted you. I wanted to know you. I wanted you before I knew anything about you, but the more I know, the more I want.”

He held my gaze as I tried to keep my horny demon under control. He was saying all the right things, but pretty words were just that. I wanted facts. I needed to know more about him.

“How did you know who I was?”

“Heathen. He left a file on you in my office. And then I did some…research. Found out about the party you were going to, and I couldn’t stop myself from going. I never intended for you to see me. But you did and, well, we both know what happened next.” He shoved his hand back in his trouser pocket, which drew attention to the thick outline of his hardening cock. I couldn’t stop staring, remembering exactly what that thing looked like as my mouth watered. “Hey. If I have to be well-behaved, so do you. Eyes up here, love. I’m not a piece of meat.”

My eyes darted up to his face and his lips twitched into a cocky smirk. I couldn’t help but scoff. He had me there. And for the first time, I saw a glimmer of playfulness in him I really liked.

I tilted my head to the side, eyeing him from head to toe in all his bad boy sexiness and didn’t even try to hide the way I was unashamedly fucking him in my head.

“You don’t play fair,” he growled. His own eyes darkened with lust as I lifted my finger to my mouth flirtatiously, looking him up and down as if I was about to eat him alive. “Are you trying to break a man? Because, love, I’m so far beyond broken, and I won’t hesitate to come back over there and take you up against that tree.”

“But you won’t. Will you? Because I haven’t said you can.” I stepped forwards, smiling mischievously as his throat moved with the vibration when he swallowed. “Why are you here, Luka?”

He closed his eyes and groaned. My heart thundered and tingles rushed to my vagina. Just calling him his name for the first time had us both hot and bothered. But I was prepared for that. In order to torture him, I was going to have to torture myself, too.

“My name has never sounded so good.” He laughed with a deep rumble, shaking his head and opening his eyes. “Do me a favour. Don’t say it again unless you want me to rip your clothes off because I don’t think I am strong enough to hear it twice.”

“Rather egotistic, don’t you think? You love your name that much, huh?” I teased, walking around him in a slow circle but still keeping a safe distance. Even from here, the musky scent of him threatened to derail my plan. Why did he smell so goddamn good? It wasn’t just him who was struggling to keep his hands to himself, but I was determined to make a point.

“No. I just love it from your lips.”

“Why are you here…” I paused as his gaze narrowed, daring me to say it. I smiled. “Red? I want more of an explanation than ‘you can’t stay away’ after that shit you pulled at the club. Try harder.”

The corner of his lips lifted before his expression became serious again. “I was an asshole. I am an asshole. I don’t know how not to be an asshole. But what I did to you and said to you was wrong.”

“Is that an apology?” I raised my eyebrows.

“Do you want an apology?” He remained still when I stopped behind his back. His hands remained in his pockets as I stepped forward and pressed myself against his body to see how far I could test him.

Placing my hands on his shoulders, I leaned up on my tiptoes and whispered in his ear from behind. “Words mean little to me. Actions are what I pay attention to.”

He clicked his neck to the side, exposing his tattooed skin and throbbing jugular vein to me as my fangs elongated with the need to sink into it. My god, I had never wanted anyone’s blood so much before, except for when… The memory of drinking from Heathen flashed in my mind and I stepped back, feeling uncharacteristically flustered.

I took a second to compose myself before walking around to face him. His dangerous eyes were delving into my soul, and my heart was racing when he dropped onto his knees before me and said, “I bow to no one. But I’ll get on my knees for you and beg if that is what it takes. I’d stay here all night. I’ll try, but I don’t know how to be good for you. I am not sure that I am even capable of it.”

“Then don’t be. I don’t need you to be good. Just don’t be such a…”

“Asshole? Douchebag? Arrogant prick?” He smirked cheekily and looked so hot that my knees nearly buckled to join him.

“Yeah. Take your pick.” I stepped forward. “Get up.” He stood up, and I walked into his chest, glaring up at him so he could see the relentless desire but also the steadfast determination and anger. “I don’t forgive you. You’ve treated me like shit. And I don’t trust that you won’t do it again. You haven’t given me a single reason to forgive you, and just because you’ve been camped out in these woods for the last few nights doesn’t mean everything is forgiven. If you want my forgiveness or any chance with me, you’ll need to work for it. You may be my soulmate, but I will live without you if I have to. I will forget you exist if you give me no other choice. I know my worth and I know what I deserve. I don’t need some perfect man who abides by the laws or morals that others set. But I do need to know you. Who you are. Not The Dealer. But this guy.” I lifted my hand and placed it on his chest, causing his muscles to tense at my touch. “I can handle the darkness. As long as I get to know the man behind it.”

“What if there is no light left? What if you don’t like what you find?” His jaw clenched as he fought to keep his hands in his pockets when I caressed my fingers across his pecs.