Page 52 of The 13th Daughter

He pulled away, breathing harshly.

"No..." Why did he stop? I wanted to scream in frustration.

"Shh, Cassie," he soothed, his voice full of the same need I felt.

"Is it so easy for you?" I cried, enraged that he had the will to stop and I didn't.

"Easy?" he bit out. "Do you have any idea what you do to me, my little hellcat? Stopping just then was the hardest damn thing I've ever had to do. You make me insane, woman, drive me to do things..." He took a shaky breath. "No, it's not easy."

Did I really have that kind of effect on him? "You make it look so easy."

He kissed my forehead. "Nothing about you is ever easy, Cassie."

"Am I such a bother, then?"

"Only when you try and start something in a public place." He hugged me to him.

My face burned and I hid in the broad expanse of his chest. I hadn't thought about that.

"The Fates were with us, love. No one saw you try and seduce me."

I pulled back, a shriek escaping. "I was doing no such...I'd never..."

He grinned.

"You say the most outrageous things..."

"Just to see you all riled up, Cassie Jayne. You're so cute with your golden eyes spitting fire and your face beet red."

I opened my mouth to yell at him, but he cut me off with another kiss. I melted, the outraged gasp turning into a whimper. Damn, but he was a good kisser.

"I'll make you a promise you, Cassie," he murmured, his lips nibbling their way down my throat and leaving a blazing trail of fire behind them. "When I decide to start something, you can be damn sure we'll finish it."

"Promise?" I whispered against his ear.

"Guaranteed." He pulled me close, his chin resting on my head.

I sighed and wrapped my arms around him. I wished to the Fates I could forget my doubts and just let myself enjoy the love that consumed me. If only he weren't lying to me.

Dad's words of 'for now' came back to haunt me. How could I be safe with him for now and not later? I didn't know and it scared me.

"Ethan," I whispered.

'Hmm?"

"Don't hurt me."

He was silent for a long time. At last he said, "I'll try, Cassie. I promise I'll try."

Chapter Seventeen

Jeff glared down at me.I grinned. I couldn't help it. He looked ridiculous.

"CJ, I swear if you don't pay attention, I'm going to leave right now!" He'd been trying to get me caught up on rudimentary magic over the last week. If I wasn't with Ethan, I was with Jeff here in the tree house. It had become a makeshift school house.

"I can't help it!" I collapsed backward, rolling with laughter. "You look like Mr. Herndon."

He gasped in outrage and stalked toward me. "You take that back!"