Page 90 of The Devil's Heir

"Tell me, pauper, what were you dreaming about?" I ask before dipping my head down and grazing her jaw with my lips.

"Jarek, I…"

"Tell me," I urge when she stops.

"It doesn't matter, Jarek." Her tone is soft and whispery the more I sprinkle kisses around her jawline.

"It matters to me, now, tell me."

Lily hesitates briefly, but then she says, "You, Jarek. I was dreaming about you."

I stop. What feels like a bucket of ice water crashes down over me, and I jerk away.

"What do you mean you were dreaming about me?"

I can see the hurt in her eyes as she states, "I was dreaming about the day you chased me off, and I ran into traffic. You wouldn't leave me alone; you just kept chasing me…"

Gazing down into Lily's eyes is like looking into dark, tumultuous clouds. I feel desolate, and I don't like this feeling very much because it reminds me too much of my childhood after losing my parents.

"I'm sorry, Lily. I didn't know…"

We stare at one another for a few beats before she says, "It doesn't matter anymore; it's all in the past."

I smile sadly, gaze at her, and ask one of the most important questions of all: "Is it?"

FORTY-THREE

Liliana

I haven't had a dream like that in a long while. Maybe it's the pregnancy hormones, or perhaps it's because of the fight with Jarek, but the nightmare came back. It's the one I always had of him chasing me from the school and right into traffic. I thought I was over it… I guess not.

After our argument the day before, I came to my room, and as much as I tried not to—I cried. I'm not sure what to do anymore. Do I really want the contract that I'm forced to submit until the time I can leave, or do I tear it up and hope to live somewhat of a normal life here with Jarek. Can I be happy with him?

He's here now, holding me and comforting me from my dream—well, he was until my words shattered the moment. Jarek hovers over me, his dark eyes boring into mine as he takes steadying breaths while gazing down.

My pulse kicks up a notch, my own breathing turning shallow as I feel the heat of his stare burning into mine. It's hard to form a response with the way he's looking at me, but I push one out eventually.

"I'm trying, Jarek."

Jarek's body eases from its tense state, his gaze drifting to my mouth. Seizing the moment, I run my tongue over my lips, softening their dryness and preparing them for the possibility of what? A kiss? Is that what I want—for Jarek to kiss me?

Yes.

He doesn't say anything as he slowly descends, my heart stopping altogether when he pauses mere centimeters from my lips. He's waiting. He's giving me a chance to deny him, but I won't. Instead, I apply pressure to hishand on my throat, trying to press mine against his, and finally, Jarek closes the gap and kisses me.

It's soft at first, and when I part my lips to let him in, he doesn't hesitate. His tongue plunders my mouth, sweeping around mine in an erotic dance. A moan slips free, and he deepens the kiss even more.

I can feel his hardness press against me as he moves until his body covers mine completely. My legs open, making room for Jarek.

He breaks the kiss to gaze down at me, his lips shiny from our saliva. His stare is raw and hungry, causing my lady bits to tingle in anticipation. Jarek is already naked, but I'm in a long negligee and panties.

Jarek releases my neck to cup my face as he states, "I won't take this further unless you ask me to, Liliana."

It's Liliana now, and not pauper.

Biting the corner of my bottom lip, I hesitate, but fleetingly, as I look Jarek in the eye and say, "Make love to me…"

He doesn't steal my lips immediately, though. No, Jarek closes his eyes and lets out a long sigh first. Then, he's claiming my lips like a man starved.