Between Light and Dark by Elissa Wilds Page B

Shadows, he was not aware one existed for the Graves family, but perhaps it would prove useful to them in the future.
    "Tonight would be an opportune time for you to attempt
a meeting with your Liaison on the Astral Plane so she can
explain further," Axiom suggested.
    Laurell scowled. "Yeah. I'll get right on that." She crossed
to the far side of the room with jerky movements, then
stopped abruptly as though uncertain of her next step. She
let out a heavy sigh and rubbed her hands over her face before dropping her arms to her sides.
    Axiom frowned. He could not help feeling he had failed
her in some manner. He stood up and went to her, reaching
out to her again and steeling himself for her inevitable retreat. Surprisingly, when his hand touched hers, she did not
move. Her head lifted and her hazel eyes gazed into his,
searching. She squared her shoulders, as though coming to
some sort of decision, and licked her lips. Axiom's eyes were drawn to the curve of her mouth, to the plump flesh
now wet from the sweep of her tongue. A pulse ticked in
his neck. He blinked and his gaze met hers again.

    Laurell's hands came up and hovered over his bare chest.
The hairs there prickled under the heat of her palms, begging them to land. At the same time her fingers curled
against his skin, Laurell stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips
to his. Axiom sucked in a harsh breath.
    That brief press of mouth against mouth was so tempting.
He felt the yearning trying to tumble over him, but held it in
check. Yet a desire all his own heated his blood.
    Laurell's kiss became more heated, her body pressed
close against his, and her tongue pushed between his lips.
She tasted of sugar, and the scent of smoke from a distant
campfire clung to her clothes and tickled his nose. His
arousal had to be clear to her. He hardened and strained
against the towel still hanging loosely from his hips. He
should stop this.
    It was not time for their mating, but the sensations were
too pleasurable to turn away. The fact that Laurell had initiated the embrace further titillated him.
    Axiom's arms closed around her, his hands running slow
circles over her back, caressing her through her cotton
shirt. He enjoyed the feel of her, the curve of her hips, the
way goose bumps broke out on her arms when his fingers
brushed them. Heat flared and he choked back a moan.
Laurell's fingers left his chest and fluttered across his back,
his hips, to rest on his waist. Laurell pulled her mouth from
his, ran her tongue over his lips, down his jaw, and then
teased his neck.
    Her breathing was heavier, her skin hot to the touch.
His breath, his skin, soon followed suit.
    Break away. This is not the time. But then he told himself
the embrace was harmless and he should look at this as a practice exercise. The yearning hovered in the background,
teasing with its promise of exquisite pleasure, yet still held
in check by their wards.

    Distracted by the need throbbing in his groin and the
tingling of his skin when Laurell's sweet lips trailed over his
chest, he did not think to question her sudden change of
heart or why she had gone from avoiding his touch to initiating their intimacy. That was, until her tongue flicked his
nipple and the hands around his waist released the towel
and sent it pooling to the floor. Her fingers slid over the
length of his engorged sex and closed around the tip. He
moaned and bucked against her hand.
    A moment later, he sensed Laurell's ward break and he
knew, without a doubt, she had released the yearning on
purpose.
    The yearning ripped through Laurell's body, fierce and hot,
burning through any remaining nervousness and severing all
her inhibitions. Her mind filled with Axiom, with visions of
sex acts so carnal she'd have blushed if the yearning allowed
her even a moment of clarity. Axiom. The visions were of
Axiom. And her. His scent, earthy but tinged with soap from
his recent shower, engulfed her. He throbbed