everything you say you are. Females do not make their way simply because they are women. You’ll be expected to make sense. Logical sense.”
He abandoned his lazy stance in the doorway and closed the distance between them. There was such purpose in the way he moved that she retreated without thinking and ended up against the wall.
Darius didn’t stop when she collided with the solid barrier but kept coming until he propped one of his hands on the smooth surface next to her face. She was fully aware of him, just as she had been the night before. Her senses felt keener, every detail impacting her more dramatically.
He cupped her chin, raising her face so their gazes met.
“You are a Pure Spirit, which means you could become one of us. But understand one thing: join my world, and I won’t consider you off-limits any longer. Show me that stubborn determination, and be assured I will happily test your nerve. My polished manners are for business matters only.”
“I see.”
Something flickered in his eyes that sent a shaft of anticipation through her—some promise lurked there that was everything she’d ever wondered about but had been told was uncivilized.
“No, you don’t, Janette. You understand nothing about my nature.”
Her pride reared its head. “I understand you are more truthful than any gentleman caller my father approved of. They said pretty things while their eyes were full of the same things I see in yours.” And he was using her first name easily now, something that should have bothered her, yet it felt very right. “I believe I prefer your approach, Darius.”
He chuckled, but it was a dark, sinister sound. “Such a statement will have to be verified.”
He slid his fingers along her cheek, moving his hand to cup the side of her face as he angled his head to press his lips against hers. The kiss was just as intoxicating as the first had been. Only now she wasn’t so sure she wanted to resist. She craved his strength and the knowledge that he wasn’t forbidden to have unleashed something wild inside her. He took command of her mouth, moving her face so their mouths fit together. She didn’t let him do all the moving this time but tried to mimic his motions. She flattened her hands on his chest, spreading her fingers to feel more. There were ridges of muscle beneath his vest and shirt. She could feel the warmth of his skin and smell his scent as her breathing became rougher.
“Damn it, Janette.” He pulled away from her, his breathing as unsteady as hers. “You shouldn’t kiss me back.”
Her eyes widened. “But you can test my nerve by kissing me? That isn’t fair.”
“Fair?” He laughed, low and full of warning. “What makes you think there is anything fair about the position you find yourself in?”
“You’re making fun of me…again.” She shoved hard at his chest, but his hand slid back into her hair. He threaded his fingers through the half-dried mass and gripped it to hold her head prisoner.
“I’m warning you, Janette.”
“Which you have done every time we have met, and I am weary of your dislike of me. Why do you keep trying to encourage me to reject you?”
His lips thinned, but his eyes still showed her desire. “Because it would keep me from falling victim to your siren song.”
He kissed her again, his lips ensuring she didn’t have the chance to argue with him. Instead, she found herself battling to recall anything he’d said. All that seemed to matter was the sensation flowing from their kiss. It was the sweetest delight, clouding her thinking and awakening a need to fan the flames so they burned brighter.
Darius kissed her harder now, pressing until she opened her mouth; when she did, his tongue teased the delicate skin of her lower lip. A ripple of delight went down her body, followed by another when he thrust his tongue into her mouth. It was shocking but immensely intimate. She’d never been so close to another human, and there was a sense of
He abandoned his lazy stance in the doorway and closed the distance between them. There was such purpose in the way he moved that she retreated without thinking and ended up against the wall.
Darius didn’t stop when she collided with the solid barrier but kept coming until he propped one of his hands on the smooth surface next to her face. She was fully aware of him, just as she had been the night before. Her senses felt keener, every detail impacting her more dramatically.
He cupped her chin, raising her face so their gazes met.
“You are a Pure Spirit, which means you could become one of us. But understand one thing: join my world, and I won’t consider you off-limits any longer. Show me that stubborn determination, and be assured I will happily test your nerve. My polished manners are for business matters only.”
“I see.”
Something flickered in his eyes that sent a shaft of anticipation through her—some promise lurked there that was everything she’d ever wondered about but had been told was uncivilized.
“No, you don’t, Janette. You understand nothing about my nature.”
Her pride reared its head. “I understand you are more truthful than any gentleman caller my father approved of. They said pretty things while their eyes were full of the same things I see in yours.” And he was using her first name easily now, something that should have bothered her, yet it felt very right. “I believe I prefer your approach, Darius.”
He chuckled, but it was a dark, sinister sound. “Such a statement will have to be verified.”
He slid his fingers along her cheek, moving his hand to cup the side of her face as he angled his head to press his lips against hers. The kiss was just as intoxicating as the first had been. Only now she wasn’t so sure she wanted to resist. She craved his strength and the knowledge that he wasn’t forbidden to have unleashed something wild inside her. He took command of her mouth, moving her face so their mouths fit together. She didn’t let him do all the moving this time but tried to mimic his motions. She flattened her hands on his chest, spreading her fingers to feel more. There were ridges of muscle beneath his vest and shirt. She could feel the warmth of his skin and smell his scent as her breathing became rougher.
“Damn it, Janette.” He pulled away from her, his breathing as unsteady as hers. “You shouldn’t kiss me back.”
Her eyes widened. “But you can test my nerve by kissing me? That isn’t fair.”
“Fair?” He laughed, low and full of warning. “What makes you think there is anything fair about the position you find yourself in?”
“You’re making fun of me…again.” She shoved hard at his chest, but his hand slid back into her hair. He threaded his fingers through the half-dried mass and gripped it to hold her head prisoner.
“I’m warning you, Janette.”
“Which you have done every time we have met, and I am weary of your dislike of me. Why do you keep trying to encourage me to reject you?”
His lips thinned, but his eyes still showed her desire. “Because it would keep me from falling victim to your siren song.”
He kissed her again, his lips ensuring she didn’t have the chance to argue with him. Instead, she found herself battling to recall anything he’d said. All that seemed to matter was the sensation flowing from their kiss. It was the sweetest delight, clouding her thinking and awakening a need to fan the flames so they burned brighter.
Darius kissed her harder now, pressing until she opened her mouth; when she did, his tongue teased the delicate skin of her lower lip. A ripple of delight went down her body, followed by another when he thrust his tongue into her mouth. It was shocking but immensely intimate. She’d never been so close to another human, and there was a sense of
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