Page 5 of Poison's Kiss
He holds me to him the way a lover would as he protectively keeps me safe from any unwanted attention - well, unwanted physical attention. He can't stop the gawking. I haven't gone out in a while. Now I'm glad I haven't.
"How?" I finally manage to squeak out. "I'm not... I mean... it shouldn't-"
"You just had your heart broken, Alyssa. It leaves the doorway open to so many dropped emotions. One of your strongest connections to Kane was the fact he was your first."
I look up with wide eyes taking over my face. "How thehelldid you know that?"
He smirks as he scans the room, avoiding meeting my gaping gawk. "It's obvious. When a mortal loses their virginity to an immortal, they're tied to them in some way. You're still mortal right now, making you no different from a human. Until you... find someone else to fill that void, your aura will wreak of wanton desire. Sorry, babe. That's just how things are. So, find someone to kill the connection, and you'll be free of all the excess attention."
I cross my arms in a huff, suddenly feeling violated in even more ways, thanks to Kane. I can't just screw some random guy in an effort to stop the excessive drooling from the mindless humans.
"I'm glad it isn't affecting immortals."
He lets a loud burst of laughter free, and I start to tilt my head up when a guy bumps into him from the back. It forces Gage into me a little harder, and I realize that Iamaffecting immortals.
I swallow hard as his firmness presses up against me more to let others pass. He laughs again when he sees my expression.
"I think you just learned otherwise," he murmurs against my ear, making me shiver all over again.
I never knew this, and now I feel like an absolute idiot. His hand slides around my waist as he moves out from behind me, and we start heading away from the crowded spot that is forcing us to share too much intimacy.
"Sorry," I mumble, forcing him to laugh even harder.
"I can deal. Just be careful. Sometimes it becomes overwhelming and it could start affectingyouphysically."
What?
"Care to elaborate?" I ask, looking anywhere but at him.
It would have been really, really nice to know this sort of thing. I'll add it to the list of things to ream my mother out over once she's fully recuperated.
"Well, it could either make you foolishly throw yourself into the arms of someone really dangerous in a desperate desire to kill the urge you only think you're dealing with, or it could drive you back to the arms of the one who hurt you. I'm sure you see why it'd be a bad idea to risk going back to Kane."
"Yeah. Considering he'd fucking kill me."
Gage frowns, his humorous fun gone as reality of my dire situation arises.
"I won't let that happen." Then his eyes perk up with mischief as he leans down to be inches from my face. My eyes fall on his sexy lip ring as his breath falls between my lips from the shiver-worthy closeness. "Let me know if you need any help. I'm a sucker for a damsel in distress."
I swallow hard, uncertain about whether he's joking or being serious, but then I'm distracted as a familiar, gut-wrenching, and beautiful face comes into view.
"Fuck," I blurt out, and Gage chuckles.
"Well that was easy enough."
I roll my eyes at the obvious misunderstanding, and my eyes point to the devil walking around the party as though nothing has happened. Gage straightens up, standing taller than usual, as he glares across the room.
"I hadn't thought about them showing up here. We should go."
He starts tugging at my hand, but I pull away. "No. We need answers, and you said this guy might have them. Just talk to him and find out what he knows."
He presses his lips into a thin line, and then he nods. "Fine, but stay where I can see you. If he approaches you, just say my name. You know I'll get you out of here within a blink. I don't care who sees us."
I shudder at the thought of Kane hurting me. Three weeks ago, I wouldn't have thought it possible. Now, it's a startling reality and a question ofwhenhe tries rather thanifhe tries.
Gage's hand finds my cheek for a second, and then he rustles through the crowd to join a guy with more piercings than skin on his face.Holy crap.
I hear Kane laughing with a random girl, probably a victim he's lining up, no doubt. Knowing I can't watch, I turn away only to run smack into Zee's chest.
