Page 52 of Dark Awakening

Her eyes flick to the shadows that cloak me. "Why keep yourself hidden, Rhyland?" There’s a desperate edge to her demand.

My hood's my disguise, shrouding most of my face, no need for more. A simple shift of my head, and she's kept from the full picture.

I avert my gaze, struggling for the right way to put this. How do I tell her that dropping the whole truth now might just shatter what we're building?

"There are... complications. I want you to get it, but fuck if I can spell it all out right now," I admit. She can sense I'm pulling punches, and she's not backing down.

"I think I deserve some answers after everything," she fires back, arms crossed.

The truth hangs poised on my tongue, but instinct stays my reckless impulse. Patience and trust must come first. I will unravel our tangled story slowly and gently. When the time is right, she will know me fully.

"Have you even tried?" Danica demands in frustration. She thinks I'm toying with her.

"Yes, Angel. In the only way I know how," I rasp. Before she can react, I crush her fiercely against me, revealing my desperate longing through action, not inadequate words.

Danica inhales sharply, startled. Her palms press against my chest as if to push away, but she hesitates, pulse racing under my hands.

My body trembles with restrained need. I know I should release her, but I cannot let go. I groan deeply, her intoxicating scent stealing my breath. Having her pressed against me ignites a visceral craving.

The wind swirls ominously through the trees, portending dangerous temptations if my fragile control slips. No matter how powerfully this girl calls to my darkest desires, I vow to take things slow. "For now, just feel," I whisper, drawing her body close to mine. "Feel this connection between us, this power that transcends human bonds. You were meant for me, Dani." I capture her mouth in a searing kiss. "And I will have you completely."

She tries to pull away, but I feel her melt into my kiss despite herself. Her defenses are crumbling. She is mine.

"Let me show you what I can't express in words," I murmur heatedly before claiming her mouth again.

She opens to me with a hunger matching mine, our tongues dancing as we cling desperately. As my mouth claims hers, a spark ignites within me. Her lips are impossibly soft and warm, melding to mine with a rightness that steals my breath. I kiss her deeply, trying to express what I cannot say.

A slight sound of pleasure escapes her, kindling my longing. I cradle her cheek gently even as passion threatens to consume us. The kiss deepens, speaking of yearning and mystery.

Reluctantly, I release her, holding on a moment longer than I should. Her eyes remain closed, emotions simmering beneath the surface.

I trail my fingers across her cheek. "If you need time for yourself, I understand. I'm sorry for intruding..."

I am not one to sugarcoat the goddamn truth. She's mine, and there ain't a fucking thing to apologize for. Dani might be playing this little game, thinking she's pushing back, reclaiming some ground. But deep down, she can't deny what's firing up inside her—it's me she's aching for.

The more she's away, the hotter that flame's gonna burn. Every second apart is just cranking up the heat. By the time she's back in my arms, she'll be so damn hungry it'll match my ravenous desire.

I'm the one calling the shots here. I'll decide when she's ripe for the taking. For now, I'll back off and just watch that beautiful defiance of hers crumble to the raw need I've awakened. She'll come crawling back, make no mistake. Her submission? That's gonna taste oh so fucking sweet after this little chase.

So no, I am not sorry. I’m playing this dangerous game like a master, pulling the strings to that sweet ending where she comes to me—all fired up and surrendering herself completely.

Dani's breath hitches in her throat, her eyes slamming shut as she tries to sort the whirlwind I've stirred in her. When she finally looks at me again, there's a storm brewing in those eyes. She touches her lips—like just feeling them might give her some answers.

"This—what you're doing, Rhyland," she says, her voice barely above a scandalized whisper. "It's like nothing I've ever felt. It fucking terrifies me."

I just nod, keeping my face as still as stone. I know what's happening here. Our worlds are colliding, shattering any barriers we thought we had.

And then she's pacing, frustrated as all hell. "This is insane. You bust into my life, rock my world with your...your kisses." Her fingers tangle in her hair like she can squeeze some sense back into her head. "I can't make heads or tails of this!"

Her panic lights a fire in me. Without thinking, I'm on her, hands on her waist—soft. "Angel, look at me." She hesitates, but her gaze eventually finds mine. "I get it, you're freaking out. But what we've started? Don't run from it."

She's searching my face like she's gonna find some sort of roadmap to navigate her own confusion. "Just...I need time. To figure this out. Please."

I let her go slowly, already regretting pushing her too far tonight.

She makes a move to leave, then throws me a look over her shoulder. "Will I—will I see you again?" She's surprising herself with that one.

"Do you want to?" My voice is a razor's edge, ready to slice through whatever she decides.

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