Page 71 of The Councilor

My fiancé.

Would it ever stop feeling strange?

A few seconds later, I found myself smack in front of his door. It was closed. Was it locked? Was he trying to keep me out? I had to stop being ridiculous. It was very late and we both needed rest, although I doubted I could get any additional sleep. My hand shaking, I tried the doorknob, breathing a slight sigh of relief it was unlocked.

Thankfully, the door didn’t creak, but I sensed a room full of electricity even now. I could also gather a whiff of him, his scent so intoxicating I had to stop momentarily. The distinct fragrances of cedar, cigars, smoky wood, and spices continued assaulting my senses. I was lightheaded, although it could be for no other reason than being drained because of the ordeal. I tried to figure out something adequate for why I was here other than I was scared but nothing came to mind.

Another flash of lightning lit up the room in shades of neon blue. It was beautiful yet eerie, my skin still prickling. It couldn’t have been more than a few seconds until I sensed he knew someone was invading his privacy. The sound of sheets sliding, a gun being cocked was unmistakable.

“Aleksander,” I managed, the whisper hoarse yet full of far too much lust.

“What’s wrong? What happened? Are you okay?” His deep, velvety voice sent a shower of tingles through me, my core heated to the point of eruption. He peppered me with questions, another flash outside the window highlighting the fact he’d returned the gun to his nightstand and was padding toward me. He was worried about me. That was endearing.

I hated admitting the way I felt but as with so many things with him, it was impossible to hide anything. “I’m terrified. I can’t get warm. I don’t feel like myself. It’s a nightmare.”

He moved so close I could feel the heat of his body leaving his and coursing into mine. Sometimes, I forgot how tall he was, tonight even more so in my bare feet.

“Don’t worry. You’re safe here. It’s just the storm. I don’t like them either.” Somehow, his heated breath skipped along my jaw, almost immediately crawling down the length of my spine.

“The power is out.”

“I know. It happens. That doesn’t mean a breach in security.”

I tried to keep from shivering, but I’d never felt so cold, so lifeless in my life. All it took was another cracking sound and I lost what was left of my nerve, flinging myself at him without thought of recourse or that he might be trying to put some distance between us.

He stiffened, every muscle in his carved body tensing, and I could feel the raggedness of his beating heart as well as sense the burning need that we’d both experienced since our first shameful meeting.

“The threats. They were real,” I said, maybe for no other reason than to try to shove the nightmares away.

His sigh was heavy. “I’m checking out Jasmine and everyone else who might have had a hand in this.”

I had a terrible feeling the list was long.

Creeping a little closer, I felt how much he wanted me, his cock thick and hard, throbbing as it pressed into my stomach. I also sensed his concern had manifested itself in trying to keep me at arm’s length. So I could heal? So I could come to terms with the fact someone had tried to kill us?

To some, this was considered forbidden but to me, our connection was starting to feel almost normal. Did that shove aside this was still a sin in some worlds? No. It made my hunger burst off the charts.

“I was worried about you,” he whispered, gently pulling me away but only by a couple of inches. His head was hung low, our lips coming dangerously close to touching. He was doing everything in his power to hold back. The why didn’t matter. That made me want this, him more than before. Maybe it was just as irrational as everything else but I didn’t care.

There was only this moment, this beautiful period where everything and everyone else vanished. Just us.

Lust.

Need.

Passion.

“I’m okay. Because you saved me. I’m a little tougher than I look.”

His exhalation was so ragged, full of a range of emotions. “Yeah, but you shouldn’t need to be. Hell, I almost lost you. Putting you in harm’s way like that was such a bad decision.”

“Do you know who it was? The shooter?”

“Not yet. He will be hunted down.” There was such conviction in his voice along with his intense need.

I had no doubt he’d do everything in his power to make that happen. He was so dominating, more commanding than I’d believed possible. I tilted my head just enough our lips did finally touch.

“I need you,” I whispered and it was likely my admittance shocked us both.

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