Page 91 of Seduce Me in Shadow

Chapter

Forty

Sabelle draws in a shaky breath, clearly nervous. And excited. She stares at Ice as if he’s the forbidden fruit. “Touch me how?”

Desire leaps in his gaze again. “As much as you’ll let me. The more contact, the more successful this will likely be.”

The witch pauses.

“Afraid my madness is contagious, princess?” Ice challenges with a wickedly arched brow.

“Don’t be daft.” Sabelle snaps, but her frown betrays her. She worries her bottom lip, a gesture so sensual it’s almost obscene.

The air between them crackles with unspoken desire. I don’t think it’s Ice’s intimidating presence that has Sabelle hesitating, but the incendiary pull threatening to devour them both.

“I’ll do it.” Her voice breaks, a tremor of anticipation more than fear.

He blows out a breath. “All right, then. Relax and trust me. You can’t be afraid, no matter what.”

“Of course,” Sabelle murmurs.

But I suspect that Ice’s request is easier said than done. Either way, they need to hurry before Aquarius’s clock strikes midnight.

Ice’s reply is a low, spine-shivering rumble. “Place your hands on her. Focus. And no matter what…don’t break contact with me.”

The witch takes her position, poised over Aquarius. She inhales sharply, as if steeling herself for what’s to come.

Ice prowls behind her, his presence a wall of heat. His breath caresses her ear as he murmurs, “Ready?”

She nods, but her body stiffens. And no wonder. The tension between them is thick and undeniable.

Closing the last bit between them, Ice wraps his arms around Sabelle’s middle, just beneath her breasts. His legs shadow hers, thighs to thighs, shins to calves, his feet braced around hers. The witch’s breath catches when Ice drops his head, resting his forehead to her crown. His breath fans the little tendrils of hair at her nape. Some of the hair artlessly piled on her head slips free of its clip, caressing Ice as she leans back into him.

Neither moves as their bodies seemingly meld together.

“I’m going to blast you with cold. Try to pass it through you to her.”

Like an energy transfer? It doesn’t escape me that if Aquarius were awake, she would embrace this holistic energy healing and give it two thumbs up on the karma scale. Since she’s not, I hold my breath, willing this to work.

Sabelle closes her eyes. A moment later, she stiffens, then gasps. Finally, she tries to jerk free from Ice.

“No,” he growls. “Stay with me. See where she needs cooling and pass the chill there.”

With chattering teeth, Sabelle nods. Her hands turn cadaver white, then blue. I frown. Ice is projecting his cold to Sabelle, but she’s not transferring it to Aquarius.

“Please,” I cajole Sabelle. “I know it must be uncomfortable, but don’t give up.”

Olivia gives my hand a supportive squeeze.

With a wobbly nod, Sabelle consents. “Sorry. It was…quite a lot. I’ll try again.”

With a nod, Ice wraps his arms tighter around Sabelle, touching his lips to her ear. “Take in my energy. Send it through.”

Sabelle squints, trying to focus inward. Ice grips one hip, pressing himself closer until there’s not a breath of air between them. The other hand he splays across the flat of her stomach, fingers stretched from just beneath her breasts, all the way to her navel. Sabelle’s head falls against his shoulder, eyes closed.

“Feel me?” Ice whispers, his voice husky.

“Yes,” Sabelle answers in a ragged gasp. A rosy flush blooms across her cheeks, spreading down her neck.

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