Page 30 of Torn Between Two Worlds

“Good that you know it, sweetheart.” He grinned and winked at her. “Now, open the doorway.”

He watched as she focused. She might be able to open them whenever she wanted, but it wasn't as easy as she'd wanted him to think. A moment later, the shimmering doorway he'd grown accustomed to using as travel opened.

He walked over and slipped his hand through the doorway. “I'm going to go through first. Don't waste time. We don't know when they could slip through. Just walk through it if you can.” Going through the doorway entirely, he stepped onto the front yard grass. He'd missed his palatial Greek retreat.

Turning to face the doorway, he could see her standing on the other side and smiled. She looked beautiful. Apprehensive as hell, but beautiful. “Not sure if you can hear me, but come on. Don't think about it, or you'll scare the hell out of me thinking about asking you to do this.”

She cocked her head to the side. Apparently, she couldn't hear him. He didn't mind that as much as how long she was waiting. It didn't hurt him to do it, so he didn't get her unwillingness to try. If she didn't move soon, he was going to reach his arm through and not so gently tug her. They needed to do this.

She must have read his mind because he watched as she put her foot through and wiggled it as if it would help. He bit his tongue not to laugh at her testing the waters. Slowly, she pushed her foot through. Her thigh, waist and torso followed before he lost his patience and wrapped a hand around her waist, pulling her through. Her body crashed into his, and he gripped her to stop her from falling backward. The minute their bodies connected, heat shot through him. Without a second thought, he reached down and captured her lips with his.

Hungry and demanding, he claimed her with his mouth. His tongue clashed with hers for dominance, and he didn't release her body from his as he ground his hips against hers. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and he lifted her to compensate for their height difference and groaned as her legs wrapped around his waist. Losing himself in her, he didn't know whether to curse or thank Lucifer when she pulled back. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, and her lips red and plump from his kisses. Her arms unwrapped from his neck, and she tucked a strand of black hair behind her ear.

“Um…down please.” She seemed uncomfortable and upset.

“Fuck. I'm sorry. I just, it's just that. . .” He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “I'm sorry. I'm trying to respect your wishes, but you can't pretend like you don't feel this. Like it's not a pounding forceful need for you too.”

She flushed and looked at the ground before turning to look into her living room through the doorway. Her arm reached out, and she slipped her hand back into her own world. “It's amazing.” She turned to him, a smile on her face again. “Thank you for making me try this, Stryder. I never would have known I could really just come here.” Her lips were still calling to him, and he adjusted himself, not caring that she was watching.

“You’re welcome. Now, time to head to the bar.” She paled, and he held out his hand. “I haven't done anything to endanger your life. If I thought you'd be in danger there, I wouldn't do it.”

“But no one can come here. I know that much. Your homes are warded, like the entrances to heaven and hell. I think I'd rather remain here.” She wandered in the direction of his home, and he groaned. He wanted to introduce her to his family. Show her more of himself since, despite her body's willingness, her heart and mind still clearly objected to him.

“Keep walking in that direction, and consequences be damned, I'll have you underneath me, screaming my name quicker than you can spell yours.”

Her gasp and spin worried him for a moment. “Yes about that. You're very unoriginal, considering your reputation and what happened in the kitchen.” With a wink and a grin, she actually strutted toward his house as if she wanted it.

Frowning, he grabbed her arm and flashed them to the bar.

A quick punch to the arm assured him he needed someone to train her, even if he couldn't do it himself.

“I said it wasn't safe here, and I didn't want to be here.”

“Sweetheart, you still aren't the one in control of us. Power aside, this ismyworld, and when I think something is better for you, you'll damn well do it. Throw a temper tantrum again, forget your age. It’s no skin off my back since I've had you under me and screaming my name, despite your, supposed, hatred of me.”

His eyes were black, and he could feel that his fangs had extended. If he wasn't mistaken, his horns had appeared as well.Too damn bad.He was tired of her treating him like shit, only to fuck his brains out a minute later. It was time to make a choice to accept what was happening, or he was going to see to it she was reassigned. Mate or not.

16

She couldn't believe him. “You arrogant, condescending, infuriating son of a bitch!” As she'd been yelling at him, she'd walked closer. She didn't even think as she pulled back and smacked him across the face so hard, it vibrated through her hand and turned the heads of the demons in the bar. The danger in his eyes scared her, but she wasn't backing down.

“Sweetheart, that might have been the stupidest fucking thing you've ever done. Don't think I won't teach you better,” his voice was a snarl.

Oddly enough, some of her fear retreated because she suspected he was lying.

Wrong.

She had her back pressed against a dirty wall before she could blink. Stryder’s hard body pushed against hers and sent lust through her. She bit down again on her lip, drawing more blood. Aversion therapy. She hated the taste of blood and hoped she could make herself hate the feel of him against her. His hand slid against her neck, enough to prove a point, but not to where she felt as if he was choking her.

“Do. Not. Push. Me.”

He bent his head as if he was going to kiss her, and her heart stopped. She needed to stop him, but she couldn't. She needed to get away from there and focus only on her, her work and her bills, anything but let her heart fall further and further for him.

He brushed his lips lightly against hers, and she fell apart. Her arms wound around his neck, and as she went to kiss him back, he dropped his hand from her neck and walked away. Tears sprang to her eyes. She was crying because he wouldn't kiss her. How could that be? How did he make her forget everything, but the idea of them together?

“I am not a fucking toy. You want to curse me to hell. Go right ahead, sweetheart. It’s my home away from home, don't forget. But you want to use me to sate your sexual needs and then scream at me for it? I don't fucking—”

An explosion rocked through the bar. She barely had time to see the chunks of wall exploding toward her or the bodies of demons that flew at her. The smell of ash burnt her nose at the same time as the shrieks in the room bombarded her ears. She was amazingly unaffected by whatever had blown the exterior wall. Her eyes were having trouble adjusting to the smoke, and she screamed Stryder's name as someone grabbed her by the ankle and tugged her to the ground.

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