Page 25 of The Haunting of the Mountain

Kiss it better.

“Are you saying you want to look at my chest?”

Tingles radiate around my head and then down my neck, settling in my chest.

“I’m notnotsaying it. It’s only fair after you took care of my leg.”

“How is it?”

“Much better.” A few moments later I add, “Although I wouldn’t mind if you looked at it again.”

Stone closes the gap between us before I have the chance to react. He cups my jawline, thumbs across my cheeks, and for the first time, I see flames surface in his eyes. I feel heat scorching between us as he presses his body against mine.

“I’d love to…” Stone rasps, his eyes dipping to my lips. “I’d love to,” he repeats as his thumbs stroke my cheeks.

I was freezing a few minutes ago but right now I’m sweating as Stone regards me, something wild in his eyes. I’ve never been looked at this way before. Never been touched like this before. And when his mouth moves closer to mine, I think he’s going to kiss me like I’ve never been kissed before. But then the lights switch on rapidly, and I hear the footfalls of kids racing down the aisle.

Stone brushes my lips with his thumb and leans in. But right before we kiss I hear a chorus of kids cryingewandgrossand all sundry of disgust in our direction.

Stone growls at them and they scream, scattering as lights continue to turn on everywhere they run.

“Kids,” he rasps, hands still on me.

“Kids,” I mutter, lips aching for his.

“Should probably get going.”

I want to scream. I want to jump into his arms, wrap myself around him like a damn koala bear and never let him go until he gives me exactly what I want. But rather than do what I want, I say, “Sure.”

But then Stone leans in, hands sliding down my body as he rasps, “Because if I tasted you right now…” His breath is warm against my neck, and my body ignites as his lips brush against my ear and he inhales deeply. “I wouldn’t be able to control myself.” He brushes his nose against me, beard scratching my ear and neck.

Static in my head. Electricity in my body. Tension, tension, tension. I’ve never felt so twisted up as I do right now.

“Stone.” It comes out pleading. Begging for him to put me out of my misery. I’ve wanted him to kiss me for so long. Needed it. And now that I’m inches from his lips, I don’t want him to stop.

His hands thread through my hair, gripping and pulling, tugging my head back as I gasp, parting my lips for him. I hardly recognize Stone the way he’s looking at me. Animalistic. Primal. A beast circling his prey.

Do it. Do it. DO IT!

His lips close in, dipping just before they touch mine. They connect with my neck and my body goes haywire as my fingers claw at his back.

His moans drive me wild and I want to push his lips higher, but before I have the chance, a girl shrieks while another one screeches, “Vampire! Giant vampire!”

“And you’re next,” Stone growls, as the kids shriek again, racing down the aisle away from us.

“Guess we better leave,” he says. “I’d prefer not to be placed on the banned list.”

I want to laugh but I can’t. My body is too wired.

A few seconds later, he’s whisking me back up the steps to the main level, but my mind and the rest of my body are still in the basement.

Chapter 6

Stone

What am I doing?

I damn near mauled Kyla down there. It was like someone else—somethingelse—took over. I couldn’t control myself. And after what happened to her? I’m an idiot, and she’s been awfully quiet since we left the basement.

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