Page 23 of In the Dark

“It’s for your own good, Professor. Do you understand?” The look she shot him had heat behind it, not necessarily bad.

“You can trust me. When you’re ready,” Morgan said instead.

She clenched her fists to keep from touching him back. “Why should I? You let me into your office, into your home. Asked me out on a date without knowing me or what I’m capable of. What I am.”

“A time and place for everything. At the risk of sounding like a romantic, I think fate brought us together.” Morgan grinned. “Why else would you come find me?”

Come find me.

The words echoed in her mind and Karsia was sharply reminded of the man from her dream—if it was a dream. No, it couldn’t be? Could it?

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I have to find a way to get rid of this thing before the eclipse. And the more I think about it, the less I want to. That’s why I came to you. If anyone can help me, it’s you, because I’m running out of time.”

“Then let go of the need and the stress and the bad things.” His hands rose and fell with a tempo of their own. He traced the scratches on her arms and marveled at how they healed as he watched. Her body bouncing back. The natural abilities of a true witch. Fascinating.

“Hard to let go of them when you’ve become their embodiment,” she said.

“Maybe this will help.”

Wishful thinking, true, but Morgan maneuvered between her open knees and drew her face up to meet him before he questioned the desire. He went on instinct alone, something inexplicable pushing him toward her. Those pouty lips beckoned him in a way no one had before and he couldn’t stop himself even if he wanted to. And he didn’t.

The kiss was not fast or rushed, so she had time to pull away if she preferred. Morgan moved his body to hers until they pressed together, her softness against his hardness. Slowly their lips came together.

It was the sheer intimacy of the kiss that jolted Karsia back to herself. As she retook control, her brain turned to mush and the world spun around her until she was dizzy with it. With him. Morgan took his time with her, lips that did not demand or push. They absorbed her and caused an answering upsurge of heat to rise from her toes to her chest.

A small sound of pleasure burst from her throat and she opened her mouth to welcome him. Thankfully she was sitting down. Otherwise, the force of him would have brought her to her knees.

What a thing, to have a man touch her. Like she was normal again. Morgan’s fingers twisted in her hair and took their kiss to a different level. She angled up to him with a small keening groan. A part of her dissolved, lifted up to the heavens, and embraced the pleasure he brought. The other part scared her. The one that wanted to destroy Morgan and everything he represented.

Hope. Life.

Her hands clawed at her sides and she fought against those urges. She would not hurt him no matter what she wanted, what the thing inside her wanted. The desire to protect him rose in a fierce, fiery wave.

Finally he eased away from her, resting his forehead on hers, his vision blurred. “There, now. Not so bad, right?” he asked, voice hitching.

It took time for her to form the words. To remember how to speak. Too full of him. “I don’t know what to think.”

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes. No. More than I should have.” She pushed him away and staggered from the desk, knocking into several piles of books. “I’ve got to go.”

“No, don’t leave yet. Stay and talk to me.” Morgan held out a hand for her. “You don’t have to run away.”

His glasses were crooked and slightly fogged from their kiss. It made him more attractive than before. Damn him. Damn herself for engaging.

“This isn’t a good idea. Please, do what I need you to do and let me know when you find the paper.” She leaned against the wall and took a moment to find her breath and get her bearings again. An ache crept into her stomach, twisting agonizingly. She prepared to ignore it. “You’re making my stomach hurt, you arrogant jerk.”

“Things will be a lot more pleasurable with you here,” Morgan replied. “Sit and let me get you something to drink.” He would have said anything to keep her there. “And I don’t think you can blame me for a tummy ache.”

Neither did she, not really. But the affliction was persistent and getting worse the longer she stood. Karsia rubbed the swell of her stomach. “I don’t want anything to drink. I’m not thirsty.” She jerked forward, wrapping her arms around her torso. The discomfort increased in intensity. “What the hell?” The words dragged from her mouth before she could censure them.

“What’s wrong?” Morgan shoved everything out of his way to cross to her, his concern immediate.

Karsia waved him away as visions swamped her. They were horrible, disjointed black and white pictures. Of what she wasn’t sure. She cried out and slapped her hand on the wood paneling to ground herself.

“Karsia, talk to me.” He laid his hands on her shoulders. “Do you need a doctor?”

She shoved at him. “I don’t need a damn doctor. Get your hands off me.”

As quickly as their moment came, it was gone. Every good feeling from before, the butterflies in her stomach, it all turned sour. Her gut roiled as alien impressions assaulted her. A flash of pain, bright and sudden. A dark tunnel, and cold so keen it cut like a knife.

Something was horribly wrong.

Karsia hurried toward the door. “I need to leave. Now”

Startled, Morgan stared at her. “What is it? Maybe I can help. What do you want?”

“I need to get home.” Panicked, Karsia reached for the knob and stopped when Morgan placed his fingers on her own. “My family needs me. Something…something has happened.”

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