Page 8 of Wanted 2

"I don't think those are all the demons you harbor," I responded, desperate for the distance between us to disappear, but too scared to make it happen.

He inched closer, until our breath mingled. "It would take a lifetime to confess all my demons," he whispered, and I felt the kindred nature of his soul.

I couldn't fathom his demons, but I knew my own were terrifying enough, and I knew I was looking into the eyes of someone who had seen worse. Someone who had even done worse.

That should have terrified me, but instead it gave me comfort. Here was a man who would not be scared by the depths of my own darkness.

And I was about to betray him.

Shit.

I stepped back, catching my breath. "I, uh, should finish up the rest of the house before it gets too late."

I left quickly, feeling his eyes burning holes through me as I did.

That night the Count escorted another woman into his bedroom, and raw, unfettered jealousy poisoned me every minute she was him. But in a plot twist I didn't see coming, she left shortly after she arrived, looking more than a little disappointed. She obviously didn't see that coming either, and by her scowl, I'd say she also didn't come. Poor girl. Really, I felt so bad for her.

When the Count came down to the kitchen just as I’d finished my shift, I paused and eyed him. "Rough night?" I asked.

He studied me a moment before replying, "My appetites seem to be changing."

My body buzzed with energy at that. Could it be our kiss distracted him as much as it had me? Dared I hope I played through his mind as much as he did mine?

But to what end?

So I could betray him in just a few days?

Still, I couldn't pull away from his gaze as he stood and walked over to me, stopping just shy of full body contact. He cupped my face and tilted his head. "Tell me, Kassandra, do you think about that kiss?"

I blinked, then nodded once, briefly. No point even trying to lie, not about that. The truth was written all over my face. I tried to contain my emotions and hold myself together, but already, my legs were turning to Jell-O, so my fortitude wouldn’t last long.

The Count lowered his head and covered my mouth with his as one hand cupped my head and the other tugged at my hips to pull me close against him.

With a moan, I parted my lips, allowing his tongue to sweep inside and dance circles with mine. He tasted of fire, of mystery and power. I shivered as he devoured me with a dark mastery that sang to some deep part of me, and when his teeth grazed my lower lip, I arched against him. I needed more this time, so much more.

His fingers trailed down my cheek, over my neck, and further still, creating a path of burning need until he reached my breast. I gasped into his mouth as his thumb grazed my nipple through my shirt.Yes. More.I leaned into him, my body thirsting so desperately to feel a release with his.

Too soon, he pulled away, leaving my lips cold and my body melting.

With a resigned expression, he turned. "I will spend the evening in my quarters. Get some rest."

My mouth dropped open as he vanished through the kitchen door.

What. The. Hell?

Oh, this man was so damn infuriating. Teasing me, bringing me to the edge of everything and then just leaving me there alone? Just what kind of twisted gamewasthis?

No, damnit. He’d satisfied an entire parade of women before me. Why leavemehanging? What did they have that I didn’t? Well, probably a lot, but I refused to go there right now. Regardless of who had what, he couldn’t treat me like this.

I didn’t realize I’d followed him up the stairs until I stood at the very top and saw him at the end of the darkened hall, his hand on the knob of his bedroom door.

I didn’t say anything. God, I wanted to. I wanted to shout at him, demand an explanation, demand that he finish what he’d started, but before I could even begin to organize the thoughts jumbling in my head, he stood before me.

Like he was just there, mere inches away. He'd just been at the edge of the hallway literally a blink ago. How? Sure, it was dark, but—

“Why are you here?" he queried, his eyes glittering despite the dim lighting.

“You can’t just… you can’t just leave me like that,” I blurted.

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