Page 97 of Infernal

Seconds ticked by, and I was still staring up at him, frantically trying to memorize each one of features—his expression, his inscrutable countenance—wanting so badly to remember every inch of his face. To remember all the ways he looked at me and how alive it made me feel inside.

I would tuck those memories away in my heart—someplace so deep and hidden that not even the devil himself could find them—and I’d hold onto them for as long as my heart was permitted to beat.

My gaze was still locked on his when he smiled down at me, the faintest hint of a knowing smirk. He knew he was affecting me. He knew I was completely wrapped up in him, soaking up every edge and line of his beautiful face and eating him up in droves. He knew it, and I didn’t even care that he knew it.

I needed to remember it. To remember all of him.

My belly clenched as I silently vowed to never forget a second of my time with him, or all the ways he had come to my rescue when I was drowning in a sea of never-ending despair. He had stuck by my side, no matter how bad it got, or how much danger he put himself in, and he had made me fall so incredibly hard for him because of it.

Tears prickled the corners of my eyes as I realized I would never get a chance to thank him, to let him know just how much he really meant to me.

And I’d never get a chance to have that kiss.

“Dammit, angel, what is going on in that pretty head of yours?” he whispered as his finger came up and wiped away a fallen tear. His eyes were peeled on me as though trying to get a proper read on my spiraling emotions.

Good luck with that.

I shook my head and sighed heavily. “You don’t want to know.”

“I beg to differ.” His eyes darkened as though I’d challenged him.

I knew that look. “Dominic, don’t you dare—"

“Tell me what you’re thinking,” he commanded softly before I could finish getting my warning out.

My eyes dropped to his mouth as his lips twisted into a delicious, self-satisfied grin. He wasn’t even remotely sorry for his blatant misuse of his power.

I glared at him and then admitted, “I was thinking about kissing.” And it wasn’t a lie. Iwasthinking about it. It just wasn’t the only thing I was thinking about.

“Kissing?” He eyes were hooded with interest. “Elaborate.”

“I was thinking about kissing you,” I clarified as a deep blush swept across my cheeks. “That I want to.”

He pulled back a little and examined me like he hadn’t trusted his ears.

Jeez. Was it so hard for him to believe that I’d want to kiss him? Hadn’t I asked him to kiss me all those weeks ago in Engel’s castle? Then again, I’d also turned him down just as many times.

Talk about mixed signals.

Looking back on it now, I supposed I just assumed I’d have more time. That the dust would have eventually settled, and I’d have all the time in the world to do all the things I’d always dreamed of, to visit all the places I’d only ever read about in books. To have as many kisses with him as I wanted.

I thought I’d have more time, but my time had abruptly run out on me.

Shaking my head at the unfairness of it all, I unclicked my seatbelt and did the unthinkable: I climbed onto his lap and seized his face in my hands. His eyes immediately flared with surprise and confusion, and then with something else.

With want. With pure unfiltered desire.

If I’m going to Hell, I might as well earn myself a ticket.

His questioning eyebrows drew together as he watched me lower my head, stopping only when my face was less than a hairbreadth away from his. I could smell the liquor on his lips, taste the sweet aroma of decadent chocolate on his skin, and my stomach tightened. It was a beautiful smell, and I was going to miss it.

“Angel…” He whispered my name like a plea for salvation, and my unsated eyes snapped to his mouth. The world screeched to a halt as though collectively holding its breath for me—for us. For this moment.

I watched as he slowly wet his bottom lip, and at the sight of it, I unraveled. Erasing all remnants of the space between us, I greedily pressed my mouth against his and kissed him with everything I had and all that I never would.

It only took a split second for his shock to dissipate, and then he was kissing me back just as hard. His hands immediately found my hips and clutched onto them, holding me possessively as I moved my body over his and deepened the kiss.

All I could think about was the soft feel of his lips against mine, the way his breath tasted like whiskey and mint, and my need took over, giving way to something far more primal than anything I had ever felt before. All semblance of guilt and self-control disappeared, leaving nothing but the bare-boned truth in its wake.

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