Page 47 of Tortured Soul
Was it morning? Did I…sleep here?
I was—
“Are you feeling better?”
I gasped, jumping and turning my face toward the voice.
Arc was lying on his back, leaning against the headboard, amused eyes boring into mine, one of his arms behind his head and a book in the other.
Shirtless. His jeans loose on his hips and the elastic band of his underwear peeking out.
Hickeys and bite marks covered his throat. His collarbone. Hischest.
“What the hell?” I shrieked.
“What’s wrong?” He frowned, following my gaze, before a grin spread to his face. “Oh, are you admiring your hard work?”
“Hard work?What’re you talking about? I didn’t—”
“You certainly did, blondie. But it’s alright.” He closed his book and dropped it on his bedside table, sitting up straighter. “You had my consent.Mostly.”
My eyes bulged.
“Yourconsent?”
He shrugged, crossing his arms in front of him. “Well, I would have felt more comfortable if you didn’t get rid of all your clothes and rubbed your nearly naked body against me, but after what happened, I couldn’t just—”
“What?” I shrieked, focusing on the blurr that was my memories from the previous day.
His frown deepened.
“You don’t remember?”
After a brief hesitation, I shook my head. At least, I didn’t remember anything that would have led me here, sharing his bed and half naked. My top was still on though, so that was good, right?
I had a normal day at the archives. Ann came by to supervise Carter, he acted like an ass, she stayed to drink the coffee Margaret gave us. I left late and weak, I wanted to go and see Carrie and ask her…
Ask her…Didn’t I?
“You were attacked. A lower demon living here picked up…your scent.”
Shit.
“Tell me,” he said calmly but with an edge to his voice, leaning forward to hover over me. “Why were your pheromones so out of control? Why was it that I was eating with Carter and Jeremiah ten blocks from where we found you and everyone smelled you?”
My throat bobbed as fire rose to my cheeks. My heartbeat picked up, thumping loudly in my ears.
“Are you blamingmefor being attacked?” I asked, scooting away.
But before I could put more distance between us, he pounced, laying me flat on my back, his arms not touching me but caging me in. Just like he did when I stepped out of Carrie’s office.
“Why would I blame you,” he groaned. “I’m only trying to save other Immortals from being savagely burst out of existence because of it.”
My eyes widened, mouth agape.Dark flecks flying around, dispersing in the burning wind.
“I didn’t do that!”
His lips curled up. “I know, but I did.”
