Page 11 of Of Serpents and Ruins
Why wasn't I terrified?
He nuzzled me again, his breath rough against my neck and in my ear. "You should be running from me." Another low growl followed as he seemed to almost want to hug me closer. "I don't know why you aren't running."
That voice of his was setting me on fire. I tugged free, spun around, and…found myself staring straight into his eyes.
Red eyes. Red like ancient rubies. Red like cauldrons of dark flames and smoldering embers.
These were the eyes I'd remembered in the jet cavern.
Was this who that evil-voiced monster was speaking about in the cavern? The "he" coming to kill me? Thank you, evil monster lady!
All my fear evaporated into nothing but giggling jittery need. Laughter bubbled out of me. My "attacker" was gorgeous. Tall, broad-shouldered, tattooed, red-eyed, eyelined, black-and-red haired, pointed ears with piercings.
Yes, please!
Heat flared through me, blossoming in my face as I laughed so hard I snorted. Ihlkit, I had never felt so high and drunk all at once.
I tried to clap my hand over my mouth but instead found myself touching the muscular planes of his chest. "I know I'm drunk, but I don't know how you can exist. Where have you been all my life, you big spicy strawberry margarita man?"
He looked down at me, his brows first flicking upward, then down, then up again as he cocked his head. "What?" He blinked. "What did you just say, Stella?"
More giggles followed as I practically collapsed against him.
Thissowasn't me. I was sensible. Skittish. Shy. Solitary.
I needed to stop, but I leaned closer, laughing even more. As I ducked my chin and staggered, my triceratops hood flipped up over my head.
He started to put his arm around me then stopped. He lifted his hand, his brow furrowed. "You should be taking this much more seriously, Stella." He frowned as I adjusted the hoodie. "And what are you wearing?" His upper lip curled. "Did you skin a…stunted, deformed triceratops?"
"Oh." I shrugged, lowering my eyes as I shifted my weight back. I stuck my hands in my pockets and swayed. "It’s a triceratops hoodie. It has pockets and little horns. Kind of looks like a triceratops ate me, though. You can touch it. It’s soft."
His eyebrow raised sharply. "Stella…"
"Come on. Feel me."
"Stella, you need to stay away from me. I’m dangerous," he growled. "I’m cursed to kill you. I don't want to do it, but we both know the curse will seize me and force my hand."
It was all I could do to keep from purring at him and giggling simultaneously, and somehow, that turned into an utterly bizarre snorting laugh that would ordinarily have embarrassed me. "Yeah, you are. Slay me with those looks. You’re so tall!"
I was making an utter fool out of myself. I should really be more worried about this, but that little voice in the back of my head wasn’t as compelling as everything that was happening in my body right now.
He stiffened and took a step back, nodding once. "I am tall, yes."
"I want to climb you like my favorite rock-climbing wall." I slapped my hand over my mouth. Had I really just said that?
The corners of his mouth twitched. "Stella," he said, slower this time. "Stella, please. You really need to fear me." He struggled not to smile as his gaze raked up and down my body.
Even with me in a baggy triceratops hoodie with Starry Night leggings, he thought I was appealing.
"The only thing I’m afraid of is how attracted I am to you right now." Another snort and giggle followed. Part of me just wanted to die, but it wasn't the part of me that was talking. "If you're so dangerous, you walking red flag, you, then why are you here? Hmmm?"
"I'm drawn to you. I can't stay away. No matter how hard I try." Agony was etched into his granite jaw and marble cheekbones. A low growl erupted from his chest. "My instincts take over my will."
Hmmm. Instincts. My eyelids shuttered involuntarily, my insides rebelling against my better judgment and melting into heated desire. Goosebumps rioted over me. Why did he have to make that sound?
"If you really want to make me run away, you need to stop growling at me, whatever your name is."
He pulled back as sharply as if I had struck him. The air grew cold between us. His thick brows furrowed. Pain flared in his dark-red eyes. "You don't remember."
