Page 44 of The Book Reader
I feel deeply connected to him, as if I’ve known him all my life. The dinner was good, and then it all went to shit with the daemon attack—two black eyed daemons knocked Mark out and tried to kidnap me. The voices came back, so much stronger this time, when the daemon picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, and was unable to shimmer away; something scared him enough to drop me.
I’ve killed daemons before. A few years ago, in the park, when I found Lucy, the voices in my head were stronger, andsomething protected me. But last night I killed those two all on my own.
I used my power to rip their bodies apart. Even now, when I think about it, it scares me to know I hold that kind of power in my hands. I always thought I was a low-level witch—a nobody. In the past, I had to fight, which would leave me feeling drained. Once, when I was leaving the club late at night, this guy was following me. When he grabbed me, I turned and something inside of me took over, and he ended up being thrown through the air away from me with a broken arm and a rip in his throat. I had brushed it off. No one told me I held more power than a Wiccan.
Last night I was left covered in blood and so shocked that everything after was a blur. I remember turning around and watching Gaelan walking over to me, then I passed out.
The next thing I knew, I was waking up in Gaelan’s hotel room, wearing his shirt. He must have undressed me, which I’m trying hard not to think about; it doesn’t matter now; he’s seen me naked. Gaelan asked me if I knew what happened, and I lied to him; I told him I didn’t remember, but I did—I do. Whoever those daemons were, they were after me and this book, which I still have no idea where or what it is. Until I confirm it, I will keep this information to myself.
Gaelan knew I was the Book Reader; he knows a lot more than he’s telling me. He told me to find the book and that I would find my answers. Now, I have more questions than answers, and I’m afraid that if I ask them, he’ll either not tell me or I won’t like the answers I find.
I was undoubtedly drawn to him last night. The first kiss at the restaurant blew my mind, and I was hungry for more. Something about the way he kept looking at me spoke to the carnal need inside of me, and I had to have him.
The sex was different from anything I’ve had in my whole life. He knew how to work my body, playing it like an instrument, composing a beautiful song. His teeth have left marks in various places on my body—it seems he likes to bite as much as I do. He woke me up twice in the night, the first time I woke up as he slipped his fingers into me while sucking on my most sensitive parts. The second time, I was moving to hug him, brushing my hand over his hard cock, which led to more. This morning, I woke him up by riding him; I just can’t get enough of him. I’ve lost count of how many orgasms I’ve had because of Gaelan. But the amazing sex doesn’t erase any of my questions.
Can I trust him? Deep down in my heart, I know I can. I just worry that he’s also after the book.
Rolling over in bed, I freeze when my eyes meet the deep brown eyes of a puppy with black fur. He growls playfully at me before jumping on me and licking my face. I giggle and tickle his back, which makes him even more playful. He nips at my ear before jumping off the bed and spinning in circles.
“Hey, come here, boy.” I tap the bed, and he jumps up and just stares at me. I frown at him, “So”—I scruff his head— “Tell me, can I trust your daddy?” He growls lightly and licks my cheek once.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” I laugh. If only trust were that simple.
Sucking in a breath, I jump off the bed and check the clock. It’s almost two in the afternoon—I knew it was late. That much sex would make anyone sleep in. I still don’t know where my clothes are, so I put on Gaelan’s shirt, pick up the puppy, and make my way into the kitchen.
Gaelan is standing by the breakfast bar, drinking a cup of coffee with his shirt off and a pair of grey sweatpants low on his hips. His stomach has eight very defined muscles that lead to those sexy hip dips he has. I swallow hard, remembering what it felt like to have that body on top of me last night. The way helooked at me was as if I were the only person in existence. Made me feel so wanted.
My eyes run over his muscled chest, to the tattoo of a dragon wrapped in vines with roses over his heart, across his chest, and down his arm, which resembles intricate tribal markings. This man is something else, and my pussy starts to ache again with the need to feel him inside of me.
Gaelan clears his throat, and my eyes meet his intense blue stare. He smirks and gives me a dimpled grin. He’s on the phone but points to a bar cart with food. Walking over, I pick up a sausage and give a bite to the puppy before making some toast and grape jelly. I sit and take little bites while feeding the dog at the same time. He feels so relaxed in my arms that I almost wish he were mine.
“A puppy?” I hear Gaelan question as he comes over to join me.
I frown at him. “Yes, he was on the bed when I woke up.”
Gaelan’s eyes narrow at the dog, who growls low at him and then burrows closer into my arms, his tongue rolls out as if he’s sticking it out at Gaelan. I laugh and scratch his head. “He’s yours?” I ask.
Gaelan raises an eyebrow at the pup. “No, he’s going to the pound this afternoon.” The puppy whines, then growls loudly.
I laugh. “Don’t lie, he’s yours.” Leaning down to kiss the puppy’s head, I smirk. “I didn’t see him last night.”
“I know,” Gaelan says before giving the puppy a pointed look. “He also was not meant to be seen this morning, either,” he gestures vaguely at the animal.
I raise one brow, making it clear I don’t know what’s going on. Gaelan talks to him like he can understand. The puppy lifts and licks my face again, making me laugh. “What’s his name?” I ask between laughter.
“Whatever his new owner is going to call him.” The puppy stops and turns to face Gaelan, making a strange howling sound. Gaelan narrows his eyes. “Rex, that’s his name.”
I smile and start to scratch behind his ear;he must like it, I think. It seems to calm him down. “Rex, I like it.” I smile and look up to catch Gaelan staring at me, making my cheeks blush. “What?”
He smiles. “You have a beautiful smile.”
Our eyes stay locked, and in that moment, something swells in my chest. A feeling that I can’t explain, it’s like my soul feels at home. Somehow, he gives me peace in my heart, which has been missing since the day my grandfather died.
He looks away and moves to refill his coffee. When he turns, teeth marks on his neck and shoulder stare back at me. My mouth opens with a light gasp, and embarrassment colors my cheeks. “Oh god.”
Gaelan’s eyes flicker to mine, and he chuckles, knowing precisely what I’ve just seen. “You like to bite when you come.” His eyes flash brighter. “And it’s so fucking sexy—I hope they leave a mark.” He smirks over the rim of his cup before taking a sip—that look, the smirk… It’s precisely the same as last night. The look makes me question who he is. It’s like he knows something, a secret that he isn’t sharing.
“Gaelan, you never told me anything about being a dream daemon?” I’ve never heard of them. The daemon book I have also doesn’t mention anything about them. So now I’m wondering what exactly Gaelan wants from me.
