Page 10 of Touch Of Fate
“Yes.” I still feel none of his life.
“I’m Rome.”
“Rome,” I say softly.
“Fuck, say it again,” he demands.
“Rome.” I lean into his touch, closing my eyes. He can touch me. I don’t have to avoid someone's touch. Hesitantly, I grip the sides of his shirt.
“Jesus,” he mumbles, and I meet his eyes. “Your energy is electric.” He inhales, tipping his head back and closing his eyes. “I feel it in every cell.” The lights flicker. I watch him in fascination. The books behind me bang together, and I tear my eyes away from him. Shocking me, the shelves beside us vibrate.
“What is happening?” I ask, looking back at him. The power is coming from him; it has to be.
“I suck up the emotions of everyone I come in contact with. I can neutralize the feelings, taking only the power it gives me,” he explains, touching his forehead to mine. “Why do you have so many inside you?”
“I feel the life of everyone I touch.” The pain from the bad man disappears. I still remember everything, but it’s as if I am looking at it clinically. His emotions are gone. “You took away my pain.” I stare at him in wonder. His eyelashes are long and almost touch mine. He rolls his head back and forth against me.
“It’s intoxicating,” he groans. “I’ve never felt so much at once.” The light bulb in the lamp beside the couch bursts.
“I haven’t been touched in a very long time,” I admit. He stops moving and brings his other hand to my opposite cheek, holding my face in his hands, and I feel like crying.
“So you see and feel memories?” he asks, narrowing his eyes.
“Yes. Everything they have done. Everything they are, I feel in torturous detail,” I whisper.
“Shit,” he grits out, brushing his thumb over my lip.
“Umm…” Lace slowly steps toward us. “I hate to interrupt. Can you control your spells? My tattoo guns are buzzing like crazy. One of the shelves fell over, and your friend is scowling at me.”
“Archer, quit being a dick,” he says, and his voice vibrates through me. “Give me a minute and I’ll pull back.” He directs his words toward Lace, but my body soaks up the timbre.
“You have to stop,” I whisper, aching to have his lips against mine.
“Why?” he asks.
“If you don’t,” I breathe. “I’m going to orgasm.”
“That’s not a bad thing.” He smirks.
“I don’t want to in front of my sister.” My stomach clenches when he laughs, and it fills the tired spaces in my soul.
“Alright, Mara.” He slides his hands from my face, and I groan. I lean forward, pulled to him as he steps back. I freeze and take a deep breath. “I’ll stop. For now.” I stare into his eyes, craving his touch again. “Stop looking at me like that,” he demands through gritted teeth.
“Sorry.” I shake my head. “I felt a loss when you backed away.”
“Mara, fuck,” he breathes.
“I know what’s happening, yet I don’t,” I say. He is my soul bond, and I feel desperate to connect with him again. Yet I can’t grasp the scope of his magic.
“We’ll figure it out together,” he says softly.
“Mara, are you okay?” Lace asks, slowly moving to my side.
“Yes.” I look at her briefly. “This is Rome.” He’s only two feet away, but the distance is too much. “This is my sister, Lace.” He nods.
“Archer,” Rome says, looking over his shoulder. “He’s my best friend and doesn’t mean to be an asshole.” My bond’s lips quirk, and I want to bite him.
“Hey,” Archer says. He steps close to Rome, and I focus on him. He has black hair and dark eyes. He’s larger than Rome, hismuscles straining his sleeves, and he has several tattoos on his bare arms. I can see the appeal he must have, but with Rome in front of me, I see no one else.
