Page 9 of A Kingdom of Death & Darkness
And that’s all I’ve ever had.
“You’renotmy friend.”
He tilts his curious head once more.
“How do you know?”
“Because I don’t have any fucking friends.”
A burning smell fills the room as glinting red embers spark the darkness, and then he’s right in front of me. Inky hands and an unnatural darkness highlight his skin. His bare chest is lined with hard lean muscle. His arms and shoulders are corded with strength. He could break me.
It’s my very first thought when I see the moonlight brighten his carved features.
The second thought is how unbelievably attractive he is. It’s a dangerous, deadly kind of sexuality. The kind that could get you burned, and you can’t help but inch a little bit closer to the flames. His hand lifts, and just like that dangerous flame, I leaninto it. Gentle fingers skim along my jawline, and a trance of hypnotic shivers races beneath my skin.
“Do I feel like a friend?”
I shake my head slowly at him, never dropping his heavy gaze.
“I know what you feel. Don’t lie,” he whispers in a low voice, his head tipping down to hover along mine.
“It’s not a lie. You’re the epitome of stranger danger. You’re probably seconds away from rolling back the doors of your white van and inviting me inside for a piece of candy.
Pretty eyes shift to the side as he considers my words.
“I have no idea what any of that means,” he finally replies with a warm breath across my lips.
“I don’t even know your name,” I barely say between heavy breaths.
What is happening right now?
His smile reveals those sharp white teeth behind manic humming laughter.
“It’s Carver. Some call me the Blood Carver, but formalities aren’t really necessary between friends,” he murmurs on a low rumbling tone that just makes me fall even further into his madness. I dive into it with a heady need to feel every single inch this mysterious man can give me.
And then his lips brush mine. Sparks like fire and desire sting my skin where his body touches mine. I lean into the pain as his hand laces through my hair, and he grips hard enough to bring a whimper up my throat. But the sound is devoured by his kiss. It’s all so fast and intense. My body doesn’t even feel like my own, but at the same time, I feel...everything.
He steps forward, my legs tangle with his, and in the rush of it all, he grips my ass tightly and lifts. My weight crashes against an uneven surface, the table rocking beneath me and rocking my core against his hips in the most amazing rush of needy energy.That same unsteady hum of laughter shakes over my lips, and I find myself smiling against his unhinged amusement. He’s heady and delicious and wrong. So, so wrong.
But he feels so fucking good too.
He feels like life and freedom and normalcy.
And I’ve never felt that before. Ever.
My hands dip low, and the cool metal of his belt brushes my fingertips for a single second before a tight grip snatches around my wrist. A heavy breath breaks our kiss, and he looks down on me with bright moonlight glinting across pure sadistic, crimson-kissed eyes.
“You don’t want to do that,” he whispers along my lips. Calculating thoughts shift across my mind as he studies me through an intense stare.
“Why? Afraid you’ll disappoint me?” My eyes narrow on him despite how hard my heart pounds for us to finish what we started.
“No. I’m afraid I’ll make you find disappointment with every man who ever touches you after me. I don’t want to ruin you, Crymson.” That sharp arrogant smirk still lines his lips.
I don’t want to ruin you . . .
“Whatdoyou want?” I ask, realizing neither of us has pulled away from the other. My legs are still tightly wrapped around his lean hips, and his hand is still tangled through my hair.
“To save you,” he whispers eerily.
