Page 19 of Surrendering Hope (The Hope Legacy)

“Ah, that makes it so much better.”

“We need new things for your list. Then I can reread it.”

“So you can make my fantasies come true?”

“And give you new ones,” he says before capturing my lips in another toe curling kiss. “Fuck, I love the way you kiss me,” he mumbles, nuzzling my neck.

“How do I kiss?”

“With a rawness I’ve never felt. Like you’re pouring your heart’s every desire and need into it. Like your naked soul is wrapping itself around mine. Like you would go to war for me.”

I blink. “Yeah, I’m pretty awesome.”

He chuckles. His eyes flick black, then gold. “I must go. Stay safe, Natia. Make no deals with the devil and protect the Jar. He cannot get it, or you.” He disappears and I’m alone and empty inside the log cabin. Typical, even my subconscious feels the need to sabotage my pleasure with demons.

Chapter Seven

Natia

Taureans don’t share. Especially food.

“Sweet dreams?” Jed asks whilst staring down at me with a shit-eating grin and his head leaning on his hand.

A blush creeps along my cheeks. Covering my embarrassment, I rub the grit from my eyes. “Um?”

“I was asking if you had sweet dreams, babe?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Oh, Archan, please fu-”

I slap a hand over his mouth. “Okay, yeah, I had splendid dreams. Until Evil Archan dragged him away.”

Jed cocks an eyebrow as I sit up, feeling the most rested I have since we came to the bat cave. “You think it was real?”

I pat myself down. “I’ve still got my clothes, so no.”

“More’s the pity,” Jed says, rolling off the bed and reaching out for my hand before dragging me up. “Come on, Aaden’s desperate to share his research.” Jed drags me into the living area.

“Is it too much to hope for a simple and easy solution?” I ask, as Duncan appears with a couple of brown paper bags. “Oh, food. What’d you get?” I lick my lips and park my ass on a dining chair like a hungry child.

“Please tell me it’s Chinese,” Jed says, winking at me from across the table.

I roll my eyes and inhale… “Garlic, tomatoes, basil… Lasagna. Alessandro’s?”

“Impressive, Locks.” Duncan nods as he drops the bags on the table. Like vultures, Zee and Jed dive in and peel open the containers. Jed peaks inside a foil box before he pulls it towards him. Zee shovels a forkful of spaghetti inside his mouth as I push the remaining cartons around, not finding my prize. Zee pauses as he sucks a long piece of spaghetti into his mouth and raises his eyebrows at Jed.

“Dude, it’s your funeral,” Zee says.

I frown as my gaze zeros in on the forkful of lasagna Jed is shoving in his mouth.

“Oh hell,” Aaden mutters.

Pointing at the fork, I declare, “That’s mine.”

Jed chuckles as he swallows, and no wonder, nothing compares to Alessandro’s lasagna. “I’ll share,” Jed says, grabbing a white plate from the center of the table. I grab the carton whilst he’s distracted.

“I won’t. Find your own bliss.”

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