Page 25 of Dark Symmetry

“Prove you don’t think you’re always right,” he said. “Prove Julian might have seen something. Kiss me.”

I took another step back and found my spine pressed against the blackened trunk of the oak. I tried to muster some strength. “It’s ridiculous.”

He crowded me against the tree, feathers glimmering, eyes red as glowing coals. “So you don’t want me to kiss you.”

My voice was hoarse. “I never said that.”

And then he was on me. This kiss was nothing like the first one had been. It wasn’t gentle, or brief, or tender. His lips were like fire against mine, hot and demanding. Something sparked between us, flared, and exploded, sending a pulse of white-hot desire streaking through my body. The intensity was more than I’d ever known, more than I was prepared for. I couldn’t gather my wits enough to react, not to push him away or to grip him close; all I could do was clutch the tree for support as he molded himself to me, arms coming up to cage me in.

A sound escaped my lips, a moan or a gasp, and the second my mouth opened he was there, his tongue sliding in to tangle with mine. And then my hands were on his shoulders, pulling him closer, and it was like I couldn’t get enough. I could Sense his desire, and it only magnified my own, building between us until I didn’t know where my emotions ended and his began.

One of his hands slid around my waist, pulling me tight against him, and I felt one of his legs slide between my thighs. The pressure pulled another moan from somewhere deep inside me, and his answering groan sent shockwaves of need pulsing through me. I lifted a hand from his shoulder, running it up his neck. His hair was soft, such a stark contrast to the hard muscle of his body. He pressed his thigh between my legs and I leaned into him, helpless. I threaded my fingers through his hair, tugging lightly, and then my hand met with the hard, ridged edge of one curving horn.

I stiffened. The horn—oh God, what was I doing? He was a demon. This was wrong, all wrong. Hadn’t we violated enough celestial laws? How much damage did we have to do before we learned?

“Lilin?” He pulled back, his red eyes concerned, but his hand was still cupping my cheek. I found myself leaning into the touch, the tingling sensation of his skin on mine threatening to drag me back in.

No. I wrenched myself away, ducking under the cage of his arms. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I can’t do this.”

His expression, his buffeting emotions, nearly wrenched my heart from my chest. “I’m sorry,” I choked again, then turned and fled.