Page 63 of Kiss of Light

Lemar’s face filled with sympathy.

“I’m sorry. But you couldn’t have known he’d do that. It wasn’t your fault.”

“Wasn’t it?” She glared at him, eyes blazing. “He was a seventeenth century priest in Spain at a time when the Church was all-powerful. Authorities looked for evil and heresy everywhere. This man must have been terrified at what was happening to him. All he wanted to do was serve his God, but I came along with my pride and arrogance and frightened him so much he took his own life. So yes, itwasmy fault. Because unlike you, no-one forced me to do it. There’s only one monster here, Lemar. It’s me.”

She lapsed into a bitter silence, the memory of what she’d done affecting her as it always did. Filling her with regret and self-loathing.

“Have you met others you can’t possess?” Lemar’s voice was gentle.

“One or two. It’s not common but as soon as I sense any kind of resistance I back off.”

“So you’ve never tried to force the issue again?”

“Of course not!”

“Then you’re not a monster. You’re someone who made a mistake and learned from it. Tala, look at me.”

Reluctantly, she met his gaze. She wouldn’t have been surprised to see disgust or pity or even sadness there. Instead, she saw something she hadn’t expected. Acceptance. Warmth. Affection.

“How can you look at me like that?” she murmured.

“Because I know you. You’re risking your life to save mine. And because of that, I’ve made a decision. When we get to the damned Gate you’ve been dragging me to all this time, I’ll go through it with you.”

“But… your father. The death sentence. What will you…”

“I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”

He smiled down at her and she felt something lock into place. Some small part of him, now irrevocably connected to her. It slid home with finality.

This time she kissed him. She wasn’t hesitant. There was no exploratory brush of the lips, no tentative foray. This was hunger, pure and simple.

She darted her tongue into his mouth, thrilled by the small groan he made when she stroked it against his. Her fingers threaded into his hair, pulling him closer.

The feel of his mouth on hers was shockingly intimate. Her pulse went into overdrive and she wondered how she’d ever believed this would feel like being trapped. The opposite was true. It felt like freedom.

Twenty Five

She deepened the kiss until it was almost bruising in its intensity. She sucked at his bottom lip, pulling it gently between her teeth. He groaned as she rocked her hips against his.

“Shaitun, you need to stop now or I won’t be able to hold back,” he warned her gruffly. His hands had slid down her back and were firmly cradling her bottom.

“We have time.” She splayed her fingers against the muscles of his chest.

“But you’ve just spent the last few hours unconscious…”

And now I’m awake. Very, very awake. You wouldn’t believe how awake I am.”

It was true. It was as if someone had doused her brain with endorphins. The deathly sickness which had overwhelmed her had been replaced by a fizzing vitality she could barely contain.

She needed to let it out.

She gave him a wicked grin that sent heat straight to his groin. He inhaled as she pressed her lips to his chest, mischievously licking at one dark nipple.

“Perhaps we should move to the bed,” he murmured. “There’s more space.”

“There’s plenty of space for what I want to do.”

She moved down his body, kissing his torso every inch of the way. When she licked his stomach, he closed his eyes and stifled a groan.

---