Page 30 of My Eternal Light

Before anyone could tell her not to, she entered the circle. Immediately the heated air dried her lips and eyes. Slowly, she made her way to the beautiful man who had smiled so warmly at her. The ground erupted next to her sending out a spray of rock. She felt pain as they pierced her skin.

Finally, she made her way to him. Carefully she wrapped her arms around him. “Hey, remember me?”

The heat seemed to diminish slightly, so she kept talking.

“I’m going to be real honest here, I’m scared out of my mind, but I can’t bring myself to leave you. I feel like I waited my whole life to hear you make those ridiculous animals sounds for the books you were picking out for the children. I don’t know what is going on, but the thought of you in pain makes me nauseous.” She rubbed his back and the ground quieted.

His arms came up to hold her and she had to fight back a moan. She had never felt so complete. So, loved. So, safe. He rested his face in the crook of her neck.

“You shouldn’t be here,” he rasped. A golden light engulfed her, and her cuts were healed.

“You’re here. Where else would I be? You kinda promised me coffee, chocolate and sex, so…”

A faint chuckle erupted from him. “The others? Did I hurt anyone?”

“The two assholes were congratulating each other over whatever you’re doing, they’re fine. The red-heads and a guy named Carson created a barrier thing to keep whatever you’re doing in here with you.”

Kincaid weakly looked up. “Assholes?” his gaze went to outside the circle. “Kendrick and Thane?”

She shrugged. “I guess.”

“Gods above, please tell me I didn’t attack them.”

“Okay.”

He sat back a bit as the dry air around them swirled. If he had been pale before he was the color of milk now. “Which one?”

“The red-head.”

“He’s going to crucify me.”

“I don’t think so, if anything he sounded proud.”

“Why did I attack him?”

“He was being mean to me, so I kinda stepped toward you and you got snarly.”

Kincaid’s eyes glowed a sapphire blue. “He was mean?”

A warmth filled her heart. His anger at her discomfort was shockingly a turn on. “Down Cujo, you already hit him with fire.”

He blinked and the glow was gone. “I did?” he sounded surprised.

She tapped his chest. “Boom, right there.”

“I wonder if I could do it again, but on purpose,” he mused.

The air around them swirled faster as the temperature dropped.

“Kincaid, I’m trying really hard here,” she whispered.

His expression immediately changed to contrite as he looked down at her. “I’m so sorry. I never meant for you to find out like this. I was going to take you on a human date, then maybe come back another time for dinner. Break everything to you gently when you realized I could be trusted.” He cupped her cheek. “I would take on all your fear if I could.”

The breeze around them was gentle now.

“Baptism by fire, right?”

When the wind dissipated completely, the barrier came down, revealing the same people that she had been standing with.