Page 29 of Hallows End
“I know,” she whispers. “And it’s always been something I embraced. I mean, I protect myself, but I’ve never been afraid. Maybe I’m more on edge because of everything we have going on and because we don’t know how it’ll end. But this was so far out of thenormalpart of Salem’s paranormal that it sent me into a complete panic attack and…I just needed you.”
“I’m glad you came here,” I reply softly and kiss her forehead. “But I hate that you were frightened.”
“I’m starting to feel better,” she replies. “You can turn down the fire a bit.”
With a wave of my hand, the fire dies to a soft flame, just enough to keep the chill out of the air.
“I thought you might come tometonight,” she admits with a half smile.
“I’d planned to,” I reply and brush her gorgeous red hair behind her ear. “I got sucked into reading, and it completely consumed me. I didn’t realize just how much until you knocked and pulled me out of my trance. I wish I had come to you earlier.”
“We’re together now,” she says, and her gaze falls to my lips. “I have a confession.”
“You can tell me anything.”
She licks her lips, and then she lifts her eyes to mine. “I’ve been attracted to men before. I’m not entirely innocent.”
My eyes narrow. “Is that supposed to make me feel good?”
“I’m not done.” She presses a fingertip to my lips, and I feel it all the way to long-dormant places. “I’m not innocent, but I’veneverhad a physical reaction to anyone the way I do to you.”
“What does it feel like?” I whisper and allow my hands to roam over her lightly, gently following the contours of the gorgeous hills and valleys of her curvy body.
“It’s a burning need,” she says softly. “A wonderful and powerful yearning to be touched and to touch in return. And it feels like the only thing that will help isyou.I know our minds are linked, and the urge to be near you is powerful, but I also want to touch you constantly. It’s as if I just can’t keep my hands to myself. Before this, I wouldn’t have considered myself an overly touchy-feely woman.”
“I’m glad I’m not alone in that.” I drag a fingertip down the bridge of her narrow nose. “You have an open invitation to touch me whenever you’d like, Luciana.”
She tips her lips in a soft smile before pressing them to mine. Just as it was before, I’m swept up in lust so thick and all-consuming that all I can do is breathe her in and surrender. Her heartbeat is strong under the palm of my hand as I cup her breast and tease the already tight nipple. And when she shifts in my lap and straddles me, I’m certain I’ll go mad from wanting her.
She opens her gown and lets it fall down her arms to the floor, then crosses her arms and lifts her shirt over her head, exposing her naked torso. The firelight dances over her skin, casting her in a glow so magnificent that I swallow hard.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” I breathe, leaning forward to taste her.
Lucy’s fingers dive into my hair to hold me to her, and her hips move instinctually, pushing against my hardness.
But suddenly, Nera begins to bark, pulling us out of our haze.
“Nera,” Lucy hisses as she slides off my lap and tugs her gown around her. “Stop that.”
But he doesn’t. He jumps at the door and snarls until Lucy places her hand on his back.
“He’s terrified,” she whispers, turning her frightened green eyes to meet mine. “What is going on?”
“I don’t know.” My voice is grim as I shake my head. “You two back up. Nothing can hurt you here. I’ll take a look around. Perhaps it’s a deer or something.”
“Deer can get in and out? I mean…of the boundary?” she asks.
“Yes. Just another piece of this that’s confusing. Sit tight.”
I open the door slowly and peek my head out, but the night is still. I don’t sense anything in the darkness.
But Nera doesn’t overreact. So, I walk outside, close the door behind me, and reach out with my mind.
Nothing and no one is about. The townspeople are all tucked safely in their homes.
But when I walk a few houses down from mine, I see Alistair coming out of his house.
“Oh, Jonas,” he says with a sigh, closing his eyes. “You startled me. I could have sworn I heard a dog barking nearby. I was just going out to investigate.”