Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51358 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
I just thought, from the way he’d kissed me, he might’ve enjoyed it as much as I did. I know he’s not a fan of relationships and I respect that. I never would’ve kissed him if I thought we were going to end up together. He had to know that, and yet, still, he’s acting like I have the plague.
Another wave of embarrassment swirls my stomach.
“It’s fine,” I finally say. It has to be fine. I’m a big girl. I can take a little rejection.
Then why does this hurt so much?
Maybe it’s because kissing him had been the only real success I’d had connecting with my power. That’s all. Definitely not because I’ve never been kissed like that, touched in the way he touched me. Nope. Not. At. All.
I heave a sigh, hating that he’s the only person that’s helped get me close to understanding the depths of my power. His ability to realize that the key was the heavy emotion tied to passion and need and release.
That thought stops the pity-party right in its tracks, an idea taking shape.
Who says I need him to help me conjure those emotions? Especially if he has no interest in me.
“I’m sorry.” He runs is fingers through his damp hair. “Annika—”
“Right,” I say, a challenging sort of courage rising inside me. “It’s not a problem.” I head toward the bank, totally ready to bury my head in the sand that lines the water.
“We don’t need to stop the lesson,” Dagon calls from behind me.
“I’m not,” I say over my shoulder as I climb onto the sandy surface.
“Then where are you going?”
“You don’t want to help me, and I get that. It’s totally fair. But you made me realize a path to tap into my power, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to do that again.”
Something molten flashes in his eyes, like he expects me to lay myself down right here on the beach and touch myself. God, just the idea of him watching me do that sets my body on fire. Would he stay where he is? His blue eyes searing as I brought myself to release? Or would he come close to me, offering suggestions in my ear as I plunged into my own heat?
My heart flutters, and I do my best to ground myself. I’m not going to do that. Not after he made me feel ridiculous for wanting to try his experiment again.
I take another step toward the jungle, toward the path that will take me back to Cassandra’s home.
“Annika,” he calls. “Where the hell are you going?”
I turn to face him, shrugging. “To get Saint.”
“Why?” He looks utterly confused.
“Because,” I say, heat drenching my entire body.
It has nothing to do with the humidity. I’m not going to ask Saint for help—we don’t have that kind of relationship—but Dagon doesn’t need to know that. Doesn’t need to know that I’ll hide in my room between my sheets if I must, picturing his hands on my body until I can understand my power.
“I need help,” I continue. “I need to understand this power. And Saint looks like he can use the distraction.” I bluff, solely because I don’t need Dagon to think of me as pathetic for not being able to wield my power any more than he already does.
“The fuck you are,” he snaps.
In a blink, water wraps around my middle like a lasso, hauling me back into the depths so quickly it steals my breath.
My arms fly out as I splay against Dagon’s hard chest.
“Dagon—”
His lips cover mine before I can get another word out.
I melt into his embrace, feeling his control over the water let go, until it’s just him holding me there. His powerful arms wrap around my waist, bringing us flush as he parts my lips with his tongue.
“Dagon,” I whisper. “It’s fine. You don’t have to do this. You don’t want me in this way and that’s fair.”
“You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I don’t want you.” He growls the words in between punishing kisses.
My heart pounds against my chest, a rapid tempo that makes my head spin. Or that’s just Dagon and the way he’s kissing me like I’m the center of his entire universe.
I know that’s not even close to true, but damn, I lose myself to the fantasy in the span of a blink.
“Then why did you say we couldn’t?” I ask, drawing back to look at him, needing to know. “I don’t want you to do this out of pity.”
“I’m not.” He holds me tighter. “Damn it, I want you. Even though I shouldn’t. I’m a Hunter. My duty will always take priority over everything else. That’s not fair to you. That’s why I said we couldn’t. I don’t want to give you the wrong idea—”
“I’m well aware of your priorities, Dagon.” I huff a laugh. “Do you think I’m going to fall for you? You’re insufferable on the best of nights. I thought you gave me more credit than that?” I tease.