Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 65042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65042 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 325(@200wpm)___ 260(@250wpm)___ 217(@300wpm)
“There—that should keep him away.” There was still a protective growl in his voice, but it wasn’t scary because I could tell his anger wasn’t aimed at me.
“Thank you,” I whispered to him. “I was so afraid he would hurt me.”
“I know—I felt it,” he said simply. “But I’m here now—you don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
Then he reached out and took my hand in his own, warm furry one. And for the first time since I’d moved out of my Grandma’s house, I felt safe again.
17
DANNI
That was the first time I felt a presence. Huge…protective…surrounding me in warmth and darkness. And now he was back, in bed with me, still comforting me…still keeping me safe.
"You came to me because I was afraid," I whispered.
"Your magic called me," he rumbled softly. "And I came. I’ve been yours ever since, little witch."
"You stayed with me," I said. "Even when Mom took me away."
"I stayed as long as I could," he murmured. "But when you stopped believing in me…in yourself…in your magic, I had to leave. I was banished back to the Shadow Lands. But I’ve been watching you all these years. Waiting for a time when you would remember…and embrace your magic again.”
"But I’m not magical," I whispered. “Not really.”
He stroked my cheek.
"You are a powerful witch, Danni. You just haven’t embraced your magic fully yet."
I let out a bitter laugh.
"Maybe back when I was a kid. But I’m not little anymore. I’m old…used up."
His voice dropped to a soft growl.
"You’re perfect. You’ve always been beautiful to me. Let me show you."
Something shifted between us—a new current of energy began to flow. A warmth spread through me—slow and molten. Lust…desire…I hadn’t felt either emotion in years. Now it was like someone had flipped a switch inside me and those feelings came flowing back. It was sudden but welcome, like remembering how to breathe.
My nipples tightened against the silk of my nightgown. Heat pulsed between my thighs. My breath caught in my throat and my heart began to pound.
The Monster must have felt it too.
"You’re waking up, little witch," he murmured, searching my eyes. "To yourself…to me…to everything you are."
His hand cupped my cheek. He kissed me—softly at first, then with growing hunger. His mouth was wild—he tasted like rain and fire and some exotic spice I couldn’t quite name. I felt his fangs and traced them with my tongue.
My heart was pounding as he drew me closer. Oh God, when was the last time a man had kissed me? It had been years—and I’d never been kissed like this—not even by Craig. The monster kissed me like he wanted to eat me—to devour me from the mouth down. I felt the same hunger growing in me as his tongue found mine.
His big hands roamed my body, stroking my breasts…my hips…the curve of my waist. This kind of thing had certainly never happened in the past, when I was younger, but it felt perfect right now. It was like we’d been waiting to come together—I’d never felt this way with any man.
I shivered as the monster caressed me. One hand slid between my thighs, but then he paused.
"Can I touch you, little witch?" he asked, his voice hoarse. "I want to make you feel good. I want to worship you."
I hesitated, my heart pounding.
Should I let him? Were we going too far? I had only remembered him a few minutes ago and I hadn’t seen him in years, though he must have been watching me from the “Shadow Lands” as he called them. I just wasn’t sure.
“I…I don’t know,” I said hesitantly, panting a little. “I want…want to see you first.”
“You can’t…not yet.” His voice in the darkness was a soft, deep growl. “If you turn on the light I’ll vanish. I am a creature of shadows—called here by your will and held together only by your need and desire for a loving protector. I cannot exist in the light…not yet.”
“But…then how can I know you?” I asked, frowning. Then I had an idea. It was probably a bad idea, but I didn’t care at this point.
“If I can’t see you,” I said to the monster. “Then let me feel you instead.”
18
SHADOW
The moment she said, “Then let me feel you,” my breath caught in my throat, my entire world narrowing to the sound of those five words.
I had dreamed of this…longed for it through countless lonely nights, my very essence aching for the press of her hands on my body—her touch exploring the places I longed for her to claim.
But now that it was happening, now that the fantasy was becoming flesh, I lay perfectly still in the shadows, a statue frozen with uncertainty.
“You can’t turn on the light,” I reminded her, my voice husky, thick with a need that bordered on pain. “If you do, I’ll vanish. I can only exist in the dark—for now.”