Page 97 of Eternal Obsession

She felt my kiss upon her neck now, my teeth grazing her skin, my lips moving over hers.

Dismayed, she resigned to her desires, feeling my mouth hard against hers. Passion exploded, and she surrendered to my deep, sensuous kiss.

Our clashing of lips felt as decadent as it was cruel. A kiss stolen, yes, but welcomed like a forbidden secret. She yielded not out of weakness, but need, as if danger itself awakened her, unraveling her. Our tongues colliding with desperate grace, sensuality ignited lust, a current of need surged between us, fevered, passing from her to me and back again, endlessly.

It was too much. Breathless, she tried to fathom her uncharacteristic response. As I nuzzled into Ingrid’s neck, her head fell backward and banged against the rough bars.

She staggered.

Regaining her footing, she blushed, her stare incredulous.

“It was quite wonderful to meet with you, Ingrid,” I said. “I hope to see you again very soon.” I opened the cell gate and disappeared.

Chapter Forty

JADEON

I flew into the dungeons. “Ingrid! Are you all right? Let me see your… You look fine. You’re okay.”

I was horrified Orpheus had been able to get into the castle undetected, and I cursed myself for letting my guard down. After sensing him, I had almost tripped over myself trying to get to Ingrid.

“Jadeon, who the hell was that?” Ingrid asked.

“What are you doing down here?” I lifted her into my arms. She was badly shaken. We made our way up the stone stairway, through the foyer, quickly ascending the sweeping staircase. When we reached my bedroom I placed her down upon my old bed, covering her with a blanket.

“He said he knew me, but I don’t recall… ”

“He’s an old acquaintance.”

I tried to grasp what Orpheus wanted with Ingrid. The knot in my stomach distracted me. I pulled Ingrid toward me and hugged her, attempting to put thoughts of Orpheus out of my mind and hoping she would too.

He had kissed her, and as this realization swept over me, so did the jealousy. She was my friend, my sacred find, and I had already privately sworn to protect her.

Alex appeared at the door and stared at me wide-eyed.

“He’s gone,” I said to him.

“What did he want?” Alex asked.

I looked at Ingrid and tried to answer that question.

“What did he say?” Alex asked.

Ingrid sighed and pushed off the blanket. “It didn’t make any sense.”

“He’s gone now,” I said.

“He moved so fast, I mean he came out of nowhere,” Ingrid said.

“It’s dark down there,” I said. “Things can appear . . . different.”

“I thought it was you or Alex,” Ingrid said, “so I followed you down. But it was⁠—”

“When I said make yourself at home, I wasn’t referring to the dungeons, Ingrid.” I sighed, trying to make light of it.

“How embarrassing. Who the hell is he?” she asked, her fingers tracing her lips, still plump from his kiss.

“Orpheus,” Alex said.