Page 214 of Sorrow & Strangers

I exhale heavily, appreciating his acceptance of that fact. “Well, so am I when it comes to you,” I relent.

He frowns a little and slides his fingers into my hair, pulling me to him. I place my hands on his chest, feeling his heart thud beneath my palm. He closes his eyes and nuzzles the top of my head, inhaling me, and then he kisses the tip of my ear, which makes me shiver.

“Stranger . . .”

He bites my ear. “Hm?”

“Stranger . . .” I moan.

He groans and pulls back. “Sorry.”

I brush my fingertips over his lips. “These aren’t yours,” I whisper. “I can tell already.”

He nips the pads of my fingers, drawing another moan from me.

“Princess,” he says, his voice deep with desire, turning my insides to liquid. “I’m having trouble remembering the reasons I shouldn’t kiss you again.”

I watch him, but his dark eyes remain on my lips. “Because these are not your lips,” I say. “And because I’m not ready to make the commitment you need.”

He groans and lifts me into his arms.

“Where are we going?” I ask, wrapping my legs and arms around him.

“I don’t know,” he says, leaning in to press kisses along my throat.

“Checkout is in three hours,” I say, tipping my head for him.

“And I want every perfect second with you.”

Chapter Ninety

Rafe

Six hundred and seventy-four freckles on her face and neck. One hundred and thirty-seven individual eyelashes on the left eye, one ­hundred and twenty-nine on the right eye. I stroke my hand over her hair, watching the way the silky strands slip through my fingers. I have to admit I am a little obsessed with the fiery mane and the way it sways down her back, the ends reaching the bottom curve of her ass.

Her hips have marks from my claws, and her neck and ankles bear bites from my fangs. There is barely an inch of her skin that isn’t marked by me, my fangs, my claws, my touch.

She shifts in sleep, rubbing her face against me. The spiced scent of her skin is in every breath I take, clouding my senses. My arm tightens around her, seeing the start of the sunrise on the beach.

Time is up. All Souls is ending.

She’s going to leave. I’m going to leave. Our time is coming to an end, and after I’ve just started to feel like I am worth something. I lean in to brush my lips against hers.

“What time is it?” she murmurs against my lips.

I shrug, shifting so she can’t see the rising sun through the window. Maybe I can convince her we still have time, and we can stay here together.

She stretches against me. “I have to go.”

I shake my head and kiss her again, groaning into her mouth. My hands tighten on her, reluctant to relinquish her. She groans and digs her nails into my back, dragging them slowly up to my head to grab my horns. I groan and roll to put her beneath me, the heat from her hands radiating through my body. I knew demon horns were sensitive, but the way they’re connected to my skeletal and nervous systems is unexpected. She pulls back, looking up at me, her eyes flickering with the now-familiar flames.

“We have to leave today,” I whisper, hating the words as soon as they leave my lips. Mira somehow draws the thoughts I normally keep to myself from my lips.

Her eyes flicker, and she moves her hands to cup my cheeks. “I have to leave now.”

“Right now?” I say, my stomach sinking.

She nods, and I settle more of my weight on her to keep her pinned beneath me. Now she can’t leave. Problem solved.