Page 46 of Haunted Hearts

“This way,” he said, leaning up on one elbow and gently taking her chin in his hand. He turned her face in the right direction. “Do you see it now?”

“Aye,” she said with a laugh. “It really is a bunny riding a hound.” When she turned her eyes back to him, their faces were close together. Blaze found himself lost in the clear depths of her bright blue eyes. Memories flooded his mind of all the time he’d spent with Lillith. Soon, it would be all he had to remember her by. Once she was married, he’d never be able to spend time with her again. They’d made plans long ago. They had dreams at one time. But all that was gone now, and naught but childhood fun that would fade with each day that passed.

“Blaze,” she said, staring at his mouth. “This seems like old times again. It feels so right to be with you. Like nothing has changed.”

“I know,” he said, now looking at her mouth too. He could no longer stop himself from kissing her. He moved his face closer to hers and saw her eyes flickering shut. Then he touched her lips with his, and when he did, all his troubles seemed to disappear. A feeling of completeness flowed through him. This was his Lillith, and he never wanted to let her go.

Rolling on to his side, his long hair hung down around them as he kissed her again – this time deeper. He boldly let his tongue enter her mouth. She accepted him instead of pushing him away.

“Oh, Lillith, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you, too, Blaze.”

He tucked her hair behind her ear and stroked her soft cheek, looking deeply into her eyes. He was sure he could see all the way to the depths of her soul.

“All I’ve dreamed of since the feud started, was for it to end so I could have you in my arms and be kissing you, just like this,” he told her.

“Me too,” she said softly, reaching up and kissing him passionately. Her desire for him showed. It seemed just as strong as his desire for her. His hand slid down her cheek, grazing past her neck and settling atop one breast. She seemed to like it and didn’t stop him. Her breathing became deeper. Then he placed gentle kisses down her neck, flicking his tongue out to touch the top of her collarbone as he filled his hand with her mound and gave it a light squeeze.

“Oooooh,” she moaned, arching her back, pushing her breast deeper into his embrace. He felt himself stir and harden beneath his belt. He wanted Lillith badly.

“Lillith, I want you.”

“I want you, too,” she answered in a breathy whisper. He was lost in the moment and probably would have taken the foreplay further if he hadn’t heard what she had to say next. “I want you, not Baron Bancroft.”

Lillith felt Blaze’s body still, and then he quickly moved his hand off her breast and abruptly sat up.

“Blaze? Is something wrong?” She sat up, seeing him shaking his head and running a hand through his long hair.

“We can’t do this, Lilly Bee,” he said, using the name for her that always made her heart swell. “It’s no longer right. We are both promised to someone else now. We can’t be together. Not anymore. It’s too late.” He got to his feet.

“Of course, we can. We belong together. I feel it and I know you do, too.”

“Those feelings don’t matter. We are both betrothed to other people, in case you are forgetting.” His dark eyes stared down at her in disappointment.

Lillith felt her heart sink in her chest. She hadn’t forgotten. Then again, neither had she done anything to stop what just happened between them either. Did that make her a bad person? And did she really care?

“Blaze, we have always been honest with each other in the past, haven’t we?”

“Yes. Of course we have.”

“Well, I need to be honest with you now. I don’t want Serena to marry you. I am jealous of the betrothal, and part of me is very wicked, feeling like I want to ruin it and stop the wedding from happening.”

“That doesn’t make you a bad person, Lilly. However, you should be happy for your sister.”

“I know. I am ashamed of myself for even kissing you when she’s to be your bride soon.”

“I didn’t stop you. I’m no better.”

“This is too hard, Blaze. I am not sure if I’ll be able to accept you two together. It hurts too much.”

He reached out and stroked her cheek once more. “I told you I would never hurt you, Lilly, and I won’t.”

“I know that. But why are you saying this?”

“What I’m trying to tell you is that I will break the alliance. I won’t marry your sister.”

“Nay! If you do that, you’ll never get the earl to accept you as a knight. Plus, the feud will only continue.”

“I would rather live in hell then to know I did anything to hurt you. I’ll send a missive to your uncle anon. You and your sister should pack your bags, because I’m sorry, but I am sending you both home.”

He left her standing there, heading down the hill to the manor. Lillith felt like she wanted to cry. This isn’t what she wanted. She hadn’t meant for him to give up everything he longed for at her expense.

She had to do something to stop him. Lillith wouldn’t let Blaze go through with this, because it would only ruin his life. That is the last thing she wanted to see. Hurrying down the hill after him, she knew only one person who could stop Blaze from taking such drastic measures. She needed to find Minerva, and she had to do it before it was too late.