AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You do like to live dangerously.”
“You have no idea,” he said dryly.
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
He shrugged. “At least I live.”
Sofie flinched at the direct hit. “As do I.”
“No.” He shook his head. “You hide.”
She turned her head, refusing to meet the unnerving black gaze. He was right, of course. She’d been hiding for years. But that’s the path she’d chosen, and she wasn’t going to change now. Not even for this male who was reminding her that she had needs that went beyond food and shelter.
“You know nothing about me,” she informed him in sharp tones.
Predictably, Ryshi ignored the warning chill in the air. In fact, he boldly reached out to grasp her hands in a light grip.
“I know these fingers create beauty.” Without warning, he lifted her hand to press it against his lips. Heat raced through Sofie. His touch felt as if it was searing her skin. And it wasn’t just his natural warmth. It was the magical smoke that swirled and sizzled as it brushed over her. The sensual pleasure it created was intoxicating. Releasing her fingers, his hands skimmed up her arms and over her shoulders. “And I know that there is power in this body as well as a fluid grace. Watching you fight those demons was mesmerizing. I’ve never seen anyone move with such elegance.”
A treacherous shiver raced through Sofie, undermining her determination to keep this male at a distance.
“Ryshi.”
“I know that you were hurt, but that you battle to overcome your wounds.” He overrode her protest, his hands gently cupping her face as his gaze settled on the mark carved into her forehead. His eyes smoldered with a sudden emotion. As if the sight of the scar infuriated him. “And that your battle is easier when you are alone in your mountain.”
Sofie knew she should pull away. She never discussed her past. And more importantly, she never, ever discussed the wound on her forehead. But she was lost in the dark gaze. As if he’d somehow managed to hypnotize her.
“Everything is better when I’m alone in my mountain,” she forced herself to say.
Smoke wrapped around her, like an embrace. “You don’t miss the touch of a friend? Or a lover?”
She didn’t try to lie. Even if he couldn’t sense the ache he’d created inside her, the scent of her frustrated desire spiced the air. Instead she lowered her lashes, futilely trying to leash her emotions.
“Sometimes.”
The word came out like a curse. No surprise. Sofie hated admitting a weakness. And desire was most certainly a weakness. Especially when it was focused on this particular male.
“And do you have one?”
She deliberately misunderstood him. “A friend?”
“A lover.”
“Not currently.”
His thumb traced the curve of her lower lip, pressing hard enough to trap her tender skin against the tip of her fang. The tiny pain was oddly erotic.
“That could be corrected,” he assured her in husky tones.
She stiffened, her gaze lifting to glare at his obscenely handsome face. “It’s a choice, not a mistake that needs to be corrected.”
“Very well. A choice,” he smoothly agreed. “One that could be changed.”
“Changed by you, I suppose?”
His fingers suddenly tightened as if he was battling back a fierce emotion. “By me and no one but me.”
There was a possessive edge in his voice that should have pissed her off. So why didn’t it?
