Whisper to a Scream (Alexa O'Brien, Huntress #6.5)(14)

The barest touch of her tongue filled me with shockwaves of delight. How could it be that such a simple act could be so deep and profound? My stomach tightened, and my breath came fast. I had never felt so human. It was wondrous.

My name was a murmur, the only sound in the room other than our breathing. Christina sought to pull me closer, pushing my hands against her bosom. I groaned, drawing hard on what remained of my willpower.

“I can’t,” I whispered, pulling back to stare into her eyes. “I’m sorry.”

She nodded, a small smile curving her lips. Stroking a hand down the side of my face, she said, “Don’t be.”

After pressing a small kiss to my cheek, she settled in against a pillow and closed her eyes. Long after she had fallen asleep, I lay there watching the dawn. I concentrated hard, making note of every detail: the way her hair fell across her face, the steady rise and fall of her chest and even the dust motes floating in the beam of light streaming through a crack in the blinds. I needed to savor every second of having Christina in my arms.

* * * *

I visited Christina everyday for the next week. Until her bruises healed, she was avoiding people as much as possible, especially clients. It gave us plenty of time to enjoy one another’s company.

Most days we stayed in her apartment, pretending the rest of the world didn’t exist. It was just the two of us. We often lay entangled on the bed or the couch while random movies played on the television screen. Kissing and holding her was enchanting, though it grew harder to resist the desire to make love to her.

I was stupid to think it might not all catch up to me, but I’d cloaked myself in denial. As soon as Serene made an unexpected appearance while I was home alone, I knew things were bad.

“I assume you know why I’m here,” he said by way of greeting. He slid into the seat across from me at the kitchen table and fixed me with a fierce stare.

“Perhaps you should tell me anyway.”

Serene clasped his hands on the table and regarded me with sympathy. “Willow, I’m here to deliver a warning. You must stay away from Christina.”

Embarrassment warmed my face. I searched for the right response and came up empty. “I don’t want to.”

“I see that. You know the laws. She wasn’t to know about us.”

“That was Shya’s doing. He came to taunt me.”

“Which he would never have done if you weren’t casually strolling about with a human woman, one that isn’t even your charge.” Serene spread his hands wide. “What are you hoping to achieve by spending so much time with her?”

I had delivered similar warnings in the past. This was my first time receiving one. There was little I could say other than the truth.

“I just want to be with her. I enjoy it. She sparks something inside me I’ve never felt before. I don’t understand it. I think I love her.” It sounded as ridiculous as it felt to say, but being honest was important to me. I may have done wrong, but I was above lying about it.

“Temptation happens to all of us. I understand that. You must remember your purpose and be strong. You have a job to do.” Serene’s matter of fact tone didn’t imply understanding, though the knowledge that lurked in his eyes piqued my curiosity.

Conflict with a brother was not an option. Besides, arguing was futile; it would do nothing but create bad feelings between us. I gave his arm a pat and smiled.

“Don’t worry about me, Serene. I will not abandon my duties.” My intention was authentic. Now if he would just see that I had things under control and leave, I could shrug off the seriousness of his visit.

Serene raised a brow, studying me in disbelief. “I don’t want to see you go past the point of no return with this. We can’t afford to lose you, Willow. I implore you to take care in this matter. You tread too close to making a mistake you can never take back.”

I pressed my lips tightly together and shook my head. Nothing. I could offer him absolutely nothing in the way of reassurance.

“Thank you, brother,” I said. “Your heartfelt concern means much to me.”

He was gone without so much as a stirring of the air. I sat back in my chair and stared out the window. This warning had been expected, but I was unable to process it completely.

The sound of the clock over the table ticking burrowed its way into my head. Each passing second mocked my human love and me. Her life was ticking away, and I was stealing time from her. It wasn’t fair. I’d kept telling myself I would give up Christina. It was a goal always just off in the distance, close enough to cause discomfort but far enough to make it continuously unreachable.

I had to see her again. Just one more time. Just to say goodbye.

Chapter Five

I watched Christina from afar. Desperate to change the way I felt about her, I forced myself to witness that which I’d been avoiding. Knowing about Christina’s lifestyle wasn’t the same as seeing it. I had to face the raw truth that we were worlds apart.

Moving unseen, I followed her from the escort agency to the diner where she met up with a man more than twice her age. They went through the motions of enjoying coffee and conversation. She was so engaged even I believed she truly cared.

Christina’s eyes sparkled as she played her role. The man who paid for this deception looked her over with an obvious hunger. It was disgusting and incited a new emotion. With well-timed jokes and casual contact, Christina manipulated the man with ease. A flutter of heavy black lashes brought a grin to his face. That new, angry feeling stirred deep inside, and I recognized it as envy.