The Darkest Touch

“How would you like this to end?” she asked Torin. “I’m open to suggestions.”

“Let’s make our way to the door.”

“I can hold them off with trees even when I leave the camp, but the immortals are sure to break free soon enough and follow us.”

“If all goes the way I’d like, we’ll be in the next realm before they catch up.”

“We’ll have to hurry. The scars—”

“Are staying.”

“Very well.” But when I finally get you into my bed, Charming, those scars will be the first thing to go, whether you agree or not....

CHAPTER NINE

THE NEXT FEW days proved to be the hardest of Torin’s life. Literally.

Keeley was temptation wrapped in desire, dipped in ecstasy and rolled in satisfaction, and there was no doubt in his mind she’d been designed simply to torture him.

The way she walked and talked—living sex. The way she smelled—edible. The things she radiated—pheromones and crack, surely. Her incomparable strength. Her sense of humor, a little warped. A perfect match to his. The way she thought. He wasn’t ever sure what went on inside that beautiful head of hers, and the mystery intrigued him. The things she said sometimes baffled him, sometimes amused him, sometimes even angered him, but never ever bored him.

Her loyalty to her friend might just surpass his. The little sounds she made when she enjoyed what she was eating—an audible caress. Not that she ever ate much, which he didn’t understand, but she’d shut him down any time he’d asked her about it.

She was nothing like he’d first assumed. Not cruel, not insane...not really. Well, not to him. She was...perfect.

He was consumed by a need to protect her, even from herself. He wanted to be near her, just in case she needed him, to soothe the worst of her emotions before the world around them had time to react. The storms when she became angry. The snow when she grew sad. The glow of the sun when she was happy. A very rare occurrence.

He alone seemed capable of rousing each of her emotions, as if he held her heart in the palm of his hand and turned it however he willed. And that, right there, was another reason he craved her. Because he affected her—and he liked it.

As they’d traipsed through the realm, he tried focusing on his hobbies. Anything to get his mind off desires he had no business entertaining. He carved an entire set of gnome-shaped chess pieces. He folded a thousand leaves into flowers.

Keeley stole them.

Something else he liked about her. She took what she wanted.

“It’s raining,” she said from behind him.

“I noticed.” The pounding storm had nothing to do with her emotions. It had started yesterday morning and hadn’t let up even once. The puddles of water—lakes, really—now reached his ankles.

But even the constant cold shower failed to help his situation. He ached. He craved. And he wasn’t sure he could go another hour let alone another minute without putting his hands on Keeley. He’d wear gloves, wouldn’t let his skin brush against hers. He would cup her breasts lightly, and play between her legs gently, and that would be enough.

It would have to be enough.

But it wouldn’t be, would it?

Icy water trickled between his shoulder blades as he hacked through a thick wall of foliage with more force than necessary, clearing a path. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure she hadn’t lagged—again.

She had stopped to check her cuticles—again.

He should have been annoyed. She needed a good toweling, not a manicure. He was just glad she hadn’t taken off on her own. With the Terrible Trio scarred with brimstone and on the loose, she needed a strong, strapping warrior to guard her.

It was an excuse. He knew that. Keeley had more than proved she could defend herself against anyone, anytime. But the hard truth of the matter was this: she couldn’t actually take care of herself. She never ate unless prompted. She only slept when she was sick. She often slipped inside her own head, the rest of the world forgotten.

What did she think about in those moments?

Hades?

Want to rip off his balls and stuff them down his throat.

“Keeley,” Torin snapped. “Walk.”

She pursed her lips as she flounced past him. “Grumpy much?”

Damn. The sway of her hips... Was his tongue hanging out?

Gotta be a man, not a besotted puppy.

He’d never acted this way before and decided there could be only one reason he would do so now. Gritting his teeth, he demanded, “Did you bond with me?”

She flicked an irritated glance over her shoulder, water falling down her cheeks like tears. “As one of the smartest people on the planet, I can happily say no.”

“Good,” he replied as he took the lead. That was not disappointment he was feeling.

Snowflakes began to descend, blending into the rain, floating around him.

He’d hurt her feelings, he realized.

Great! He had to deal with guilt on top of everything else. Time to distract them both. “Have you noticed the forest creatures have stayed away from us?”

“Word of my exploits has clearly spread.”

As good an explanation as any. “Do you think they wonder why we kill people who kill people for killing people?”

“Probably not. I mean, if the creatures here have only half a brain, they’re actually gifted.”

He snorted, and then she chuckled, and then they were both laughing outright. The snow stopped, proving he’d done what he’d intended.