A Thorny Path — Complete by Georg Ebers (i can read with my eyes shut .txt) 📕

and fluidity every time she turned, she made him think of the warrior he knew her to be. It would do him well to remember that she was a highly trained hunter and, despite the lockdown of her magick, she could easily prove lethal if they didn’t keep a close eye on her.

So why was it every time he looked at her, he wanted to touch her? He ached to see her naked—rubbing against him, begging for his touch. Feel her lips caressing his skin. All the days he’d been forced to keep his distance and watch Jake take care of her, his hands the one massaging across her flushed skin had driven him mad. She was like a drug that he’d become addicted to, and a dangerous one at that. The last thing he needed was another addiction.

Since her outburst yesterday morning, when she’d searched the house for a way to escape, she’d been remarkably calm. He was certain it was one of those eerie calms before the storm or maybe more like the eye of the hurricane. He needed to talk to Jake. His instincts told him that she was up to something. He’d done some research on her, and what little information he could find indicated a sharp intelligence as well as an above average aptitude with weapons and hand to hand combat. None of which she’d attempted to use against them.

He’d discovered her school records and had been impressed with her achievements at Harvard. She’d gone there right behind him, entering as a freshman the year after he graduated. She bent at the waist, distracting him from his thoughts. What was probably a simple move meant to stretch her legs turned into an erotic fantasy as he imagined sliding into her from behind. Need for her built more every day to the point he was now poised to blow like a keg of dynamite.

Denn turned away from the window. He was never going to get any work done watching her move like that. When she was faced toward the window he admired the smooth skin showing underneath the tank that barely hid small pert breasts, and when she walked away from the window he found himself entranced by the sleek curve of her back that dipped into a tiny waist before flaring out to wide, curved hips.

“Fuck it.” He pushed the French doors open and walked into the sunny courtyard. He wanted to be closer. Needed to be.

Her head swung around at the noise he made entering the space. She stood frozen like a deer in headlights, staring at him with a mixture of anger and lust. She was so damned beautiful. Long black hair framed a heart shaped face with skin so luminous he’d bet she’d glow under the moonlight.

“Denn, you can’t keep me here like this.”

“I can’t let you go.” He stalked closer.

“Why not?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“You’re a risk to my family.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“What do you mean?”

Her shoulders sagged on a deep sigh. “You know exactly what I mean. There is something going on in this house that I don’t understand, and I need to get out before something really bad happens.”

He stopped in front of her. “What do you think is going to happen?” He used a finger to push her hair out of her eyes and behind her ear. Her gaze stayed glued to his own, steady and intense. “You have nothing to be afraid of here. I’ll take care of you.”

Her lips curved down. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“Neither Jake nor I have any intention of harming you.” He let his fingertips graze her skin, the now familiar streak of power whispering between them. She shuddered under the tingling sensation, her mouth opening to form an O. "Feels good, doesn’t it? Every time I have touched you these last weeks has given me a myriad of energy surges and spikes.”

“Well, we are both witches.”

“I’ve touched plenty of witches before.” He continued his trail along her jaw and along the line of her neck.

“I bet you have,” she whispered.

“I’ve never experienced anything even remotely like this. It’s like my power changes when I spend time with you.”

Her mouth opened in a tiny o. “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what? I’m not doing anything, just touching.” Everything about her mesmerized him.

“No, it’s more. It actually feels like much more. This pull…” She shook her head. “It makes no sense.”

Denn had to tell her the truth. Focusing on her lips, he dipped his head—right after he tasted her he would confess. He meant to be gentle with his first kiss, but when his mouth pressed against her lips he lost his mind and forgot all of his good intentions, allowing the desire to take control. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her tight against him. He traced his long along the outline of her mouth in a subtle demand to allow his entrance. Her lips parted slightly and his tongue pushed its way in. He groaned, a harsh rough sound that rumbled between them, giving away the true effect she had on him. He swept through her mouth taking care to explore every inch before tangling his tongue with hers.

Her hands reached for his shoulders, grasping at his shirt as he continued devouring her. She tasted light and dark, an unusual combination of sunshine and moonlight that reached in deep and grabbed him by the balls. She made it impossible for him to think clearly when all he wanted was to climb on top of her and fuck her until she screamed his name.

“I want you. I can’t explain it but I swear if I don’t get inside you soon, I’m going to die.”

Her mouth fell open, giving him all the invitation he needed to resume their kiss. Her breasts were pushed tight against his chest and her tight nipples poked at him through both their shirts. How he longed to remove their clothes right here