Protecting His Windflower (A Spirit Hunters Series Novel Book 1) by Temperance Dawn (best black authors .txt) 📕

she had imagined the tingling that traveled from his palm and up her arm. Now that she had spent the day with Liam and felt the sensation every time they touched, she was sure it wasn’t her imagination playing tricks on her, and she found herself craving the effect of his skin touching hers.

When Liam walked her to her door, she wanted nothing more than to reach out and pull him close. The feeling shocked her. She had never been around anyone who made her want the affection as badly as she wanted it at that moment.

Emily thought she caught a look of hesitation on Liam’s face. He reached his hand out and brushed her cheek. The caress was a gentle graze that left her with a warm shiver, and at that moment, she was sure the fire, which had now been ignited deep within her belly, was set to explode into a roaring flame.

“I had fun today, Em,” Liam told her. His voice was deep. Deeper than she had heard it before. A raspy tone, thick with desire. His eyes were heavy, intoxicated.

“So did I.”

Liam leaned forward, his eyes focused on hers. They were calm, like a gentle sea lulling her to sleep. She was hypnotized by them. In an instant, Emily was thrown into a dream. One of herself in this very same position against the wall. The hazy image of a man stood in front of her, leaning in just as Liam was. She noticed the surrounding woodwork in the vision was the same as the woodwork in the house she now lived in. Was it the same place? How was that possible? Was the foggy image of the man in front of her Liam or someone else? Frightened by the sudden onslaught of emotions and confusion, Emily flinched, and the images she saw instantly disappeared, and she could see Liam clearly again, standing in front of her.

“You saw something?” Liam asked. His breathing increased as if he, too, had been startled.

“I—” Emily wasn’t sure how to put into words what she had just seen.

“I had a vision,” he stated after clearing his throat. “Of you and me, right here in this spot. You saw it, too, didn’t you?”

“I’m really confused.” Her mind screamed to pull away and run. But her heart refused to allow it. “I don’t know what’s happening.”

“Do you trust me?”

Emily swallowed hard and inhaled deeply, trying to slow her heart rate. “I probably shouldn’t, but I do.”

Liam’s hand moved from her cheek to the back of her neck, where he gently caressed her skin, sending more electrical pulses down her spine.

“We will figure out what is going on. Something is happening. I don’t know what it is just yet, but I’m going to find out. That being said, there is something about you. I feel this connection to you that I’ve never felt before. I can’t stop thinking about you. I don’t know what happened a minute ago, but I hope it doesn’t frighten you to the point where you pull away from me. There’s a link between us, and I’d like to explore that if you’re open to it.”

Emily stared into Liam’s ultramarine eyes, and what she saw was a gentleness she had never seen in anyone before. After what just happened, she should feel terrified. Instead, the need to be near him overtook her senses. “I’m not afraid,” she said. Her hands had found their way to his arms, and she held on to him, relishing in the feeling of him caging her between himself and the wall behind her. “I don’t know what this is either, but I’m comfortable with you. I’ve never felt that before. I feel like I’ve known you forever. I should be terrified right now by what I just saw, but I’m not.”

Liam nodded and smiled. “I’m beyond relieved to hear that.”

He continued to lean forward, and for a moment, Emily thought he was going to kiss her. Only he angled his head at the last second and placed his lips on her cheek. The moment his lips touched her skin, the energy between them increased. The voided space between their bodies pulsed and Emily thought the lights in the chandelier hanging above them flickered.

“Did you see that?” Emily asked, needing confirmation that she hadn’t imagined the phenomenon.

“I did,” Liam answered, not moving his gaze from her.

She inhaled his spicy, musky scent, sending shock waves through her. “Liam?”

His gaze met hers, eyes crystal blue and intense as if they were begging for an answer to his already unasked question. “Yes, Em?” his voice was a half-whisper.

“Would you like to stay for dinner?”

Liam pressed himself against her slightly. She wasn’t scared of him. In fact, she welcomed the heat of his body.

Liam leaned down, looking directly into her eyes. “You want me to stay for dinner?”

“Y-yes. I’m asking you if you would like to stay for dinner. It’s nothing fancy. But if you—”

“Emily,” he said, placing his finger on her lips to stop her.

She stared up at him, their bodies now so close her chest was touching his. Vibrations of electrical currents flew between them, and her breath escaped her in short waves that made her head spin with lust.

“I would love to stay for dinner.”

“Oh. Okay. Good,” Emily said on a long breath.

“What are we having?”

“I was going to roast some chicken.”

“Good,” Liam shifted his hand and touched his knuckles to her cheek, tracing her jawline and tucking some of her hair behind her ear. “I love roasted chicken.”

Not sure why, perhaps it was the closeness, but deep down, she knew it was because it was Liam. Emily’s heart rate quickened, and her cheeks burned. Her stomach fluttered, and girly parts tingled. She hated to admit it, but Lexi had been right. She was going to fall hard and fast for this man. And if she was being completely honest with herself, that’s exactly what she wanted.

“Do you need any help with cooking?”

“Uh, no. It won’t