Page 61 of The Darkness is Calling

Him.

Inside me.

Thrusting hard.

Deep.

“You’re naked,” I whisper, my voice breaking.

He doesn’t answer, but his eyes turn to my face, and I feel my heart going wild again, when his warm, heavy breath touches my lips.

“One day I’ll be death because of you.” Artem’s voice is calm, as if he already knows his fate and is not troubled by it at all.

“Have you ever seen a dead devil?” I murmur, keeping my tone neutral.

But my joke does not make him smile.

“Watch something else until I get out of the bathroom. Some news or National Geographic.”

After saying it like an order to one of his soldiers, he turns back into the bathroom and slams the door behind him.

Not only is he a dangerous criminal, but the way his personality keeps shifting is giving me actual hot flashes.

Or perhaps he simply triggers hormonal surges in me that make my ovaries tremble in his presence.

No matter how I put it, the truth is that I am in deep shit.

And I become aware of that with every second that passes after I lie down with my head on my pillow, replaying what happened.

The carousel of emotions I experienced in that bathroom shook my entire existence.

I was aroused.

I felt as if I were burning. But when his fingers began tightening around my throat and air no longer reached my lungs, panic took hold of me. Part of me trusted him and knew he would stop. Another part saw that he was doing nothing about it, and I was sure I was going to pass out.

Even so, when his kiss became the air I breathed, and his arms pulled me completely against him with touches both delicate and desperate, I felt as if life had given me another chance, in the shape of a man who makes me feel things I have never felt before.

I am more confused than ever, but my lips still feel the effect of his kiss, as if it has been tattooed onto them.

I smile.

I should be afraid, but I cannot be.

My heart leaps with joy, even if it’s worn out from the chaos it’s been dragged through these past few minutes.

I lie down on the mattress, but turn off the television, having completely lost interest in it tonight.

In less than a minute, Artem comes out of the bathroom.

I can hear his silent steps as he comes toward the bed, but I cannot see him because my back is turned to him. I feel when he lies down, just as I feel the heavy breath he exhales from his chest.

My heart is pounding, and just as I prepare to tell him good night, I hear his low voice.

“Are you alright?”

I let out a heavy breath, like a silent sigh. “I don’t know.”

Artem moves closer to me, and I think I am melting completely when he wraps one arm around my waist and suddenly pulls me toward him, pressing me fully against his body. His nose disappears into my hair, and I feel like everything beyond us vanishes completely for me.