Page 63 of Jinx

“Gods.” A pained noise escaped him. “You smell so fucking good.”

I went still, but I wasn’t frightened, even if a smarter person probably would’ve been with a vampire so close to their carotid. I was curious. And a little turned on.

“I do?”

He groaned, and I felt the tip of his tongue flick against my neck. “Like jasmine and ginger. Sweet. Spicy.” He pressed closer, and his warm breath fanned over my skin. “I could come in my pants just from the scent of you.”

“Oh.” My face heated and my heart tripped. But before I could come up with anything more intelligent to add, Lucian pulled away. Shame clouded his eyes as he put a little distance between us.

“But after what they did to me, I don’t know if I can separate intimacy from getting a fix. It’s like it burned into me as a reflex. I could lose control and hurt you. Even now I⁠—”

“Hey.” I reached up and took his face, forcing him to look at me. “So we don’t put you in a position to lose control. I’m not going to seduce or beg or threaten you. If all we ever do is hold hands, then I’m here for that.”

His silvery eyes shone with something between admiration and vulnerability. “Why?”

I pushed every ounce of conviction I had through our connection. “Because you’re mine. And I’m yours. Isn’t it supposed to be this way since I’m, you know, your Heart?” I thought it would feel weird to say out loud, but it didn’t.

“So they say.” Luce bent to press his forehead to mine. “But you just had it shoved at you without warning. None of us want you to feel like you’re being forced into something or taken advantage of.”

I tilted my face so our noses touched. “You were blindsided too. Luce, I’ve lived my whole life believing I was cursed. That I’d never be able to touch another person without hurting them. Suddenly finding myself with five tragically gorgeous men is nothing I’m going to complain about. No matter what those relationships look like.”

Lucian hummed, and his mouth curved into a grin. “It is tragic, isn’t it?” He swallowed and took a breath. “Can I try something?”

I was nodding before he even finished. “Of course. I trust you.”

His tongue darted over his lip, and he swallowed again. Then, like moving in slow motion, his mouth covered mine, careful and deliberate. It was a little awkward, but I kept still, letting him acclimate to something that should have been simple but had been stolen from him. I tasted his apprehension, but I was so proud that he was trying.

He lifted a hand to cup my jaw and tilted my head a little, adjusting the angle of our lips. Our hearts raced in sync, pounding between us. I twisted my fingers in his shirt, pulling at the fabric, and something wild bloomed in my heart. Lucian’s tongue slipped against mine in testing strokes that quickly became more demanding. I made a sound of encouragement, and he swallowed it like a man dying of thirst.

A growl rumbled from his chest, and his hand slid to my throat while he crushed me further against the railing. I could feel his dark hunger start to overshadow his tight control and knew it was time to stop. I pressed lightly at his chest, and he pulled away immediately, backing up as he came back to his senses.

“Shit.” He gripped his head, fingers dragging over his skull. “Fuck, Cordie.” His hands moved to cover his mouth, fear in his eyes. “Did I hurt you?”

“No!” I raised my hands in a calming gesture. “I’m okay. You’re okay. You were perfect.”

His eyes flared wide at that. “I’m dangerous. I could feel myself slipping.”

“I know. I felt it too. That’s why we’ll take it slow.” I shrugged, an easy smile on my face, needing him to understand that his traumatic history wasn’t a dealbreaker. “Or take it nowhere. No matter what, I’m right here with you. You’re mine, remember?” I opened my arms, inviting him to come back to me. He only hesitated a few seconds before stepping into my embrace. I wrapped my arms around his waist, nuzzling into his chest. “And I will destroy anyone who comes at you,” I added for good measure, if only to make him smile again.

Lucian’s chest bounced with his bark of relieved laughter. “Who the fuck am I kidding? I’m definitely in love with you, little fury.”

42

ALARIC

A frown tugged at the corners of my mouth as I watched Cordelia and Lucian on the deck. The others were watching too, wary about leaving them alone together. When he kissed her, all three of us were on our feet, ready to rush out there. But our beautiful, brave Heart felt no fear. The only thing that beat in her chest was love.

When they came back inside, there was a peace in Lucian’s eyes that I couldn’t say I’d ever seen before. Already, she was changing us for the better. He took a seat at the opposite end of the table, next to Bellamy, while Cordelia moved to me. Her arms wound around my shoulders, and she bent to rest her chin on the top of my head.

“What’s upsetting you?” she murmured while I pushed up the sleeve of her sweatshirt to trace my fingertips over her smooth skin.

“What makes you think I’m upset?”

“Well, your scowl is pretty telling.” She straightened but stayed behind me and burrowed her fingers into my hair, rubbing at my scalp. “And I’ve known you for years. Sort of.”

I couldn’t trap my groan as she massaged my head. She knew how much I melted when she did. “Is that all?” I fought to keep my voice level while I relaxed under her touch. I also fought not to imagine what her skilled fingers would feel like wrapped around my stiffening dick in the waking world.

Gods dammit. Not now.