Voodoo Kiss

Chapter 22



The door opened and closed with a soft click. My arms were still wrapped around Theo's shivering body; a sob escaped my throat even though I had long depleted all tears.

"I'm so sorry," Thrain's voice whispered in my ear. His hand wrapped around my shoulders to help me up. I didn't want to leave my sister, but I knew my time with her was probably up. As I peered up at Thrain, I could see the moisture glistening in his eyes, as if he had been crying with me. "Ready to go?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I'll never be."

He wrapped his arm around my waist and shot Theo a smile. "I know, but we'll take good care of her." The thought comforted me for all of three seconds.

"Gael's brother, Derrick, killed her," I said.

"I know." His voice was so gentle, it broke my heart. I felt tears pricking my eyes again. Thrain squeezed my hand. "I'm sorry, I've been instructed to take you home. Take your time saying goodbye. I'll wait outside."

I nodded and grabbed Theo in a tight hug again, whispering words of comfort I needed just as much. Even though I had discovered how she had died and who the killer was, I wished I also knew his motive.

Derrick had died of a heart attack at around the same time as Theo—or so Gael's family said. I had felt sorry for them, but I no longer did. Whatever fate befell him, he deserved it. I hoped he rotted in Hell this very instant.

It took me a while to peel myself away from Theo and say goodbye to her and Cass's father, who hugged me before sending me back through the portal into the real world. My work was done, and yet Amber and Aidan insisted I spend some time with them in Scotland before returning to New York. Immediate solitude would've been my first choice but my Russian roots prohibited me from snubbing hospitality, particularly since these people were my friends now, and they meant well.

When we arrived back at Aidan's mansion, night had already descended upon the Scottish Highlands. I wasn't hungry so I excused myself and went to bed early, eager to hide under the blanket and be alone with my thoughts and pain. I took a quick shower and slipped into a pair of Amber's flannel PJs, ready to switch off the lights, when a knock on the door jolted me out of my thoughts.

"Are you decent?" Thrain's voice made my heart pick up in speed.

"Yep. Come in." I smiled as he entered and wiggled a bottle of wine and two glasses in the air.

"You don't need to talk if you don't want to. Just pay me company." His gorgeous smile revealed shiny, white teeth.

"Can't be on your own, huh?" I asked, patting the bed beside me.

"I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, but darkness scares me." He poured us a glass of wine and handed me one. I took it from his outstretched hand but didn't drink. Surprisingly, he didn't insist. Not even when I placed the glass on the bedside table.

"Or you're trying to get me drunk." My gaze wandered over the tight shirt that enveloped his sculpted chest. His rolled up sleeves revealed strong forearms with smooth, tan skin. My fingers brushed his hand and moved up his arm as I inched closer, stopping just as our lips were about to meet. I could see the hunger in his striking green gaze. In his mind, he was probably undressing me this instant. I had dated other guys but never felt such a strong need to get close to someone.

"Kiss me." My voice was barely more than a whisper. His lips lowered onto mine, his hand moved to my back to press me against him. A soft moan escaped my throat as his scent invaded my nostrils. My hands moved up his chest to the back of his head to pull him closer into our kiss. I savored his taste, got lost in it, forgetting the pain inside me. It felt so good, and I knew he felt the same way. He understood me because we were the same, maybe not one and the same being but bonded through something beyond our understanding. This guy I would never let go.

He pulled away, ending our kiss too soon. I moaned in protest. He lowered me on my back, regret visible in his heated gaze.

"Don't stop," I whispered.

"Another time." His finger pressed against my lips. "Please don't insist. I'm having a hard time keeping my hands off of you."

That I wanted to see. I giggled and pinched his side, then wrapped my naked legs around his waist to draw him close.

"You didn't just do that," he said, grinning. His eyes twinkled as he lowered himself on top of me for another kiss. This time it was slower, deeper, making me want to trail my hand down his naked chest to explore the tattoo he kept hidden. Kissing me deeply, his hands moved down my abdomen to my thighs, lingering there.

"I don't think this is a good idea," Thrain said, pulling back a bit.

"What?" I pulled him closer again, my mouth searching his. I could feel his hot breath grazing my skin. He nibbled on the spot right at the bottom of my neck that connected with my shoulder, making me shivered.

"Actually, I came to talk," he said, hoarsely.

"Figured that much." I smiled because, when a guy says he wants to talk, it usually means he either wants more but tries to control himself, or he's about to dump the girl. I was pretty sure it was option one and ran my fingers through his hair to draw him close. But he sat up and put a few more inches between us.

"We really need to talk about this." His grave tone betrayed resolution. Now, that wasn't good news. I moistened my lips. Panic washed over me. I had been dumped before and had done my fair share of dumping, but somehow in this instance it mattered. Maybe I had too much emotional baggage and he couldn't handle it. I knew I shouldn't have cried in front of him. According to a magazine article I recently read, most men were put off by tears.

I crossed my legs and pulled my shirt down to cover my naked skin. "Okay. Spill."

He regarded me for a long time, his eyes darting about, never quite focusing on my gaze. "You said you wanted to return home." I nodded. My heart sank in my chest as I waited for him to continue. "I told you my job makes it almost impossible to be in one place for a long time. I don't know how this will work out."

There it was—the dumping I hadn't seen coming. The guy was giving me the boot an hour after I had learned about my sister's mysterious death. Rage pulsed through me. I wished I didn't care, but I did. After all, he was the one who said we'd always together. Lies, my mind screamed. "No worries. I'll be busy with my music career anyway," I heard myself say. My voice was steady and nonchalant, betraying none of the turmoil I felt inside.

Frowning, Thrain shook his head. "That's not what I meant, Sofia. I want this, but we'll need to figure something out. I don't want you to be all alone in New York with me popping in and out of your life every few days. That's not a relationship."

I took a deep breath as relief washed over me. Funny how a few words from this guy could change my mood in an instant.

"We'll figure something out," I said, wrapping my arms around him. "Let's not think about it now. We have plenty of time left."

He hesitated, then gave into my embrace, lowering his lips onto mine. I lay back and pulled him on top of me as I let his mouth explore mine. My hands trailed down his stomach, sliding underneath his shirt to take it off. I touched the outline of his tattoo that covered most of his chest. His skin felt like silk under my exploring fingers. Half naked, he was more gorgeous than I ever imagined.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered as his hands moved under my shirt. I closed my eyes to enjoy his expert touch. As much as my music career mattered to me, if being with him meant giving it up I'd let it go gladly. I had lost my sister over my career already; I wouldn't let it happen twice.