Page 18 of Dancing With Demons

But me? Little Piper that is the source of all problems?

I fall and dump my afternoon’s worth of work onto the ground to be forgotten and trampled.

I round the corner into my chambers, slamming the door behind me and sinking against it. Tolmond’s steps are just behind me, and I hear him skid to a stop. I lock the door, crossing the room to sink onto my mattress and curl up into a ball when he starts to knock.

“Piper, are you okay?”

My tears are hot and sting my cheeks as they rush down. My breathing is ragged from the sobs and running, and I feel like I’m suffocating as they wrack my frame.

“Piper.” His voice is soft and anguished and it only makes me feel worse. “Piper, please. I need to know you’re okay. You know that I can’t bear the thought of you being hurt.”

“No!” I cry out, unwilling to let him see me like this.

“Just let me check, okay? I just have to know that you aren’t hurt.”

I don’t protest this time, and Tolmond nearly whispers, “I’m going to unlock the door now.”

Softly, I answer back, “Okay.”

I’m glad I don’t have to get up, and I watch as he uses his magic to undo the lock. The door pushes open to reveal the white haired demons, strands of hair ripped loose from his braid from chasing after me.

“Oh, Piper.” There’s anguish in his eyes as he closes the door behind him. “Sweet girl, what happened?” He sinks to his knees before my bed, wiping my tears, and I only want to cry harder. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

I shake my head, and he keeps his hand lightly on my cheek. Even after I answer, he scans my body and says, “Let me see.” Then, without waiting for a response, he scoops me up into his arms, sitting on the bed and nestling me in his lap.

I’ve never been held like this before. He wraps his arms around me, his hands roaming over my back and down my limbs. He’s checking me over while keeping me pressed to his chest, and I don’t know what to make of it.

But I do know I feel safe.

I’ve never felt safe before, not really. I’ve had a home of sorts and some food. I never truly felt I was going to do, and on Protheka, that’s the best a human can hope for.

But with Tolmond, I feel protected. I know nothing could touch me or hurt me, and if I wanted him to, he would end the demon who upset me like this.

He stops his exploring, one hand coming up beneath my chin to lift my face to his. His eyes track over my face, and he says, “You are hurt.”

“No-no, I’m not,” I hiccup.

“Oh, my sweet girl,” he coos and I don’t correct him. “You are. Your face is soaked in tears, and I have never seen anything that pains me so. You’ve been hurt, and I must correct that.”

“How do you plan to do that?” My eyes dart down to his lips, so tantalizingly close, and I know that it might not be the right move, but I am practically begging him to kiss me. I want him to make me feel better and if being held feels this good, I can only imagine what it will be like to have his lips on mine.

He shifts his hand to cup the back of my head, and my heart thunders in my chest as his other hand goes to my hip. He’s holding me so carefully, and though his eyes still look cautious, they are heavy with adoration.

Tolmond has never hidden how he feels about me. I’ve known since we met that he wants me, and while, at first, I was physically drawn to him and the power he holds, I was too shy to do anything more.

Now, though, living with him has brought me even closer. I enjoy spending my time with him, and I find myself missing him when he’s away. My attraction has only grown, and all I want is for him to finally bridge the gap and devour me like his eyes have been promising for a week now.

“Like this,” he says in a husky whisper that hits me right between my legs.

His hand tightens on my hips, and his fingers tug on my hair as he lowers his mouth to mine. The air is charged between us, and I track his lips, my eyes falling closed just as he claims my mouth with his.

The second they meet, a bolt of electricity rushes through me. I’ve never been kissed before, but I doubt that most feel anything close to this. I feel like my entire body has been struck, and my hands slide up his chest to lock around his neck, pulling him closer.

Slowly, I part my lips for him, and Tolmond’s tongue slips in. He tastes sweet from his afternoon snacks, and I find myself enjoying it as I invite him further.

He groans as flick his tongue with mine, and he shifts beneath me. A fire is burning up my skin, and soon, I find that I need more of him. I want to feel all of him, but as I start to break the kiss to straddle him, he tightens on me.

Tolmond holds me in place, finishing his exploration before he slowly eases off of me. “How do you feel now?”