Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
No amount of fantasizing about the taste of Merrill’s lips could have delivered such wanton passion or shameless abandon. Every nerve ending sizzled with a deep yearning. Katla’s blood was molten as it ran through her veins. The desire heavy. Her need urgent. She was burning up, and only one man could douse the fire.
She slid her hands up his back when he brought her flush against him and deepened the kiss. His fingers tangled in the hair at her neck, holding her head as he ravaged her lips. Each kiss was deeper, hungrier than the last. Their breaths mingled, and their bodies pressed tightly together, seeking, needing to be closer.
She was drowning. She was flying. Passion slid sensuously through her in waves. The only one keeping her from disintegrating into a million pieces was Merrill . His large hand was splayed on her lower back, pulling her against his thick arousal. She moaned as wetness slicked her thighs.
The kiss ended, leaving her gripping Merrill to stay upright. Her lips were swollen from his kisses. She slowly opened her eyes to stare into his irises. They were deep pools of dark blue, flecked with tiny shards of silver. And they sizzled with the fires of desire. No longer did he hide his feelings or thoughts.
She clenched her legs and pressed her lips together to hold back her moan. He had brought her to the edge of orgasm with only a kiss, and she teetered there, both yearning to take the plunge and wanting to prolong the delicious torture.
His gaze dropped to her hand as he lifted it with his. Slowly , sensuously, he slid his fingers against her palm and upward along her fingers. For a heartbeat, they stood body to body, palm to palm. Then he twined his fingers with hers. There was a deep meaning to the act, and it made her tremble with excitement and anticipation.
Longing .
His gaze swung back to her. “ Katla ,” he whispered, his lips lowering to hers again.
Chills raced over her flesh at his husky voice saying her name. She rose onto her tiptoes, eager for another kiss—and more.
Just before their mouths touched, there was an explosion. The blast was deafening, the light blinding. She was ripped out of Merrill’s arms and flung away. The world whirled and twisted as she flipped through the air. She dropped like a stone onto her stomach, and pain lanced through her. Katla couldn’t hold back her anguished cry. She clenched her teeth as tears ran down her face. She attempted to move her hands beneath her, but her right arm wouldn’t obey. The small movement brought another dizzying wave of agony.
Merrill . She had to find Merrill .
She lifted her head from the debris and saw the bone sticking out of the back of her arm above her elbow. Then she saw the fire. She stared in shock at the flames that burned what was left of the inside of the cottage. Her home was no more. Only one wall remained. The rest was scattered in all directions. Alarm rocketed through her when the fire jumped from the cottage to the vines and quickly spread.
“ Nay !” she yelled, managing to sit up using her left arm. Katla hastily scanned the wreckage of the cottage. “ Merrill !”
There was no answer, just the growing thunder of the flames. She struggled to get to her feet, but her body wouldn’t respond. Katla had no choice but to drag herself with her left arm, shouting for Merrill . He was alive. He was made of fire. And he healed. He would be okay.
A cold shiver of apprehension ran down her spine. Katla stilled and looked up to find the entity watching her from the air. She felt its amusement. She rolled away the moment the being dove for her. Magic filled her palm just as the entity struck. The impact stole her breath and lobbed her into the burning vines. Her head slammed into the earth so hard when she landed it left her dazed.
Katla fought to keep her eyes open, but darkness edged her vision. The fingers of her left hand curled around a vine as she thought of Merrill .
Katla forced her eyes to open and looked through the smoke to the sky above. Every breath was agonizing. She couldn’t move her arms or legs. She turned her head toward the roaring fire, and through the haze and unbearable pain, she saw men exiting the cottage, carrying Merrill .