Free Seduced by Crimson by Jade Lee Page B

working, if I'm not getting anywhere, I'll stop. I swear."
    Xiao Fei jerked at her bonds, slamming forward as hard as she could. It did nothing but bring tears of pain to her eyes. But what else could she do? She wasn't getting through to him.
    "Patrick—"
    "It'll work. Or I'll stop. I promise."
    "It's not going to work!" She was screaming at him. Then, just for good measure, she stretched her wail into a long, loud bellow for help. He let her go at it until she had to stop for breath. Then he spoke—so softly that she had to be silent to hear him.
    "Do that again, and I'll have to gag you."
    She believed him—there was no compromise in his eyes—so she shut her mouth. But her tears were still there. In fact, she encouraged them. If screams didn't help, maybe tears would reach him.
    Apparently they didn't help enough. Patrick stroked them away with his thumb, his touch tender. "I'll make this good," he said. "I promise."
    "It can't be good when it's forced," she answered.
    His shoulders slumped. "Maybe not," he conceded. "But I have to try." Then he paused, staring hard at her. "You understand why I'm doing this, right—what happens with the gate? It's not just that some demons will kill everything in sight; it's the wound itself. As long as the Earth is open in this way, it pours its life force into that other place. Orcus, it's called, the demon home world. Earth is bleeding into Orcus, and if we don't seal the wound, everything here will die. AH the people, the plants, the fish. Even the air will sicken."
    Xiao Fei swallowed. She knew this. To be honest, she could feel it happening. She had been feeling it for some time now. And Patrick must have seen the knowledge in her eyes, because he smiled, though the expression was grim. "You do understand. You know I have to do this. We have to do whatever it takes."
    "It won't work," she choked out. "You've got to know that. On some level, you know that one person just isn't that powerful."
    He shook his head. "Pray that you're wrong, Xiao Fei. Pray that this ancient spell will work, because otherwise, all life is doomed."
    He watched her a moment longer. She could feel him silently begging her to understand. He wanted her blessing on this most unholy act, but she shook her head. "We could have been good together, Patrick." she whispered. "But if you do this, we'll never get past it. I'll never forgive you."
    Her words scored a hit. She saw his anguish. Then the last shimmer of humanity drained from his face until there was no Patrick left. Only Draig-Uisge. "I've already lost my parents to the cause, Xiao Fei. What more is the love of my life?"
    Her breath froze in her chest. He couldn't possibly have said what he just had. He couldn't possibly mean it.
    Before she could pose another question, he pushed to his feet. She heard his low chanting begin again, and he slowly walked to the base of the bed.
    "What are you doing?" she asked.
    He didn't answer. He was too busy chanting and stripping off his robe. Heavens, he was beautiful. All sensuous golden skin and sleek, rippling muscles. His hair was drawn back in a braid, but he took a moment to untie it and shake it out.
    She lifted her head up as best she could to see him fully. Narrowed waist. Nice hips. Proud, full sex. So much for the hope that he couldn't get it up. Then his chanting stopped and he carefully knelt down, leaning across the bedspread. He crawled between her legs, his face between her thighs.
    "What the hell are you doing?" she asked.
    He glanced up in surprise. "I told you. I have to find out if this works. If we…"
    "Yeah, yeah, I got that part. But what the hell are you doing?"
    He frowned and tilted his head slightly. "You have to be into this, Xiao Fei. You have to have at least some semblance of interest or it's a complete no-go."
    "I have no interest whatsoever," she snapped. "None.
Nada
. Nothing. Headache, remember?"
    He nodded. "I remember."
    She twisted in her bonds. "So, untie me. We'll give it a