Free Crimson Desire by Elisabeth Morgan Popolow Page A

my body and made me ache with wonder at what would happen. Would we escape? Would we get caught? The answer eluded me, but it was the sheer thrill of the ride that exhilarated me to no end.
    I kicked Franz harder so that he went faster and faster. When I thought we were a suitable distance away, I stopped and let the horse rest while Sang and I dismounted and sat on the ground.
    The grass was cool and moist against my bare ass, and it felt relaxing, calming even as the moon’s silver hue shone in the cloudless sky and shimmered upon us in a dim light. Franz’s coat gleamed in the moonlight, and I was in pure awe of the animal’s beauty and slid my gaze to Sang, who was equally as beautiful in his own right.
    I got up, tied Franz’s reins around a tree trunk, and lay back down onto the cold ground. Sang joined me and wound his arms around my stomach, kissed the hollow of my neck, and sat cross legged on the grass.
    “So, no fire?” he joked.
    “No,” I hissed with a scoff. “The smoke will give us away.”
    “So, Lily,” Sang began, hands plucking at the grass. “Do you believe that Darius will come? Because I do.”
    I patted his wild black hair. “For sure, I do. He’s probably so angry he must’ve drank everything in his liquor cabinet by now.”
    “I just don’t know why he hasn’t come yet. He knows where this place is. He’s been here before.”
    “I don’t know. Maybe this is a different place.”
    He placed a hand to his temple and said, “No. This is it. I’m sure of it.”
    “Well, he’ll come. I know. And I promise.”
    He stretched out his legs, and I joined him so his body spooned me. I would’ve liked to have a pillow, but beggars can’t be choosers. My body relaxed, and I felt silly going to sleep in a dress, but hey, what was I going to do?
    * * * *
    I stood near a cliff, and the wind was like a feral wolf, howling to the moon as it whistled past me and brought my hair around my face in a fluttering mess. Below the cliff’s edge was a wide expanse of sparkling water, glimmering with the silver glow of the moon and the reflection of the dark grey clouds.
    My bare feet were planted firmly on the soft, cold soil, colorful leaves sliding around the ground and being whipped up into tiny whirlwinds around me. Insects chirped and buzzed in the background, and I felt as if I was on a stage, put there for someone else’s amusement.
    I turned around, golden hair flaring with the motion, as I heard footsteps approach me from behind, crinkling the dry leaves, and stopping just centimeters from me.
    Darius was dressed in a magnificent cream silk shirt which left his muscled chest bare and pale for all to see and tight beige leather pants which hugged his thighs and ass firmly. His feet were covered by tall calfskin boots, and his wavy chocolate hair came in thick rippling waves down his back and below his knees. I stared into his bright amber eyes and felt a longing like never before stir inside me and begin to burn like some great inferno.
    I pushed myself into his arms, rubbed my face against the soft curly hair of his chest, and kissed his freezing skin hard. He looked down at me and grinned, although there was a glint of sorrow and worry in his gaze that made my heart skip a beat. I could not fathom the pain he was going through as his lover was in the arms of another, on another continent, held captive by a powerful vampiress.
    I opened my mouth to speak, but he laid his index finger on my lips and told me to be quiet as he shuffled his feet and drew one arm around my waist while the other affectionately brushed through my hair.
    “I know you are scared, my dear. I know that you have escaped from Annabelle’s castle and are sleeping with Sang right now,” he uttered and nuzzled my ear with his fangs.
    “I know you know,” I said with a pout. He could read my mind whenever he pleased. I hated it but also found it strangely romantic.
    Weird.
    “Your freedom is not long-lived,” he