Free Demon's Kiss by Laura Hawks Page A

game.’ She shook her head, stripped and headed to the shower.
    Mel frowned at Clarissa’s hasty exit. He took the goblet from Shara after she materialized it and drained the contents in one gulp then held it out for more, his eyes bright yellow and his stomach cramped from need. When he finally felt sated, he gave the goblet back to Shara and dismissed her. Azamel sat up and stared into the fire, his mind kept drifting back to the jungle. ‘Clarissa’s powers are highly volatile and very closely tied to her emotions. She will need hard training to control them.’
    As Clarissa stepped out of the shower dripping wet, she let the air around her raise goose bumps on her skin. She grabbed a towel and wiped her face as her mind wandered to what they just went through and that he came for her. He felt her need him.
    Why did he intrigue her so much? What was it about him that set her body aflame with just a look or a light caress? Was it because she could not ever have him? Talk about impossible situations? Talk about losing her focus on her destiny to dream about being with a man that, that what? Saw her as a child, a burden, a damsel in distress? She growled softly. She could fight on her own. She taught herself and made it this far without him or anyone else. However then she remembered she was almost killed by that demon. She was not prepared. She was not as good as she thought. Or was she just distracted with anger for him! She needed his training, what he could teach her and yet the thought of spending more time with him worried her.
    She sighed. ‘Gods grant me help in making it through this ordeal and steel my heart against wanting something I could never, should never have.’
    Drying herself off, she quickly got dressed and curled up in the huge winged back chair to wait until she was sure Shara was gone from the room.
    Azamel felt restored. Having sent Shara away, he got up and walked to her bathroom door. As he knocked on it, he called out to her, “Clarissa?”
    She lifted her head. “Come in.”
    Slowly he opened the door and saw her sitting in the winged back chair. He walked over and sat in the one across from her. “You were magnificent in there.” He looked away as if embarrassed to have confessed so much.
    She blushed as she saw him look away, despite the compliment. “Thank you. I just did what I had to, nothing more. I owe you my gratitude for coming in and helping me out. It’s kind of nice to have my own body intact once again.”
    He nodded and gave her a long stare. “You have many powers but they are yet too unstable and too closely tied to your emotions. I can train you, if you want me to?”
    He wondered why he kept asking but he wanted to help her. He wanted to know that she was safe and would survive for the additional trials she would have to cope with as time progressed. Others would come for the stone and therefore her.
    Clarissa let her eyes lower under his gaze, felt her cheeks redden slightly. Working with him meant spending more time with him and there was a part of her that thrilled with the thought and another that cringed with it. She knew the more time she spent the harder it would be to be alone again when this was over. She rested her head against the wing of the chair, her legs already tucked under her form since before he came in. She looked lost in the big chair, small, uncertain. “If you please, I would appreciate your guidance.”
    “Dinner is served.” He stood up and held out his hand to her. “I am sure you are hungry? We can discuss your schooling over the meal.”
    She hesitated on putting her hand in his, yet the need to touch him, to feel his warm skin against hers was strong. He had shown courtesy to her, of which she appreciated. Gently she put her fingers in his, uncurled from the chair and stood. They were almost equal in height and still his presence seemed to dwarf hers. “I am hungry, thank you.” Clarissa let him lead her to the dining hall.
    Mel