The Sweetest Burn. Jeaniene Frost
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waves. His silver-ringed eyes were deep blue, and even when he scowled, it highlighted lips both full and completely masculine. Adrian was as gorgeous as he was dangerous; another sign of fateâs cruel sense of humor when it came to our opposing destinies.
I looked away, blaming my staring at him on post-battle temporary insanity. Once, Iâd laughed after almost getting ripped apart by a demon who could turn shadows into weapons. Adrenaline was more sense-depriving than heroin at times.
âYeah, I remember,â Adrian said shortly. âSaying Iâm sorry is worthless, so I wonât. All I can do is promise that it will never happen again.â
I wished it wouldnât, for a lot of reasons. But how could I believe this promise when he still wouldnât even apologize for the last time heâd lied to me? And worse, fate predicted that he would betray me again. Twice, and the final one would end in my death, making me just another dead Davidian in a long line of ones killed by Judians.
Except that I was the last descendant of the Biblical King Davidâs line, and thus the only human capable of wielding the hallowed weapons that could bring down demons. Adrian was the last descendant of Judas, and in addition to his incredible, otherworldly powers, he had also inherited the fate to betray and kill Davidians. When we first met, I had believed that he could beat his fate, if he tried. In fact, Iâd believed it so much that Iâd fallen in love with him. Now, I wasnât so sure, but I had other things to worry about. Like the demons who would surely be after me, my sister and Costa now that weâd killed more of their people.
Adrian grabbed my arm. âWould you stop for a second so we can talk?â
âNo,â I replied, yanking away. âAnd if you touch me again, youâll regret it.â
âWhatâs your hurry?â he challenged, switching tactics.
I gave him an irritated glance. âIâm worried about my sister and your best friend. Costaâs house is on hallowed ground, so itâs safe for now, but three minions and a demon going missing from that realm wonât go unnoticed, as you of all people should know. The rest of the demons will figure out what happened since no human couldâve taken them down. Soon, theyâll be tearing this place apart looking for us, so Jasmine, Costa and I need to be gone before they do.â
He arched a brow. âWell, then, I guess itâs a good idea that I stay close to make sure youâre safe.â
âI can take care of myself, as one very dead minion would tell you if he could,â I shot back.
The smile he flashed me was maddening in its cockiness. âSeems like you needed a little help with the rest of them.â
He was right, but admitting that would be tantamount to telling him that I wanted him to stay, and I didnât. âDonât flatter yourself. I had a plan. Two more blocks, and Iâd have been on hallowed ground. The demon couldnât cross that, and he couldnât wait me out with the sun coming up. And as you once told me, minions are easy to kill.â
âNot two at a time when youâre still a novice,â he replied.
I spun around, and then clenched my teeth when I saw the triumphant look in his eyes. Heâd wanted me to keep talking and Iâd let him bait me into it.
I began to hike up my dress as I resumed walking. Adrian watched with interest until I reached the straps around my upper thighs. I gave him a censuring look as I pulled out my cell phone. No, I wasnât flashing him. I had to give Costa and Jasmine a heads-up that they needed to start packing. Poor Costa. Heâd taken me and my sister in because we couldnât return to our old houseâor our old livesâafter Iâd decimated a demon realm rescuing Jasmine. Now, Costa would be forced to leave his own home, and I had no idea where any of us would go.
But when I looked at my phone, I let out a groan. The front of it was smashed so badly, I could see the plastic casing behind it. Memories of the minionâs fists explained how that had happened. My ribs hadnât been the only thing heâd bashed as heâd tried to kill me.
âDo you have a phone?â I asked, breaking my new silence.
His mouth tightened. âNo.â
âWho goes anywhere without a cell phone?â I muttered.
Adrianâs features closed off, as if this was somehow a sore subject. âIâve been having issues with mine.â
We walked in silence for several moments. The sun was almost fully up, and I felt bad for Brutus flying in those rays while taking the demon far out over the ocean, even though I was ticked at Brutus for sneaking behind my back to see Adrian.
âDo you know the worst part of staying away from you these past months?â Adrian asked. âI thought it would be remembering everything that had happened between us, but instead, it was thinking of everything we didnât do.â
I still said nothing. If heâd missed me so much, ignoring me for months was a real unique way of showing it.
He moved closer, until his big body blocked the wind. I still didnât look up at him, but kept staring straight ahead as if I could will myself back at Costaâs with sheer mind power.
âI showed you terrible places when I should have shown you beautiful ones,â he went on, his voice deepening. âTold you horrible details about my past instead of letting you get to know the person Iâd become, and I taught you how to wield that slingshot instead of teaching you a thousand different things that we wouldâve enjoyed much, much more.â
The way his voice caressed that last part made his meaning explicitly clear. Surprise combined with a rush of heat as a treacherous part of myself started imagining what those things might have been. My lack of experience meant I didnât have a lot to go on, but my mind seemed up to improvising. Then, with a mental slap, I forced those thoughts back.
âToo late now,â I said in a crisp tone.
Adrian caught me to him, his hands closing like warm steel bands around my arms.
âIvy, listen. When we met, I didnât think I could beat my fate. Thatâs why I kept pushing you away, why I didnât tell you who I was at first and why I didnât tell you what I felt until, yes, it was almost too late. But itâs not too late.â He stared at me until his gaze felt almost palpable with his intensity. âI know what I feel for you, and itâs stronger than any destiny. I told you the last time I saw you that Iâd make you believe in us again. I meant that, and regardless of how mad you are at me, if you had a hard time resisting me when I was fighting my feelings for you...you wonât stand a chance now that Iâm not.â
My jaw dropped as pride chased away the dangerous warmth that had caused me to sway the tiniest bit closer to him. Iâd practically thrown myself at him the last time circumstances had forced us to spend time together, and what had that gotten me? Betrayed and dumped. Damned if Iâd let history repeat itself.
âDonât be so cocky,â I said, pulling away and starting to walk again. âIâm not the same person, either, so save your efforts. My panties arenât going to fall off just because youâve finally decided that you want them to.â
His laughter chased after me, sensual and challenging. âOh, Ivy, they donât need to fall off. Iâm happy to tear them.â
I let out a frustrated sigh. Adrian wasnât leaving and he wasnât listening to me; I may as well be reliving the first time we met. Back then, heâd saved me from a minion kidnapping while opening my eyes to my âhallucinationsâ being real. Whether I liked it or not, if history was repeating itself, then his presence meant my life was about to irrevocably change.
Again.