Dark Kiss Of The Reaper Read Online Free PDF Page B

overwhelmed, he inhaled more of her, his eyes closed against the unbearable wonderfulness sparking through him. When he opened his eyes, he knew it was too late. He was enslaved. Addicted. There would be no turning back. He wanted her.
    But more than that...he wanted her to want him in return. There was no other way being with her would be possible.
    “Remember,” he whispered through her straight brown locks, gathering his control in a tight fist. “Nothing will harm you. I promise.”
    She leaned into him, tipping her head back to meet his gaze. “I don’t know why, but I believe you. I feel safe with you. I don’t have a reason to, but I do.”
    Her lips were so close it would take but a slight bend of his head to match them to his, but her words stopped him. She felt safe. He would not jeopardize that feeling and risk losing whatever small trust had begun to build between them.
    “Good.” The single word was all he could manage. He nudged Pallidus’ sides and the animal moved forward. Mist enveloped them, obscuring Sara’s world while they shifted into his.
    The mist gave way. Sara gasped, her nails dug into his arm. So that was pain. The sensation intrigued more than it hurt.
    A soft cry escaped her and she pressed into him, turning her face into his chest and clutching handfuls of his robe. “Is this real? Tell me this isn’t real.”
    He gazed down onto the earth below. Clouds disappeared beneath Pallidus’ hooves as he galloped though the sky.
    “It is, but there’s no need to be afraid.”
    “Not from where I’m sitting.” She clung tighter.
    “It’s safe, I promise.” Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her and held her. Zeus Almighty, she felt good in his arms. He was rewarded with the slight relaxing of her tense form.
    “Pallidus can fly?” She peered around his shoulder. “Without wings?”
    “He doesn’t need them. He’s a very special horse.” How else to explain Pallidus’ ability? The horse was bred from the ancient line of Pegasus, but chances were Sara wouldn’t believe that either.
    She eased up so she could look him in the eyes, but maintained her grip on his robes. “You told me I was special, now you say Pallidus is special – mind you, I’m not disagreeing. You don’t get much more special than a flying horse, but being put in the same category as a one is...well...disconcerting.”
    He bit his tongue to keep from laughing. Instead, he willingly drowned in her beautiful eyes. Copper, bronze, and gold, with shades of cinnamon, coffee and cocoa. He’d never known brown could be so rich or so delicious. One hand slipped up to caress her cheek, just a finger trailed along her jaw, nothing more. He wouldn’t risk it.
    After this time with him, she would see who he really was. Once she fully understood, she might never want to see him again. Or might not be able to. Who knew what cruel trick the Fates would play next? Either way, he feared Kol’s words coming true – that Sara’s seeing him could only come to a bad end.
    He refused to give place to that thought. He had a job to do, lives to finish with a merciful death. If Sara disappeared from his existence after today, there would be time enough later to deal with it.
    Pallidus swept lower toward the earth’s surface. Sullen clouds dark with rain and charged with lightning rose past them on their descent. The storm that brewed would claim many lives. The world below focused, the shapes of people and tin-roofed homes became visible. Faint human cries reached his ears. Sara shuddered and he knew she heard them too.
    He kept one arm around her, but loosed the other to reach into his robes for his scythe.
    “Stay close now. My work begins.”
     

Chapter Four
     
    The ground below swept up toward them with frightening speed. They came in over a churning sea. Deep grooves eroded the beach. Sara clutched Azrael’s arm so tightly she knew her grip must be uncomfortable for him, but she didn’t care.
    Palms flailed