ADarkDesire Read Free Page A

memories back.”
    “What if I am too late to find her?”
    Belia felt her heart break at the sadness she felt and saw in his eyes. She wanted to tell him he wasn’t too late, but not even she could get the words out. “What if you’re not? It’s a risk you have to take.” She inhaled deeply, calming her emotions. “We’ll find Layla, okay?” She waited until Nikalye nodded before smiling. She had no idea how she would help. They were in the middle of the South Pole with no way of getting anywhere. “We’ll sleep on it. Believe it or not, it’s pretty late.”
    Nikalye’s eyes went to the only window in the small home and a smile played across his face. “I am glad one of us knows something around here.”
    “Well, you do have amnesia. And you haven’t lived here for over nineteen years. I don’t even need a clock to tell me when it’s late and when it’s not.” Belia stood. “You can take my bed, I’ll take the settee. You’re much too big to sleep on here.”
    “I couldn’t.”
    “I could. I normally fall asleep on the settee watching TV anyway and I know you’re tired so don’t tell me you’re not. Go.” She pointed to the stairs.
    “You’re a little demanding, aren’t you?”
    Belia blushed, not saying a word. She nudged him off the settee and followed him up the stairs to her room.
    It was small, the double bed taking up most of the space and a chest of draws squeezed next to it.
    Belia grabbed two of the four pillows and the thick blanket that was folded neatly at the bottom of her bed. Hugging them to her chest, she smiled at Nikalye. “Hopefully you’ll find the bed as comfy as I do. I’ll see you…later.” Stop loitering about. Just leave him to sleep and get his energy back.
    From the corner of her eye, Nikalye smiled.
    He took her hand in his and bowed his head to press his lips to the back of her hand.
    Heat swept through her and an ache formed in between her legs. Her mouth opened, her eyebrows rising as Nikalye opened his eyes, his gaze sending electric shooting up her arm and across her entire body. Oh God.
    “Goodnight, Belia.”
    Belia pulled her hand from his grasp and took a step back, still shocked. What just happened? When Nikalye stepped forward, Belia spun on her heel and headed out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind her. She leant back against it, blowing out a long breath. “Holy crap.”
    From behind the closed door, Nikalye chuckled, making Belia jump and head down the stairs quickly before she began to think of obscene thoughts that would surely get her into trouble.

Chapter Four
    Belia jumped awake, a scream on the tip of her tongue when a hand closed over her mouth. She struggled to get away when Nikalye put his face close to hers, his warm breath playing across her face as he leant down and put his lips to her ear.
    “There are men sneaking around outside.”
    What?
    Nikalye removed his hand so she could speak.
    “What do we do?” She almost jumped at how loud her whisper sounded in the quiet room.
    “You stay here.”
    Before Belia could gather her thoughts, Nikalye shot up and was out of the house before she could blink. “Nikalye!” Belia untangled herself from the blanket and tiptoed to the slightly open door. She squinted through the bright daylight. Nikalye was nowhere to be seen.
    Even if anyone had been outside, they couldn’t do much sneaking. Not in the white snow or the bright sky.
    So where had Nikalye gone? Maybe he’s around the back.
    Belia shifted from foot to foot, waiting for when Nikalye came back into view. Everything was quiet. Even the wind didn’t make a sound.
    A creak broke the silence, echoing from upstairs. Belia jumped and put her hand over her heart while it thumped hard. She pressed herself against the wall, keeping her eyes on the stairs as she moved to the side until her bedroom door came into view.
    The door handle moved down slowly and the door creaked open.
    Someone is here!
    A man appeared, his gaze met