Inferno (Book 4 The Kindred Series) Read Free Page A

that
he might disappear. He knew exactly how she felt; this was far too
dreamlike and wonderful to be real. Far too unexpected after the
weeks of uncertainty and terror. He was afraid that if he did touch
her, she would disappear and all of this would prove to be some
sort of torturous dream. He didn’t think he could take that if it
happened.
    Yet, he couldn’t stop himself; he
needed to touch her, needed to feel her again. He had to know if
this was real. Had to know if she was real. Unable to take one more
second of their separation, he seized hold of her shaking fingers.
Relief and awe pooled through him, the tight knot in his chest
eased as his hand clenched upon hers, savoring in the silken, solid
feel of her skin. Her fingers clenched tight upon him, her nails
dug into his skin, but he didn’t care. He didn’t care about
anything now that he had found her again, now that he was touching
her again. A small sob escaped her as he pulled her forward a
step.
    “Cassie,” he breathed
reverently.
    Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled
her against him, wonder filling him as his hand tightened in her
tangled hair. She felt so wonderful, so warm, and alive, and solid.
And in his arms again, where she belonged, where she would always
belong. He fought back the tears of relief that threatened to fall.
More tears escaped her; she clung tighter to him, her small fingers
digging into his back. She was the most magnificent thing he had
ever felt, the most wonderful thing he had ever hoped to feel.
Closing his eyes, he pulled her tighter against him, burying his
face in her silky hair.
    “Cassie,” he groaned, clinging tighter
to her as her sobs increased and she tried even harder to get
closer to him.
    “I was beginning to fear I would never
see you again!” she moaned, her slender frame shaking with the
force of her tears. “I was afraid I’d lost you!”
    He pulled slightly back from her,
wanting only to look at her again, but the moment he saw her
cherished face he knew he couldn’t stop himself. He cupped her face
tightly, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks as he bent his
head to hers. She gasped slightly, and then a small moan of
pleasure escaped her as he seized hold of her mouth, taking fierce
possession of it.
    Her arms wrapped around his neck, her
fingers entangled in his hair as she held him tight. He had never
forgotten how wonderful and right she felt, but the memories of
their last touch paled in comparison to actually holding her again.
She eagerly met his kiss, her tongue entwining with his, her body
melding to his. He lifted her up, crushing her against him as he
cradled the back of her head gently, savoring in everything about
her.
    He wanted more of her, needed more of
her. He had nearly lost her; he had been without her for so long
that he was on the brink of losing complete control now that he had
her again. He was closer to completely snapping and changing her
than he ever had been before. If he changed her, he would never
have to lose her again; never have to part from her again. He would
be able to find her anywhere, and she would be immortal, safe from
death, and far stronger than she was now. He pulled away from her,
his head dropping into the hollow of her neck as he struggled to
keep his wildly swaying emotions, and body, under
control.
    He didn’t care that they were standing
in a road, in the middle of nowhere. He didn’t care that at his
back was the man who had once been his best friend, but was now his
greatest enemy. He didn’t even care that there was an unknown
amount of monsters in the woods around them. All he cared about was
holding her, touching her, possessing her. All he cared about was
having her with him again. All he wanted was to taste her again, to
savor in her blood to join with her, and to feel her in every
possible way.
    Her hands cradled his face gently as
she pulled slowly away from him. Her fingers stroked over his
cheeks as she gently kissed him once more, her