His Darkest Desire

by Tiffany Roberts

“Everything may seem dark and scary,” she whispered, “and you may not always be able to see the sun, but it is there.”

“People survived without wi-fi and GPS for most of human history. This shouldn’t be that hard.”

Either an insanely rich, eccentric hermit or an elf lived here, both of which seemed equally absurd and equally likely.

“You suggest I demean myself further by…wooing a human?”

Kinsley drew the covers over her head to block out the light and hide from the world.

All the world will look upon you and never know the crushing weight of your broken heart.

More than that, she sensed in Vex the same deep desire she harbored—to make a true connection with someone. She’d thought she’d had one for so long, yet in the end, it just…hadn’t been enough. She hadn’t been enough.

She’d been floating in darkness for so long, alone and adrift. Her family had helped, but they could never have filled in the hole left in her heart.

She was in his mind, his heart, his soul, and she would not be dislodged. He was powerless to exorcise her from himself.

Why was she being so bashful now when she’d literally masturbated in front of this man last night?

Her chest constricted with yearning for this place to truly be her home. Yearning for true, unconditional love.

It hailed from a past that had been burned away by fire and gold.

When had he last found reason to laugh, to smile? When had he last known joy or lightheartedness?

What they’d shared had been so much more than physical. It was like their souls had come together in a sensual, spellbinding dance, and were now blissfully, eternally joined.

“Oh God,” Kinsley cried, clutching her breasts. “There is no god here,” he growled. “Cry out for me.”

Just another failure to add to the tally.

“All I have cherished has met doom and damnation. For a fleeting moment, I dared believe that would change. As ever, my folly sows woe to be reaped by those closest to me.”

Kinsley could not make it all go away, could not make him forget, but she made it bearable. She made healing seem possible. She made living seem possible.

She was the final word of a spell he’d unknowingly been chanting for most of his life.

For so long, she’d felt…defective.

“I am worth it, though. I’m done thinking I’m not. I’m tired of feeling lesser. I… I’m not a baby making machine. I’m not defined by what people want from me. I’m a person with my own feelings, my own wants, my own dreams.”

“Neither words nor actions will erase the suffering I have inflicted. Of all the regrets I must carry into eternity, it is the heaviest.

“What could my markings do but mar your perfection?” She looked away from him, but not before he caught the uncertainty in her eyes. “I’m not perfect, Vex.” He hooked a finger beneath her chin, coaxing her gaze back to him. “You say that only because you cannot see yourself through my eyes, my moonlight. You are perfect to me. For me. Naught else matters.”

“I’ve endured an eternity awaiting this moment. A few more heartbeats shall not be my undoing.”

He wanted only one thing regarding Liam—to saturate the earth with the man’s blood.

but it was hard to pretend that nothing was wrong when all I wanted to do was cry.

I deserved so much more than him, more than what he made me feel. I’m not broken. I never was. And I’ll never let anyone or anything make me think otherwise again.”

You’re alive. But Kinsley didn’t feel alive. This…this felt like dying again.

What good is freedom when half of my heart is still imprisoned?”