Nightshade (Nightshade, #1)

by Keri Lake

“Promise me you will catch me.” “Always,” he whispered.

“My Lord--Jericho--I feel the strangest things when I am with you. Inexplicable things.” “Then, you feel as I do.” His arm tightened around her possessively, and he kissed her neck harder, the thrill of his lips buckling her knees. “The next time they have me tied to these very chains, I shall think of you, here, like this. And I shall imagine all the ways I would have you. You will be my mercy.”

“Everything about you taunts me, Lustina. Your eyes beckon me to stare. Your scent beckons me to breathe. Your skin beckons me to touch.”

“You no longer belong to the church or these people. You are not bound by the laws of their world. From this night forward, I am your church. When you are lost, I am your shelter. When you are in pain, I am your elixir.” Gripping her crown, he tipped her head back and stared deeply into her eyes. The intensity of his gaze tickled her stomach. “When you ache for pleasure, I am your mercy.” A look of conviction claimed his expression, as he said, “I will burn down this pathetic world for you. Only you. You are mine, little fledgling. Always.” “Always.”

“You are a mystifying enigma, Mister Van Croix.” His gaze swung back to me, devouring me in one sweep. “And you are a frustrating distraction, Miss Ravenshaw.”

“I don’t doubt that, Miss Ravenshaw.” “Then, what do you doubt?” He did that damn studying thing again, his jaw shifting, chewing on whatever thoughts churned inside his head. “That I would survive you.”