Read Online Darkling by Em Petrova - Free Book Online

her?
    His dark gaze bore into hers. “I’m sorry.” His voice cracked
on the words.
    She shook her head slightly, unable to process what was
going on. “Why?”
    “For taking advantage of you. I never should have kissed you
now or touched you before!” He twisted away from her and pinched the bridge of
his nose between his thumb and forefinger.
    She blinked at the force of his words. “I-I don’t
understand.”
    He made a sound like a sob. Grasping her hand, he pulled her
toward the bedroom door, then changed course and towed her into the living
room. His touch scalded her fingers. She locked her gaze on their threaded
fingers and wished to feel more of his touch on her flesh.
    Once in the living room, he spun to face her. “Forgive me
for that. I understand if you want to find another place to stay. You probably
should find a new place to stay, but Brady’s right. I couldn’t bear it. I still
can’t. Damn.”
    She blinked at him. What was he talking about?
    “I can see you don’t totally understand what I’m talking
about. Who could? I’m a rambling idiot.” He caught up her other hand and faced
her squarely. “Listen, Vega, I shouldn’t have laid a hand on you. I don’t want
you to ever believe I expect things like that. I took you in because I truly
want to help you in any way I can. The moment you tell me what you’re looking
for, I can hopefully put it within your reach. In the meantime, I don’t want to
violate the trust you have in me by getting…physical with you.”
    She squeezed his fingers and went on tiptoe, seeking more of
his enflaming kisses. “I don’t want to stop.”
    A pained look creased his features. “Ohhh. That’s not going
to help me maintain control. All right, Vega, do you understand what I’m
talking about when I say I want you to learn to trust me enough to tell me your
problems and let me help you?”
    Her throat clogged with tears. Yes, she knew. He’d given her
unconditional trust by sharing his home and provisions and caring for her. What
had she given in return? She’d told him almost nothing about herself, though
she had no reason to think he wouldn’t believe her.
    And she planned to steal the starscale out of his bedroom…
    The hot, dreaded tears began to fall. “Yes, I understand,
Niles. Thank you for being so kind to me.”
    He drew her into his embrace with a heavy sigh. The instant
he touched her, she knew he’d lost his battle for control. His arms flexed and
a shudder ran through him. He drew back a fraction—long enough to meet her
gaze.
    “Fuck, I shouldn’t do this.” With that, he scooped her off
her feet and turned for the sofa. He pressed her down with the weight of his
body and she squeezed her eyes shut, holding on to the expression in his eyes.
    Dark heat wove through her body and her nipples puckered
beneath her gown. Seeming to sense this, Niles stroked one, bringing it into a
harder peak. Before she could gasp from that delicious pleasure, he dropped his
mouth to it and sucked it through the fabric.
    She bucked upward and lashed his head to her. Now that he’d
started, he wasn’t turning away from her with his talk about keeping his
distance. He was hers; there was no question in her mind.
    He dragged his teeth over her bud, his tongue swirling over
the tip until the fabric was soaked. She guided him to her other needy breast.
Since the first time he’d touched them, she’d dreamed of this again and again.
His fingers on them. His mouth.
    As he sucked the other taut nipple into his mouth, he eased
his fingers under her gown. She gasped at his fleeting touch on her inner
thigh. But he was like a planet seeking the sun—he knew exactly what part of
her body he wanted to touch.
    And what part needed his touch the most.
    Flames burst inside her when he stroked her wet petals.
Juices drenched his fingers and he groaned in response. The vibration against
her nipple sent her into paroxysms of pleasure.
    She held him tighter, locking her