Read Online The Lariat (Finding Justus Series) by Ashley Dotson - Free Book Online Page A

victor. Give in to me. Give in to us.”
    I can’t. Orrin.
    I couldn’t think of a good enough reason besides that one. I still loved Orrin. Isn’t that a good enough reason? But he had Daisy now. I could have someone else too. Couldn’t I?
    “I just…I don’t know,” I answered.
    “You know I want you, Layla. And right now I’d like nothing more than to kiss you. I want to know you more.” He touched his thumb to my bottom lip running it from corner to corner.
    I shivered with anticipation. If his thumb could do that, I wondered if his lips could do so much more.
    “I know you want this. I felt it the first time we met, the first time you looked into my eyes. I wanted you. I want to know that hunger you keep hidden. I want to free you from this darkness that has overtaken your world. I want so much from you and for you, but right now at this moment I just want to know the taste of your mouth.”
    He descended again, so sure in my capitulation.
    “Wait,” I said again.
    He sighed, “I ask again, why?”
    “I don’t know. I just don’t know if I can. I don’t know what I want.”
    “Layla, I can read your mind. Believe me when I say I already know what you want.”
    “That may be true. I just don’t know if it’s the best idea. I barely know you, Cyrus.”
    He took a step back.
    “But you know him?” He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
    “Him? Who?” I asked, but deep down I knew of whom he asked.
    “Darringer.”
    I crossed my arms, “Why do guys use each other’s last names like that? His name is Orrin, but like you know said a few times you know more than you’re saying. You want to know how well I know him. I’d say pretty well. He’s a little sidetracked these days but we keep in touch. Why do you ask? How well do you know him?”
    “Well enough,” he sneered. “You so readily gave yourself to him? A daemon ? Why not give me a chance.”
    “What kind of chance are you talking about?” My guard went up, “I’m a daemon too, don’t forget that. You don’t get to talk about him like that. You don’t know anything about us. And I don’t need your approval to sleep with someone. ”
    “And you still consider him to be your soulmate?”
    “How do you know any of this? Why do you know any of this?” I said through clenched teeth. My control was slipping. If he kept picking at my relationship I didn’t know if I could keep my daemon from emerging. It was extremely fond of Orrin no matter what his faults.
    I was bleeding all over the kitchen floor. My old wound ripped open, gaping. My life-force flowing from me like it often did when life became too difficult and I would try to drink away the pain. My biggest fear, my deepest ache came spewing forth into a red puddle before us.
    Then the tears followed.
    “Orrin is my soulmate. We are bound together by a soul-tie. That means everything to me. I gave up my world and he gave up his- to be with me. I left my home, my family, moved across the country to find him, and try to undo a judgment that was given to him because he was defending me. He was there for me when I needed him, and I was there for him. That’s what love is. Please don’t talk to me like I’m a child. I know that love is more than just hearts and flowers and romance. It’s about making tough decisions and putting someone else’s needs above your own. That’s what I’ve been doing all this time. I can’t turn off my feelings like a light switch and I wouldn’t want to. Loving Orrin has been the best part about this entire daemonic life- a life, that you well know, was not my choice. But he is. Loving him has always been my choice.”
    I paused for another large gulp of air, “I don’t know how to love any differently. For me love and loss go hand-in-hand. You’ll have to forgive me if I’m not ready to jump into another relationship. I don’t have a great track record with keeping my heart and soul intact.”
    Cyrus waited for a minute, allowing