Creatures of Midnight (Obsidian Queen Book 4) by Shari L. Tapscott

Author:Shari L. Tapscott [Tapscott, Shari L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-27T00:00:00+00:00

11

We study each other for far too long, not touching, but so, so close. Jonathan’s dark brown eyes are calm, and his expression is void of anything to make me think this is casual flirting.

“What are you saying?” I demand, needing him to spell it out.

A smile flickers across his handsome face. “I still like you, Madeline.”

You know that sticky air? Well, it’s even harder to breathe when your heart is racing.

I blink several times, trying to get my wits about me. “What about…?”

Rafe.

I don’t have to say my knight’s name. Even without touching me, Jonathan knows what I’m thinking.

“Last November, I told myself you and he were trapped together. That what was done was done, and it was better for you to make the best of it.”

“And now?” I whisper.

“Now, there’s hope.”

“What if this doesn’t work—what if we can’t break the link?”

Jonathan smiles and moves his hand from the counter to the back of my neck. My hair separates us, keeping him out of my head, which is probably good right now. It’s been months—we have to ease back into this. The last thing he needs to know is how desperately I want to fall into his arms right now.

“We’ll find a way.”

His words sound a lot like a promise.

“And what if…” I look over his shoulder. “What if it does go badly, and you’re forced to link with me? You won’t resent it? Won’t regret being chained to me for the rest of your life?”

It’s a heck of a lot of commitment.

“I’ll protect you in any way that’s needed, for as long as it’s needed,” he says, not quite answering my question. “I swore my blade to you, Madeline. Do you think the vow was made carelessly?”

“No, of course I don’t…”

His smile grows. “Then don’t question my sincerity.”

“Right,” I breathe, feeling particularly lightheaded.

Yes, I’d prefer a declaration of passionate love, but whatever. A knight’s vow is good too.

Now that we’ve got that straightened out, I think Jonathan is going to release me and go back to his jar of peanut butter, but instead, his attention slowly moves to my mouth.

Heat blooms in my stomach, but my reaction is tempered with fear.

I still remember our last almost-kiss in the suite in Vegas—the one that was interrupted by Rafe’s phone call in the night. It’s a vivid picture in my mind, etched into my memory.

The link is blocked now, but what if my knight feels this?

Rafe is the last person I want to intrude upon my time with Jonathan. It’s not fair to him, and it’s not fair to me.

Sensing my fear, Jonathan’s thumb rubs reassuringly over my hair. “Too soon?”

“No,” I whisper. “I just…well, last time…and Rafe…”

He winces, remembering the revelation that was basically a grenade to our budding relationship, but he stands his ground. “This time is different.”

“Because the link is blocked?” For some reason, a sudden image of a clogged sink pops into my head, making me almost laugh.

I’m basically losing it. I start to wonder if

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