Page 86 of Infernal Secrets

I caught Ash’s eye, and he smiled faintly, settling against the far wall.

He’d said only Cyn could help Zeke when he spiraled like this, and I wondered how often they encountered the situation. How often had Cornaith confined Zeke? Was it only in childhood? Did it still happen? I couldn’t ask the questions now. I didn’t want to trigger another episode.

I ran my fingers over his forearm, tracing patterns on his soft skin.

I wasn’t supposed to get attached, but the more I learned about Ash and Zeke, the harder I found it not to. I wanted to help them find a way home, but I hoped it wouldn’t hurt when they left.

22

DREAMWALKING

RAE

The lights flickered overhead, and I glanced up at Zeke. He’d fallen silent some time ago. I didn’t know if his panic was under control or if the flickering lights would steal him away again.

He rested his head against the elevator wall, eyes closed, oblivious to the change.

I let out a soft sigh, my muscles relaxing when he pulled me closer. The scent of honey and vanilla filled my senses.

The pain in my leg had subsided, and an unexpected wave of sleepiness dragged at me. Adrenaline from my encounter with infernals and Zeke’s meltdown should have kept me awake. Instead, my thoughts were clouded and sluggish.

I glanced over to check on Ash but blinked when I didn’t find him against the far wall. Where did he go?

“Zeke?”

“Hm?”

“Where’s Ash?”

He lowered his face to my neck and inhaled. “Not here,” he whispered against my hair, voice low.

“What? Why?” I tried to sit up to shake the brain fog, but Zeke tightened his hold, hands splayed across my stomach, keeping me close to the warmth of his body.

He didn’t answer, stroking the sliver of exposed skin where my shirt had come untucked.

“Zeke?” My head lolled to the side as he kissed the skin of my neck. “What’s going on?”

The scent of honeyed vanilla thickened the air, wrapping around me and intensifying the fog in my head. I found it hard to remember why I needed to stay alert.

Zeke pulled the collar of my shirt aside, his breath ghosting my skin as his lips moved down my neck and across my shoulder.

“We can’t do this,” I whispered, blinking slowly.

“Why not?”

“Cyn…”

“Cyn’s not here,” he mumbled against my skin, fingers inching my shirt up my belly. “Let me thank you.”

I gasped when his fingers brushed over my nipple through my bra. “For what?”

“Taking care of me.” He paused, kissing my shoulder. “Can I take care of you in return?”

Part of me felt guilty after sharing a kiss with Ash last night. The memory of his lips still lingered, but Zeke’s hands on my skin were electrifying—a stark contrast to the emptiness I’d felt for so long. Every touch sent shivers down my spine.

When I nodded my consent, head heavy and slow with the movement, he raised my shirt above my breasts, tugging my bra down, exposing my hardened nipples to him.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered against my neck, voice low and smooth. He twisted my left nipple between his index finger and thumb. I gasped at the small bite of pain when the move pulled on my piercing, morphing into pleasure hot-wired straight to my core.