in her eyes—unshed tears. “I love it, but you shouldn’t have. It was expensive and—”
“It’s okay,” he said, though he couldn’t offer more explanation than that. “I want you to have it.”
A tear escaped from her eye. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Without thinking, Devon reached up, cupped her face, and wiped the tears with his thumb. Without thinking, Devon stared into her eyes, then at her mouth. Without thinking, Devon leaned into her.
Without thinking, Devon kissed her.
There had been moments in his immortal life when Devon had felt really powerful, proud of his strength, of his duty, satisfied with his performance. In these moments, he had slashed through his enemies as if they were smoke in the wind, raised hell on Earth, and sent demons back to the underworld. He felt strong, unstoppable, invincible.
Unlike this moment, when his lips moved against Kianna’s and a gasp ripped through her throat. When her hands tightened on his jacket, keeping him close, as if she was afraid he would leave her. When her sweet scent and her even sweeter taste stormed all of his senses, and all he wanted was her. Just her. Always her.
This moment could bring him to his knees. It could break him in half. It could be his demise.
And right now, he didn’t care, as long as he could still hold her. As long as he could still kiss her. As long as he could still have her.
Even though he had never kissed anyone in his immortal life—had he kissed someone when he was human? He would never know—having Kianna’s soft lips against him, her tongue teasing his, felt as natural and perfect and simple as breathing. It felt right. It felt charged. It felt like fate.
Startled, Devon pulled away.
Kianna blinked, before looking down, red rising on her cheeks.
By the gods, how could he resist her?
Devon hooked his fingers under her chin and tilted her head up until her eyes met his. A small smile spread over his mouth before he leaned into her and brushed his lips on hers.
He was ready to deepen the kiss, to show her how much she meant to him with that simple, wonderful gesture, when thick, oily tendrils scratched at his senses.
Breathing hard, Devon looked around.
The darkness. The demons. They were close.
They were getting closer.
“Devon,” Kianna whispered. “What is it?”
Trying to remain calm, Devon took her hands in his. “Kianna, listen to me. Find your mother, take the carriage, and go home. Don’t leave the farm until I’m back.”
“W-what?” She shook her head. He started retreating, but Kianna held on to his hands. “Devon, what’s going on?”
Devon let out a long breath. He cupped Kianna’s face. “Everything will be fine. Just do what I told you.” He pressed his lips to hers once more. “Now go.”
He knew she wouldn’t leave even if he pushed her away, so hoping she would follow his order, Devon spun on his heels and took off first to meet the demons before they came. Before they got too close.
Kianna
The carriage moved roughly over the road leading out of the village. Seated across from her, Kianna’s mother seemed in a bad mood. After Devon left her, Kianna was too shocked to move.
First, she couldn’t believe what had happened. She stared at the ring on her finger, thinking of the kiss. Of the fantastic way Devon’s lips had closed over hers, of his hands securing her against him, of his powerful body pressed against hers.
Heat washed over her body.
But when she thought of the desperate way he looked at her afterward, the almost frantic tone of his voice when he told her to go, she pushed it all down and focused on his words.
She knew Devon. He wouldn’t tell her to go and disappear like that without a reason. All she had to do was trust him.
So, she marched back into the party, ignored all the men trying to talk to her, found her mother engrossed in conversation with an old friend, and lied about not feeling well.
Moments later, they were inside the carriage, riding back to the farm.
Kianna leaned back in the seat, watching the dark exterior through the window, as if she could get a glimpse of Devon, wherever he was.
What had all that been about?
She brought her fingers to her lips and gently patted. Perhaps they looked different now? She had never been kissed before. Of course, like any girl her age—and younger—she had imagined it plenty of times, but nothing had prepared her for it, for how