The Soul Collector - By Tamela Quijas Page 0,51

pallor ebbing as the precious taste of life erupted throughout him. The rush of sensations, the blood, the breath, the heartbeat thundering in his sensitive ears, became nearly orgasmic in nature.

He eased himself from the wall. Tenacious after-effects rippled through him, displayed by quivering muscles. He forced himself to focus on her shimmering features, a low moan rising from him. He ached with an unbearable amount of indescribable pain; all brought on by the hand she steadfastly refused to withdraw.

“Come with me, Lucien.” She whispered beguilingly. Eva batted her siren eyes and he felt the warmth of her sweetly scented breath wash over the corded muscles of his neck. He bit down on his tongue, the sharp taste of blood evident. “Please, please, come with me.”

As the shuddering sensations ebbed, and his senses became finely tuned to what he had forgotten, he weakened. Instead of the spirits that tormented him for so long, he focused on the lusciousness of her rounded curves and her bewitching smile.

At that moment, Lucien knew he would travel to the ends of the earth to stand at her side.

“I don’t appreciate being blackmailed, Evangeline.” He attempted to sound offended but understood his words sounded weak, even to his ears.

She shrugged and leaned into his chest, her body blazingly warm.

“Fine by me, D'Angel. I think you need to remember, though, neither do I.” She responded from the corner of her clenched mouth, fierce determination glittering in the chocolate dark eyes. “You need my help in where ever fate chooses to lead you.”

“Evangeline,” he swallowed hard as he whispered her name, wincing. “Our fates are intertwined….”

“If we are fated to be so tangled up in this mess your father created, you can afford to amuse me.”

….you're screwed, D'Angel

***

Evangeline Keegan would drive him mentally and physically insane.

Lucien stared up at the ceiling of the sprawling bungalow, attempting to gather his scrambled thoughts. He wanted to grimace as the pounding throb of his heartbeat intensified, before lowering his attention back to Eva's dark head.

She had a firm hold on his gloved hand, her face serious as she looked up. Flushed, her expression was almost feverish in the purplish hue of the setting sun. This evening, to his amazement, she was more beautiful than he remembered.

Loud voices surrounded them. These weren’t the unnatural whispers to which he’d grown accustomed over his long existence. These belonged to her family, the sounds a mixture of laughing children as they ran, scolding and admonishing chastisements from concerned parents, and booming echoes of laughter.

For once, in a long time, his surroundings lacked the images of the otherworld. The experience was all due to Evangeline, his personal and tormenting angel.

The expedition to Mendelssohn House had cost him dearly, Lucien realized. He should have known she’d see through his form of revenge for the torture she inflicted at her apartment, since he couldn’t feign innocence. She vowed she wouldn't have anything to do with his death, and she wanted him to experience life in the fullest.

In its place, she gave to him the unexpected. She had a way of changing a man's mind, especially after he had it so firmly set! He was confused, wondering what he really wanted in this world full of shadows and light.

It didn’t take long for him to realize that he wanted her.

She looked up at him, a delightful twinkle in her eyes as she graced him with the most bewitching grin. His grasp on her hand tightened and he returned her smile, and the honesty in his action startled her.

He knew, though he’d lost the privilege of his sight while holding her hand, there was still the faintest touches of glow surrounding her. His pale regard shifted to the soft curve of her mouth, and his body betrayed him as it tightened with yearning. His attention was riveted to the fullness of her lower lip. A breath slipped from her, and the scent of peppermint sweets whispered with the softness of her sigh.

Lucien's thoughts drifted. He wondered how she’d react if he were to press his mouth to hers, and savor her taste. He grimaced with the thought, his yearning outweighing the pain.

The yearning tormenting him was new and demanding, and she accomplished the impossible with her insatiable curiosity. Evangeline placed an unquenchable hunger into his existence, a gnawing ache that hadn’t existed beforehand. She was his angel, his pre-ordained salvation, but there was more to her than he comprehended.

He knew she was a dangerous temptation. Before she entered his