SPELLBOUND

"Let me touch you." The raspy voice that was hot and heavy with want, literally scorched her with the intense heat of his intensions.

And Evie could not speak. Her tongue felt swollen, and her mouth seemed to be glued shut. She was transfixed by his glittering eyes that held her so intensely, making her unable to move. He was doing it again, seducing her, hypnotizing her and she could not help but fall helplessly under this deadly but somehow welcoming spell that was killing every one of her will and thoughts and hesitations.

"Is that too much for me to ask yet?" his voice came out like a pained groan but a moment later, it became even deeper, hoarser, darker and hungrier than ever before. "Then… how about a kiss? Let me kiss you, Evie... just a kiss… I won't touch, I promise."

His words, his closeness, his electric gaze, and the erotic waft of his cool breath against her lips turned Evie's mind into mush. She could not even follow the rhythm of her heart anymore. And before she knew it, she nodded.

"O-okay. Just kiss… no touch… touching…" She didn't know what came over her that made her agree but perhaps she somehow realized that he was going to persist until she answered – and answered positively that is. She was scared that she might actually lose herself and ended up being the one jumping him like he had told her to a while back instead of him jumping her. Her body's reactions towards him made her realize how dangerous this husband of hers was. He was a man who could make a woman strip themselves down to nothing and throw themselves on him with just a whisper – no, it would not even take a whisper as his eyes itself was enough to seduce thoroughly. And to her bemusement and slight indignation, she was not the exemption. Despite all the stakes, she could not stop her body from reacting.

And that was why she could only give in. The thought that her body would end up betraying her at this rate scared her. Besides, it was just a kiss, she thought. It would not be anything serious...right? It was just a kiss. And he had saved her from death's grip trice now. She could chalk this up as her way to show him her gratitude.

"Ki… kiss only, okay?" she repeated as she looked at him in a daze. Gavriel's intense gaze glittered as if what he was seeing and hearing that moment fascinated him completely to his core.

"Oh yes, my wife… I already promised I won't touch until you ask me to."

The next thing she knew, her back was against the concrete window frame. As promised, he did not touch her, but his eyes had moved her backward without her realizing. He braced one hand over her head against the window frame and the other against the wall by her shoulder.

His posture was loose and easy, but Evie somehow felt that she was being dominated. Bewildered and disoriented, Evie waited nervously at what he was going to do next.

He stared at her and she closed her eyes, not wanting him to see the emotions running through her.

Then she felt a soft brush of heat against her upper lip that made her go stiff. Though it was so soft and light she could scarcely feel it, Evie could not help but tense up. This was her first time and the sensations and feelings seemed way much more than she had expected.

But another touch came, this time on her lower lip and then at the sensitive corner of her mouth. He did not rush, neither did he stop. His lips came at her again and again in soft, silky caresses as if he were soothing her. Until she felt suddenly lightheaded, and her body was no longer as stiff as a rock.

Briefly, Gavriel drew back, and an incredibly restrained hunger and desire filled his eyes as he stared at her. His hands that were against the wall had long since turned into clenched fists. The next second, his mouth possessed hers with small, persistent kisses, coaxing her lips apart, so softly… so patiently.

Evie felt as if she were flying up into the clouds. Everything was becoming inexplicable. She found herself opening up to him, giving in to his delicious and passionate coaxing which was impossible to resist.

The instant she parted her lips, he sealed her mouth with his as if he had been waiting for that moment all this time. Evie shuddered at the sudden intrusion. Her head helplessly tipped back against the window frame as she felt the hammering of her heart and the blood rushing through her veins.

He slid his tongue even deeper inside her as though he was exploring the inside of her mouth. And she did not know why or how, but his alluring voice began to echo in her hazy mind. "I'd slid my tongue inside your mouth. I would invade your mouth . . . lick every corner of it until you moan for me. I'd tangle my tongue against yours and then suck and lick it. . ."

And she began to feel weak and utterly hot, as if she were suddenly drunk. She gasped shakily for air and he eased back slightly, just enough for her to breath. His breaths that filled her mouth were now a little warm. But Evie was too overwhelmed to notice.

She thought it was over but before she could even open her eyes, his tongue was inside her mouth again. And this time it did not come slow and soft, it was more like a savage invasion and she was caught off guard, unable to offer any resistance. He began to lick every corner of her mouth and then sucked and licked her tongue like a hungry beast until little moans and groans started escaping from Evie's throat.

He responded with his own deep groan and his kisses became even deeper, hungrier. Evie had never imagined that a kiss could be like this, or even feel this way. A whisper in her head had told her she had made another grave mistake that moment she shivered at the very first touch of his lips against hers. And it appeared, the whisper was right because at that moment, there was no will, nor thought, that could stop her from responding to him.

And the moment she did, no matter how inexperienced and sloppy her response was, a deep and low sound of pained desire vibrated deep within Gavriel's chest as his nails sunk against the concrete wall.