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“Cassie, promise me you’ll be careful. Stay behind those two and let them protect you,” Kris begged her.
“You do the same with Roman.” She stood up and Kris got up, too. They walked arm and arm into the kitchen.
Omar explained how they would get Cassie out to the car. She would have to walk between them. The vapor out there turned aggressive. “We’ll be back,” Omar said.
“Why is it you guys sound like the Terminator movies?” Kris mumbled.
Roman looked at her and smiled. “We like those films.”
“You are so weird.” She leaned against the cupboard and watched the three figures move toward Cassie’s car. Omar and Marcus kept the witch between them and protected her from the black haze with the sage bundles. The vapor split, part of which still hovered just off the back deck.
“Roman, what are those flashes of light I see in the smoke?”
He walked over to her and put his hand around her waist. Looking out the window, he said, “Those are demons. They want to find a way to get in here to turn you.”
“Turn me? What does that mean?” Kris moved sideways out of his hold.
“Every being holds good and bad. Your good is strong. It's much stronger than your bad side. They would love nothing more than to turn you, and make the bad take over. It would be quite a coup for them.” He ran a finger over her cheek. “I saw a little of the bad, earlier.” He smiled.
“What? When?” Kris sputtered.
“When you talked to the witch and she got on the phone. You stared at me and your aura turned red.”
“Red? What does that mean?”
“It means you felt some sexual excitement. I liked that it happened when you looked at me and I caused it.” He continued to touch her face and lips. She closed her eyes. “Your shade of blue is inspiring.”
“What color am I now?”
“It’s a little muddy grey. Earlier you were black and it scared the crap out of me.”
“What does muddy grey mean?” she asked.
“Fear.”
“I have that. And black?”
“Bad things— hate, pain and such.”
Kris opened her eyes, looked up at him and moved to the other side of the room. “I dreamt about you last night. It felt strange, but real, and...” She shook her head.
“You mean what happened by the lake?” he asked.
“No. We were here in my kitchen and...Roman, can I ask a question?” He stood across the kitchen from her and nodded. “After this ends and I’ve got this gunk out of my system, will I still be able to see you? From what you've said, it's only because of the wine that I'm able to see you now. When it's gone...”
“I don’t know.”
“Cassie said earlier today, that once you're opened to other-worldly stuff, there's no turning back. Wouldn't being open make a difference?”
“Yes, I think so. I believe once you've opened yourself to the spiritual world, your eyes will always be able to see it, but I don’t know.”
“Will you go back under the lake?”
“That is my home.”
“Answer my question,” she pressed.
“I’m not sure about that either. The Oracle said I wouldn’t return.”
“Will you still watch me?”
“As long as you live here, yes, I’ll be watching.” He smiled again. “Now that I really see you, it will be worth it to watch over you.”
“What do you mean, now that you see me?'
“A long time ago, I lost someone I cared for very deeply. I haven't looked at other women since then and when I touched you last night, it woke me. I'd forgotten what it felt like just to
touch someone.”
Kris couldn’t stand the distance between them and launched herself across the room. He wrapped her in his arms and held tight. His hand touched her hair and his warmth gave her comfort. For the first time in several hours, she felt a little normal and not quite so frightened. A naked, buff man, still walked around her house and she could get used to it.
Roman moved her back a little and put his lips on hers. His tongue entered as she opened her mouth and she felt a pressure build. His hand came up from her waist and cupped her breast through the T-shirt she wore. His lips pulled back and he put his forehead to hers.
“Women’s bras are the most barbaric creations on the planet.”
Kris laughed. “What makes you say that?”
“It would be easier to not think about how to unhook the damn thing. If I were to just put my hand in your shirt and not have to think about the bra, it would be simpler.”
“Bras are barbaric because they're hard for you to figure out? I’ll make a note of it.” She smiled at him.
He growled, pulled her shirt over her head and threw it on the floor. He reached behind her, pulled the bra apart and slipped it down her arms. He picked her up and moved toward the bedroom.
Kris thought she shouldn't let this happen, but found, for just a few seconds, her mind wasn't wrapped up with demons. Roman's hands were so strong and warm. She didn't want to let go.
Setting Kris down on the bed, he pushed her body back and crawled on top. His mouth attached to her breast, and kissed and licked the soft skin. Taking in a breath, Kris felt the pain return to her chest and the air caught in her throat.
“Roman,” she squeaked. She wanted him, but the stabbing in her chest got worse. It
erased the pleasure.
She put her hands into his hair and yanked his head up. He looked at her with a question in his eyes. “Roman, the pain is back...oh dear Lord.” Kris turned away from him onto her side and pulled into a ball. Her arms were over her chest and her fingers scratched at her neck as she started to cough.
“Shit, how did they get past the sage pots?” was the last thing she heard. The room went black.