Deadly Night Shade

Chapter 23

I shook my head, “No,” I said more confidently, resting my head on his shoulder. I felt his grip tighten around my hand and it made me smile to myself, the comforting warmth of his hand on mine making me feel better.

I felt his gentle lips against my hair and breathed a deep sigh, “Shadow…” I started, squeezing my eyes shut against the tears that threatened to fall, “why did you come after me?” My voice was hoarse and I knew that I was probably going to break with his answer, no matter what it was.

“Because I love you Claire,” he said simply. A large pang clutched at my heart and several tears fell through my closed eyes and down my cheek. He rested his chin against my hair and my head fit into the crook of his neck, like a puzzle piece. The tears fell from my cheek onto his shirt and he gently rubbed up and down my shoulder comfortingly.

“I don’t deserve it…” I mumbled, mainly to myself. I felt his body tense when I said this and he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me onto his crossed legs so that I was sitting with my back against his muscled chest. I leaned my head back so that it was resting on his shoulder, exposing my neck.

His arms tightened around me and he turned his head so that his lips were against my ear. “You deserve the world,” he whispered before lightly kissing my jaw. I could feel my pale cheeks warm as i blushed at his flattery and I rested my arms against his.

I guess he saw my slightly pink cheeks because he gave a small chuckle. “What?” I asked him innocently moving my head so that I was looking at him. He opened his mouth as if he were going to say something before deciding against it and just staring into my eyes.

I rolled my eyes at him playfully and gave a light smile. “Shad…” I started before I was interrupted by his lips meeting mine. My body tensed, almost with surprise, but Shadow, getting the better of me, moved one of his arms from my waist and placed it on my face, lightly brushing my cheek with his thumb, making me relax.

When I eventually gave in and started to kiss him back. Shadow brushed the hand on my face slowly downwards, touching my neck, continuing to my shoulder, moving along the length of my body until it rested under my knees. He scooped me up and moved me so that I was lying across his lap with one of his hands back on my face and the other resting on my back, holding me up enough so that we could kiss comfortably.

His eyes flashed golden and he started to kiss with more depth and a slight need. I wrapped my arms around his neck and let him lean me over so that my head was resting in the grass.

He pulled away, his perfect brown eyes staring deeply into my own. I pouted at him and he chuckled leaning down to me again, pausing as his and my lips almost touched. “You are such a tease Shadow,” I complained while trying not to smile. Humour danced in his eyes and he took my hand, pulling me up from the ground so that I was standing in front of him.

I turned away from him, stubbornly refusing to look at him. “Oh Claire,” Shadow sighed, “Will you never learn?” I rolled my eyes, “Learn what?” I asked obediently as I felt his arms rest around my waist. “That you will be mine forever,” he mumbled, his soft breath brushing against the back of my neck causing me to shiver involuntarily.

My eyes fluttered closed as his hold on me tightened, his chin resting on my shoulder. He then let out a small chuckle and raised two daggers in an X across my throat. I stepped back against him surprised before he chuckled, saying “I told you to never let your guard down.”

I breathed a relieved sigh and shifted quickly into Night Shade, sliding my sword smoothly between my neck and the daggers and creating an opening which I ducked under. I held my sword out in a ready position and winked at Shadow, watching his smile warm as he came towards me, daggers in hand.