a Touch of Intrigue Read Online Free Page A
Author: L. j. Charles
statement that sounded suspiciously like a question.
I shook my head.
He pushed out a sigh. “The odds were in favor of failure.”
My heart stuttered. I cradled his cheek in my hand, stretched to tiptoes, and kissed him with a rush of love that was tightly condensed into a gentle brush of my lips against his.
Silence stretched between us, both of us breathing in the moment, sharing the depth of our love for each other. It was in that sacred space I learned the most profound communication happens without words. The knowledge left me with an indefinable joy and weak knees.
Annie shifted position, and I jolted back to mute awareness. When I made an attempt to create words, they came out a garbled, incoherent mess that I shrugged off. No point trying to force lucid thoughts from a hormone soaked brain.
Pierce had the good sense to keep his mouth shut, but a fine tremor ran through his arms, the shivers an exact match with my own quivering muscles.
Annie shifted her position again, then waved her hand in the general direction of the hallway. “I’m just going to take a quick self-guided tour, then let myself out when I’ve satisfied my curiosity. Won’t be around more than a few more minutes.” Her lips twitched, tightly controlled, in what surely would have been a huge grin before she disappeared down a hallway.
Discomfort slipped into Pierce’s energy field, and it demanded my full attention. I brushed my fingertips over his lips, caught the wariness, and looked deeper for the reason behind the change. “What is it really?”
His eyes dilated to soft black. “I’ve watched a lot of crazy situations explode into murder, some of it around you. Psychic gifts can turn on a person.”
Panic bottomed-out in my stomach, and must have shown on my face because Pierce rubbed the tension from my cheeks. “Not you. Not because of you. I’ve watched my mother struggle with her gifts, known I inherited the genetic possibility for more than enhanced vision, and being with you brings them to the surface.”
Relief spun through me. “I get that. Touching things and not knowing what I’ll see is scary. Not the images so much, although they can be ugly. It’s more about not knowing how deeply I’ll drop into that other dimension, and whether I can make my way back to my body, to reality, or not. And yes, being around me, sensing my vibration, especially when I’m using my ESP fingers, probably affects you.” Heat traveled up my neck. “We’re connected and our energy fields tend to…intermingle.”
I was treated to a full-out Pierce grin. “Is that what you call it?”
We turned in unison when the front door opened. Annie waved. “There’s a great screened porch right through that archway. I think I can find my way back through the maze, but if not I’ll text you, so pay attention. And call me when you come up for air.” She didn’t wait for an answer, just closed the door with a distinct snap.
Pierce and I were alone.
Really alone. For the first time since we acknowledged our feelings for each other. Since before Ireland. Before I met his family. Before my revenge was complete. My body tingled with intense awareness.
He drew the tip of his index finger over my cheek. “Everly.” His breath brushed my lips, and I tasted mint, awareness, and need.
Shivers blossomed over my skin, an earthquake of sensitivity that wouldn’t stop. Every defense I’d been building since childhood crumbled at my feet, no longer important, no longer needed. “I love you, Tynan Ailill Pierce.”
His eyes danced with love and curiosity. “How did you find out?”
“Your mother, of course. What does it mean?”
He nuzzled into my neck with a deep inhalation. “Tynan means dark and Ailill means elf. Ailill was the husband of a queen.” He inhaled again. “I love your scent, Everly. Fresh honey. I love you.”
My mind spun. “And you smell like life force, like the beat of our hearts, the vibration of our souls.” I
I shook my head.
He pushed out a sigh. “The odds were in favor of failure.”
My heart stuttered. I cradled his cheek in my hand, stretched to tiptoes, and kissed him with a rush of love that was tightly condensed into a gentle brush of my lips against his.
Silence stretched between us, both of us breathing in the moment, sharing the depth of our love for each other. It was in that sacred space I learned the most profound communication happens without words. The knowledge left me with an indefinable joy and weak knees.
Annie shifted position, and I jolted back to mute awareness. When I made an attempt to create words, they came out a garbled, incoherent mess that I shrugged off. No point trying to force lucid thoughts from a hormone soaked brain.
Pierce had the good sense to keep his mouth shut, but a fine tremor ran through his arms, the shivers an exact match with my own quivering muscles.
Annie shifted her position again, then waved her hand in the general direction of the hallway. “I’m just going to take a quick self-guided tour, then let myself out when I’ve satisfied my curiosity. Won’t be around more than a few more minutes.” Her lips twitched, tightly controlled, in what surely would have been a huge grin before she disappeared down a hallway.
Discomfort slipped into Pierce’s energy field, and it demanded my full attention. I brushed my fingertips over his lips, caught the wariness, and looked deeper for the reason behind the change. “What is it really?”
His eyes dilated to soft black. “I’ve watched a lot of crazy situations explode into murder, some of it around you. Psychic gifts can turn on a person.”
Panic bottomed-out in my stomach, and must have shown on my face because Pierce rubbed the tension from my cheeks. “Not you. Not because of you. I’ve watched my mother struggle with her gifts, known I inherited the genetic possibility for more than enhanced vision, and being with you brings them to the surface.”
Relief spun through me. “I get that. Touching things and not knowing what I’ll see is scary. Not the images so much, although they can be ugly. It’s more about not knowing how deeply I’ll drop into that other dimension, and whether I can make my way back to my body, to reality, or not. And yes, being around me, sensing my vibration, especially when I’m using my ESP fingers, probably affects you.” Heat traveled up my neck. “We’re connected and our energy fields tend to…intermingle.”
I was treated to a full-out Pierce grin. “Is that what you call it?”
We turned in unison when the front door opened. Annie waved. “There’s a great screened porch right through that archway. I think I can find my way back through the maze, but if not I’ll text you, so pay attention. And call me when you come up for air.” She didn’t wait for an answer, just closed the door with a distinct snap.
Pierce and I were alone.
Really alone. For the first time since we acknowledged our feelings for each other. Since before Ireland. Before I met his family. Before my revenge was complete. My body tingled with intense awareness.
He drew the tip of his index finger over my cheek. “Everly.” His breath brushed my lips, and I tasted mint, awareness, and need.
Shivers blossomed over my skin, an earthquake of sensitivity that wouldn’t stop. Every defense I’d been building since childhood crumbled at my feet, no longer important, no longer needed. “I love you, Tynan Ailill Pierce.”
His eyes danced with love and curiosity. “How did you find out?”
“Your mother, of course. What does it mean?”
He nuzzled into my neck with a deep inhalation. “Tynan means dark and Ailill means elf. Ailill was the husband of a queen.” He inhaled again. “I love your scent, Everly. Fresh honey. I love you.”
My mind spun. “And you smell like life force, like the beat of our hearts, the vibration of our souls.” I