Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“You’re gorgeous,” he murmured. “Always will be.”
I snorted; grateful I could still laugh. “Yeah, okay.”
“It’s true.” He frowned as if I’d offended him. “I find you the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen...even while walking into a grave.”
Butterflies sprouted. “How did I never notice you’re such a smooth talker?”
“Because I never spoke to anyone before I spoke to you.” He grinned. “Besides, I didn’t need to rely on spouting cheesy one-liners to steal your heart.”
“Ha! I hate to tell you, Lucien Ashfall, but most of the things you’ve said to me—especially that night we drank on the terrace after...you know...” I flicked a look at Dillon as he stiffened in the front seat.
Switching to the very handy ability of silent communication, I finished, You said some highly romantic things that made my tipsy heart become utterly drunk on you.
The barest flicker of red appeared around his pupils. I can say other things if it means you’ll come to bed with me. He reached for me, linking our pinkies together, our hands resting on Whisper. I’m fucking desperate to be inside you, Rook. How I’ve behaved this long is a miracle.
I sucked in a breath, making Dillon look over his shoulder and narrow his eyes.
Behave.
Tell me... Lucien purred into my mind. Does this lab of yours have a bed? I mean, I’m not opposed to building an igloo, but it needs to be somewhere private so I can make you scream.
Heat flooded between my legs. I bit my lip to stop a laugh, but a soft moan slipped free instead. Having sex as medicine truly was a blessing and a curse.
Dillon’s eyes flicked to mine in the rearview mirror again, his scowl deepening. “What are you two up to back there?”
“Nothing,” I fired back. Refusing to look at Lucien, I added, You’re going to get me into trouble.
Tell him we need to be alone the moment we arrive.
We’re dying. I brought up the horrid truth, yet couldn’t seem to hide the smile in my heart. We’re literally on death’s door, and all you can think about is fucking me. I clucked my tongue. You and your priorities.
Me and my priorities are entirely focused on staying alive, thank you very much. His mental tone turned darker. Then again, just because sex helps heal me doesn’t mean that I’m not always thinking of fucking you, Rook. And right now, it’s taking all my control not to kick everyone out of this car, spread your pretty thighs, and bury my face between them.
I choked on nothing, my cheeks burning.
A tiny, helpless whimper escaped me.
Dillon’s head snapped around so fast, I feared he’d get whiplash. “What the hell are you doing?” His eyes darted suspiciously between us. “You’ve been making random noises ever since we boarded the plane. What’s going on? Are you hurt? Hungry? What?”
Lucien gave him an innocent look. “Just having a quiet conversation that doesn’t involve you.”
“Bullshit.” Dillon faced forward again, clearly fuming. “I can feel the temperature rising each time you look at her.”
Pressing my face into Whisper’s fur, I muffled my laughter. He’s going to murder us.
He has to get in line. Our own bodies are doing that for us. However...if I manage to get inside you, we might be able to buy ourselves a few more days.
I squeezed my thighs together. You’re incorrigible.
You’re as desperate as I am. He chuckled. Or did you forget I can feel you?
I moaned again as he shared every hot, smoky ache inside him.
Dillon let out a loud, irritated sigh.
We both snickered like teenagers.
Lucien stiffened, his eyes glowing with love. Have I ever told you that I love your laugh?
My heart almost burst, only to crack as another crush of sickness barrelled through me.
God, dying was so depressing.
I wanted to laugh.
I wanted to flirt—
“You’re not dying,” Lucien whispered, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “Remember?”
“I remember.” My eyes closed as I leaned into him. “You won’t let me.”
The 4WD slowed to a stop.
“Oh, thank the old gods, we’re finally here.” Dillon threw open his door and flung himself out. Raising his face to the sky, he sucked in a breath of fresh air.
Lucien just rolled his eyes but then winced as yet more pain arrowed.
The journey hadn’t taken nearly as long as the one to China. The three-hour flight had been doable, but the four-and-a-half-hour car ride over the black volcanic wilderness had stolen yet more hours from our dwindling time.
Opening my door, I glanced at the only sign of human life for kilometres: a small, unassuming hut half-buried in a snowdrift. Its roof paint matched the same dull grey of the glacier rising like a frozen wave behind it. A weather-beaten sign read Snowflake Research Station–Authorised Personnel Only.
It looked like nothing: a simple weather station to keep track of the ice that Snowflake Corp harnessed to make clean, green energy.