Katy Swartz személy

I gave him the quick version of what Dee had told me. “They’re not sure how you survived.” I sniffled, using my shoulder to wipe the tears off my cheek. “But you’re so stubborn.”
Daemon coughed out a dry laugh and the grip on my hand tightened. “You know how I love a challenge.”
My heart lurched as I remembered those words from the day we’d learned we were connected, and I’d shot him down when he suggested we should get together. I leaned over him, brushing my lips across his forehead. I closed my eyes, sent up as many thank-yous as I could to every God and deity and prophet I knew. “So do I, Daemon. So do I.”

“She was going to shoot me and you . . . you could’ve died. I thought you had died.”
A moment passed as he stared at me like I’d grown two heads. “What else would I’ve done?”
Now I gaped at him through fresh tears.
“I love you,” he said, his eyes incredibly bright as he spoke those words. “If your life is in danger, I’m going to do everything I can to make sure you’re safe. That’s what love makes you do. Right?”
“Right,” I whispered, still stunned somewhat. He spoke as if it wasn’t a big deal.
“I’d do it again.”
Oh God. “Daemon, I . . . thank you.”
He frowned. “You don’t need to thank me.”
“I do.”
The corner of his lips tipped up. “Okay. Thank me by getting down here and kissing me.”
I did just that. I lowered my mouth to his and kissed him softly, reveling in his taste and the warmth of his lips. “I love you so very much, and I’m going to spend every waking moment proving it to you.”
“I like the sound of that.” He tugged on my hair as I lifted my head.

“Kitten, it’s okay to be worried about everyone, but all of us can take care of ourselves.” He rested his forehead against mine. “And I also know that no matter how bad this idea is, how dangerous it is, we’re going to come out of this together. All of us. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Promise?” I whispered.
“Promise.” He tipped up his chin and kissed the bridge of my nose. “And I’ve never broken a promise to you, have I?”
“No. You haven’t.”

I leaned down, brushing my lips across Kat’s cheek. “Get some rest, okay?”
She smiled a little. “That sounds bossy.”
“Okay.” I tried again as Archer fired up the Explorer. “Take a nap.”
One brow rose. “That’s still bossy.”
I chuckled and brushed the hair off her cheek, sweeping it behind her ear. “Go to sleep.”
“You really suck at understanding what bossy means.” But she closed her eyes, and I’d swear by the time Archer figured out how to get out of the damn airport, she’d drifted off.

Sleep clouded her pretty eyes as they met mine. “Hey.”
“Hey yourself.”
Her hand flattened out against my bare chest as her gaze swept across my face. “Have you been up long?”
“I’m not even sure I slept.”
“So you’ve been watching me sleep?”
One side of my lips kicked up. “Maybe.”
“Well, look who’s being the creeper this time around.”
“Call me what you want, I don’t care.” I moved my thumb along her lower lip. “I spent hours staring at the best damn scenery.”
Her cheeks flushed. “Flattery will get you everything.”
“I already have everything.”
“That was sweet of you.” She patted my chest like I was a good boy, and I ignored the parts of me that got all happy about that.

“Then what are you worried about?” he asked.
“You. Dee. Archer. Dawson and Beth, even though they’re safe for now. I’m even worried about Luc.” I paused, frowning. “Though Luc is probably the last person I should worry about because he’s Luc, but I’m scared for him and even Hunter and Lore and Serena. I’m worried that—”
Daemon kissed me deeply, cutting off my words, and he took that kiss to a whole new stratosphere. “You’ve got a big heart, Kitten.” His lips cruised over mine as he spoke. “That’s what I love about you most. Well, that and I am a really big fan of your sweet body, but your heart? Yeah, that completes the package of you, wraps it up with a nice little bow. It makes you perfect to me.”
“Sometimes . . .” I stared at him, blinking back wetness. “Sometimes you say the most amazing things.”
“And I do love the sight of my hands on your ass, too.”
A laugh burst out of me. “Oh my God, and then you say things like that.”
“Got to be myself.”

Kat stood and I followed, more than ready to get the hell out of Dodge, but as we walked past Lotho, he suddenly stepped in front of Kat. I started to pull her back from him, but he was fast.
“You have balls bigger than the males in this room,” Lotho said, his face inches from her. “I like you. And I’d keep you if it weren’t for the fact that you’re part Luxen. So that’s probably good news for you. Boo for me.”
And then he kissed her. Full-on, mother-freaking kissed her.
Before either of us could react and I could unleash my fury, Lotho shifted into something that was nothing more than smoke and shadow, and was gone.
“I’m going to kill him,” I swore, feeling the Source crackling along my skin.
Kat jerked out of my grip, her face pale and lips tinged in blue, like she’d been making out with a Popsicle, and she swung on Hunter and Archer. “I want to leave right now.”
Hunter glanced at Archer. “Yeah, I think that’s a good idea, before this whole trip goes to waste.”

“Sometimes I wonder if you ever regret it.”
“Regret what?” My worried smile faded from my lips.
“This—all of this,” he said, voice low. “Us.”
“What?” I pressed my open hands against his chest. “No. Not once.”
“Really?” Derision dripped from his voice. “I’m pretty sure there had to be moments where you’ve regretted stepping foot in West Virginia.”
“There have been times that have sucked—sucked donkey balls—and I never want to relive them, but I don’t regret us.” My fingers curled around his shirt. “I couldn’t, because I love you. I really love you, and love . . . it comes with the bad and the good. Right? I mean, I know my mom never wanted to experience everything that she went through with Dad and then losing him, but she doesn’t regret loving him. Not even with all that pain and heartbreak, and I can’t—”
Daemon kissed me, capturing my words with the soft and tender pressure of his lips. “I know there were many times when I didn’t deserve you, especially with the way I treated you in the beginning, but I plan on using every second to make up for that.”
“You already have.” I kissed him back. “Many times.”

“Daemon—”
“I’m not going to allow that to happen to you again. No way, so don’t even think you can convince me.”
“Then what do we do? Just say screw it?”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
I stared at him.
“What? We can go live in a damn cave,” he said, pacing once more. “Look, I’m a selfish person. You know that. And I don’t want you to go through that, so I’m willing to say screw it and we cut our losses.”

“Did you ever think this is where you’d end up when you knocked on my door asking for directions?”
I shook my head as I walked over to where he stood. “No. Not even in a million years. I couldn’t imagine any of this when I knocked on your door.” I paused and forced a smile as I gazed up at him. “All I was really thinking about that day was your abs.”
Daemon barked out a laugh.
“And that you were a flaming asshole,” I added.