Kaylea’s mind raced, searching for a solution and finding none. “The library,” she blurted out, fighting down her own panic. “We need to do research.” She locked her fingers through Brand’s and tugged.
Jadyn touched Kaylea’s arm, her panic apparent in her expression. “Your father and I will seek answers at the church. And we’ll pray.”
Less than twenty minutes later, Kaylea inserted her key into the lock and ushered Brand into the closed library, where the two immediately went to work, pouring through years and years of research books.
Soon the library opened and patrons poured inside, but Kaylea and Brand remained oblivious to the hustle and bustle around them. Hours later, after nightfall, the old building had finally cleared out save for Kaylea and Brand, who were still in the back room flipping through pages.
Dizzy and tired, Kaylea stopped to pinch her eyes. She pushed her chair back from the long table, and stretched out her stiff limbs. She angled her head to see Brand. He had a stack of open books in front of him, and another stack at his feet. Exhaustion lines bracketed his eyes, and his dark hair fell forward as he read the passages.
Her voice broke his concentration and he glanced up at her. “All these books talk of a child being the key, but I am that child. I am that key. Aren’t I?” She shook her head in confusion. His hand crept across the table and grabbed hers. “What other child could they be talking about? I don’t understand it, Brand. I drew you from Hell but I don’t know how to break Lucifer’s mark and keep you here.”
She let out a slow breath and for a moment her eyes slipped shut. Cripes, they’d been pouring through books for hours and had yet to find any solid answers. Kaylea shook her head wearily, suspecting they were fighting a losing battle.
Brand slipped his arm around her. He pulled her in close and she inhaled his warm scent as she melted against him. Scooping her into his arms, he carried her to the staff room sofa and gently laid her out. “You need to rest, Kaylea. I’ll keep searching.” His voice was a low strained whisper. She made a move to protest, but the intensity in his gaze stopped her. Taking her by surprise, his lips closed down on hers. A shiver wracked her body and his kiss left her yearning for so much more.
Her heart pounded erratically and she gripped his shirt when he made a move to leave her. “Don’t leave me.” She inched back, released his lips and whispered into his mouth, “We don’t have the answers, Brand. They’re not here, not in any of these books and your time is running out.”
Silence met her words. He lowered his head and let out a heavy breath, knowing she was right.
Blood pounded through her veins as he sagged against her. “There is nothing more we can do tonight,” she whispered, her throat closing over. “You know it and I know it.”
He lifted his head and with his voice full of conviction he said, “I might go back to Hell, but you’ll still have time, Kaylea. Time to find the answers and fix this. Time to save yourself.”
“I don’t want you to go back. I want you to stay with me here, forever.” She took note of his pale, almost translucent skin, and gripped his arm, needing to anchor him in this time, this place. Everything inside her reached out to him and her heart ached in a way it had never ached before. “Make love to me, Brand. Please, while we still have time.”
Need fired between them as he sent her a look of intimacy and promise. Before she could speak his lips crashed down on hers again. Visibly shaken, he pillaged her mouth, his hands racing over her flesh.
She touched his face and absorbed his warmth. “No barriers this time. I need to feel your flesh inside me and I don’t want anything separating your body from mine.”
His eyes glistened and he smiled tentatively. “Are you sure?” His raspy voice seeped under her skin and flooded her with longing.
Kaylea moistened her lips and noticed the quickening of his pulse. “I’ve never been surer of anything.”
Brand climbed to his feet. She listened to the soft rustle of his clothes as he removed them. Kaylea stood and made short work of her own clothes and then spread out on the sofa. Once they were both completely naked, he moved in beside her and gathered her into his arms. Heat pooled between her thighs as his gaze held her captive.
Urgent hands trailed her body, and aroused all her senses. “You are so beautiful.”
Kaylea twisted until Brand was beneath her. “I want to ride you,” she whispered and undulated against him. She shimmied lower and teased his cock between her damp lips, delicious warmth spread out over her skin. Their gazes held and locked and in one fluid motion she lowered herself down on his beautiful, rock-hard cock.
“Oh, Brand,” she murmured, savoring the feel of his girth between her legs. She bit her lip and felt her skin flush. They stayed locked together, moving gently and methodically as their bodies joined as one. A perfect fit. Kaylea’s erotic whimpers filled the empty room, and the titillating scent of their lovemaking curled around them.
Kaylea glanced out the window, and glimpsed the moon, a reminder that his time was almost up. She looked at the clock. It was nearing midnight. She squeezed her pussy muscles to keep him inside her, not wanting to let go.
He groaned in pleasure. A warm palm cupped her face and his voice turned serious. “I’ll go back and offer myself to Lucifer in any way he wants me, and beg for him to release his mark on you. I’ll do whatever it takes. I promise. And I swear I won’t let Lucifer touch one hair on your head.”
Kaylea pitched forward and
