“You want me to touch you,” Trik said with complete confidence.

Cassie’s mouth dropped open. When she tried to respond, nothing would come out. She could feel her face burning up as the blood rushed up her neck and cheeks.

“Now,” he started, ignoring her indignation at his comment and the fact that she didn’t deny his words. “Are we going to address the fact that I essentially just told you that I am evil?”

Cassie watched his hands as he rubbed her foot. She didn’t look into his eyes because she didn’t want him to see the fear there because he wouldn’t understand the reason for it. She herself didn’t understand. She wasn’t afraid of him. She wasn’t afraid he was evil or of the things he must have done. No , she was afraid for something much more complicated than any of those reasons. Cassie was terrified , because even though Trik had shared with her who and what he was, and made it clear that he was essentially evil, she still wanted him. She still wanted to be his Chosen. Deep inside she knew that she should be appalled at what he had told her. She knew that she should be concerned, but the only thing that she could bother to be concerned about in that moment was her strong desire for this beautiful elf to never stop rubbing her feet. Yep, that’s what scared her.

Trik smiled crookedly. “I got all that you know.”

Cassie flung her head back as she closed her eyes and let out an embarrassing groan.

“Okay, new rule,” she said as she jerked her leg away from his hands. “No touching when talking about my feelings.”

Trik’s long hair slid forward as his head tilted and a wicked smile spread across his beautiful lips. “So I get to touch you other times?”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “Are you insecure? Cause really you shouldn’t be.”

“Definitely not,” Trik chuckled. He brushed his hair back and somehow managed to not look feminine while doing it. “Something in you calls to me. Your spirit draws me close and my fingers itch to touch you. Tell me you do not feel it,” he challenged.

Cassie shook her head. “I can’t.”

“Can’t what? You don’t feel it?” Trik growled out.

Cassie scooted back as close to the headboard as possible as she watched those silver eyes bore into her.

“No,” she held up a hand trying to placate the dark elf in front of her. “I meant that I can’t tell you that I don’t feel it because I do. My skin is crawling all over. And as soon as you touch me , it stops. I don’t even know if I’m describing it right, but yes I know what you’re saying and honestly it’s kind of wigging me out.”

“Would you like me to go?” Trik asked and stood up from her bed.

“NO!” Cassie jumped up faster than she had ever moved. She wanted to slap herself for her reaction and then she wanted to bang her head into a wall as she watched the self-satisfied expression form on Trik’s handsome face.

“I meant, you know, if you don’t have anywhere you need to be or anything then you could, ya know, um, you could stay. If you wanted to, I mean it’s okay if you don’t . I’m cool with that too. It’s whatever you want, I mean I have stuff I can be doing, I…”

“Cassie,” Trik interrupted his stumbling Chosen. “Hush.”

“Okay,” Cassie said relieved that he had stopped her from digging her grave any deeper than the necessary six feet.

“I want to stay.” Trik pulled out the chair that was tucked under her desk.

“You do?” Cassie asked in honest interest. “Surely there are more exciting things that you could be doing.”

Trik let his eyes slide lazily over her form. “I can think of some pretty exciting things,” he said with a wink.

Cassie rolled her eyes, but felt the blush all the same.

“When will your parents be home?” Trik asked.

“My dad won’t be home until late tonight and my mom…” Cassie pulled her phone from her pocket to look at the time. She was surprised to see that she had been home for over an hour. She hadn’t realized how long Trik had been in her room. It was 7:00 p.m. and her mom was usually home around 8:00. “She will be home in about an hour.”

“That gives us some time.” Trik motioned for her to take a seat back on her bed.

“Time for what?” Cassie asked as she sat down on her bed across from him.

“You have questions. You don’t understand how you can want me even though you know I’m not the hero on a white horse. I’m more the forbidden fruit.”

Cassie laughed. Trik found himself leaning towards her as he watched her face light up in angelic joy. Her laugh rushed over him and he felt a glowing sensation in his chest more wonderful than any physical pleasure he had ever experienced. He had caused that. He had made her laugh. He realized then that he wanted to do it again. He wanted to be the one to put a smile on her face and to cause her to throw her head back in abandoned playfulness and laugh. He wanted her happiness so badly that it was a physical ache in his chest.

“Forbidden fruit, huh?” Cassie’s smile continued to lighten the room even as her laughter faded.

“What are you afraid of, Arwenamin ?” Trik asked, all playfulness gone.

The smile wiped from Cassie’s face as she began to fidget with the comforter on her bed.

“You’ve killed people?” She asked without looking up from watching her hands pick at the material.