Ethan lets out a snort of laughter. “Most are full of shit, you know.” His hands fasten around my waist.
“So are mediums. Or at least, that’s what I’ve heard.” I give him a half-smile.
“Good thing I know a reliable one.”
“You believe me, don’t you? About everything?”
“I believe you. I see you, Anora. And you’re fucking beautiful,” he says with a growl, and brings my hips to his in a sudden movement. The breath leaves my lungs and my lips part. “I believe every word you say.” He tips his head down toward mine. “And I get the feeling you’re not used to that.”
“I’m not,” I say, voice a little breathy. “Not at all.”
“Well, Anora, get used to it.” With no further hesitation, he puts his lips to mine and the world fades around me. Everything bad, everything wrong just slips away and all I can think about—all I care about—is the way Ethan feels against me. His full lips against mine, the heat that’s rushing through me, and the way he’s slowly cradling my body against his.
It’s like night and day have their arms wrapped around me at the same time. The sense of darkness and danger comes off of him, yet he’s the only thing that makes sense right now, the only thing that’s helping me keep it together. It doesn’t really make sense, I know, and I don’t want to try and figure it out.
Because all that matters is how good it feels to have Ethan this close to me, to have his tongue pushing past my lips. He deepens the kiss, hand sweeping up my back, fingers trailing along my spine. Relenting, I throw my arms around him, holding him close so my breasts crush against him with each breath.
No one has ever kissed me the way Ethan is kissing me right now, and no one has ever seen me the way Ethan sees me.
I’m a medium with a first-class ticket on the hot-mess express, and yet he hasn’t balked at me. If anything, knowing my true self has drawn him in more, as knowing his true self has done for me.
He hunts demons.
I see the dead.
I’ve always felt isolated from the rest of the world, and Ethan has been isolated. Together…together we just work.
“Ethan,” Sam says sharply, opening the front door. I pull back, feeling like my oxygen mask has been ripped off when I separate myself from Ethan. He keeps a steady hold on me and rests his forehead against mine for a beat before turning to Sam.
“Yeah?”
“Your dad wants you. I think he found something about the Pricolici,” she says and goes back inside, slamming the front door.
“I suppose we should get back inside then,” Ethan tells me as he brushes my hair back.
“Right.”
“Are you good?” His hands fasten around my waist again and he pulls me against him. I slide my hands from his arms to his chest, letting them fall until my fingertips rest on his belt. “We could walk around the block if you need more time.”
“I’m good,” I tell him. “If we can figure out how to get demon bounty hunters from coming after me, I want to give it my all. And maybe there’s a spell I can do to make them all burst into flames at the same time or something.”
“That would be pretty sweet.”
“Right?” I smile and look at the front door. “I don’t think Sam likes me very much.”
“She doesn’t like anyone very much,” Ethan replies. “Don’t take it personally.”
“I thought it was because she had a crush on you.”
Ethan wrinkles his nose. “She’s my sister.”
“Yeah, but only legally.”
“Okay, she’s like my step-sister.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You’ve obviously never read any step-sibling romance novels.”
“That’s a thing?”
“Oh, a huge thing, and there are some really hot step-brother romances.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” he chuckles and shuffles back, hands dropping from my waist. “And you’re more Sam’s type. Not me. The whole not having a vagina thing is a deal breaker for her.”
“Oh, cool.”
“Ready?”
“Yeah. Let’s go figure out how to kill those assholes before they kill me.”
Chapter Seventeen
“Anyone else need a break?” Ethan closes the book he’s looking through and leans back, rubbing his eyes. We’ve been seated around the table for hours, going through old hunter journals in hopes someone came up against the Pricolici before and can give us more insight on what we’re dealing with. David left a while ago, going to follow the only lead we have so far.
This must be business as usual for Ethan and his family, but I find this all fascinating. The journal I have reads more like a diary, and learning about all the different types of demons is both fascinating and scary. I don’t have the luxury of turning a blind eye anymore. Demons are real, and they’re out there.