"You called me beautiful last night," she breathed. "Were you in shock?"
"Yes," he said with a soft laugh. "But I meant it." His thumb caressed her cheek then her bottom lip.
Yully closed her eyes, entranced by the sensations. His first kiss was light, as if he were testing her. She responded, shivering at the energy that fluttered through her when their lips touched. His lips turned more demanding, and he took her hands in his. His energy rippled through her, making her gasp at the intensity of the touch that lit her blood on fire.
She leaned into him, needing more of his magic and his touch. For the first time in her life, she wanted not to feel completely alone. She'd touched his soul, and now she touched his body. If she could just have both … Jule groaned, not out of pleasure but pain. Yully snapped back to her senses, her eyes opening. In her haste to be close to him, she'd planted a shoulder in his injured chest.
"You're determined to do me in," Jule said with a husky chuckle.
"Oh, god!" she gasped. "You're bleeding again!"
He looked down, and she bounded to the kitchen, surprised to find her breathing ragged after such a simple kiss. She tried to regain her composure, unable to compare the brief experience with Jule to anything else she'd ever felt. She wanted more … She shook her head and took a wet washcloth into the living room. Jule was resting against couch cushions she'd put on the floor for him. The sight of his muscular, bare torso made her heart flop in her chest. Handing him the washcloth, she sat out of arms' reach, afraid of what would happen if she touched him again. She was even more afraid of what he'd say, if he thought something was wrong with her like everyone else did.
"Pretty useful gift you have," Jule said without looking at her. He dabbed at the blood on his chest. "I can see why they're after you."
"So I can turn things into something else," she said. "Doesn't seem too great."
"You can turn someone else's energy into yours and amplify it. For someone who needs more power, it's a very useful talent." His calm voice assured her he wasn't going to pass judgment on her gift. He didn't seem like the kind whose moods shifted like her father's.
"I guess," she murmured.
"You really have no idea how special you are, do you?" he asked and met her gaze.