Read Bliss for Free Online Page A

obvious, “What are you doing?”
    “ It’s been awhile but I’m guessing you want coffee in the morning. So that is what I’m doing. Making you some. Where’s your coffee pot?” he asked, his eyes skimming over her body in one fluid motion, making her very conscious of her disheveled appearance.
    “Okay, this is sooo not funny. For one, I d on’t have a coffee pot. I buy my coffee brewed for me. And for two, I didn’t just wake up to you. I have no idea who you are, and I don’t believe in genies popping out of books or things like that, like some romance writer might write about. Get it? The joke’s over. I’ve got work to do. So leave.”
    “Genie. You think I’m some freak'n blue bell...a tink ? Do I look like a genie to you? Do you see me saying, ‘Let me grant you three wishes,’ or better yet, ‘Let me give you what your heart desires,’” said Darius, closing the space between them in a heartbeat. “I’m not a genie. And if you’re so smart, get with the program, as you like to say. You leave. Be my guest. By the time you make it to the bottom level of those stairs out there ... you ... will ... be ... begging ... me ... back.” The words came out forced and angry. Haunting sea-green eyes bore into her, causing her to blush.
    Mustering her courage she snapped back “Fine. I’ll leave. I’m going to go out get a coffee and come back. I expect you to be gone when I come back. Capice?” she said with more flare than she felt.
    She didn’t wait for his reply. Instead, she grabbed the spare change in the change tray and her keys and sauntered out of her apartment. Closing the door behind her she took a deep breath. Already she was feeling better.
    This feels good, she told herself, marching down the stairs like she didn’t have a care in the world.
    When I get back he’ll be gone. I’ll get the book and get some real work done. Then I’m going to make Melissa and Sarah wish they had never played this practical joke on me.
    When her feet hit the second floor landing, pain sliced through her body. White heat radiated instantly all over her, from her toes to the ends of her long hair. She couldn’t catch her breath. She couldn’t think straight as her body, writhing in pain, collapsed onto the landing. She felt as if she was being burned alive. She wanted to scream but couldn’t. It felt as if someone was squeezing her lungs, making breathing impossible.
    Her last conscious thought before another painful spasm racked her was that death would be better than what she was going through.

Chapter Four
    Darius knew she was in pain, but still he lounged against the kitchen counter, counting the seconds. A second spasm of pain caused the hairs on his body to stand on end. He could feel his breathing becoming labored, but still he waited. This was a lesson he only wanted her to experience once. A lesson learned once the hard way, he mused, was better than having her pretend he didn’t exist.
    The idea she thought he was a genie was laughable. A tink. He wished he could share that thought with Seth. His telepathic ability to speak with his twin was on the fritz. At least that’s what he hoped it was. The gash on his stomach started to bleed again, and he shook his head, realizing he had forgotten to find a needle and thread. Taking a deep breath he calmly walked out of the kitchen, out the door and down the steps. She had made it to the second landing. Crumpled in a heap, a painful spasm took hold of her body.
    Cursing silently for waiting so long, he scooped up her limp body into his arms. Her lips were blue from the lack of oxygen. Without hesitating , he kissed her. Luckily in human form he didn’t have to worry about giving her the kiss of life, which would tie her to him for eternity.
    With his healing powers able to work on her, he willed his energy, his essence into her as it healed her body. Deepening the kiss, he felt the exact moment when she took a breath. His breath. He felt her arms