Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 123190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 123190 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 616(@200wpm)___ 493(@250wpm)___ 411(@300wpm)
He obeys and the light he cast on the space slowly dims. He’s trying to give me privacy without leaving me in the dark, I realize.
I unfasten my dress, stripping down to my shift before I pull off my boots and stockings. His back is still turned to me as I step into the hot water and lower myself onto the stone bench.
“How’s it feel?” he asks without turning.
“I’m never leaving.”
He chuckles. “Well, would you mind some company? Not forever but for the first hour or so of your lifetime in my hot spring?”
“I suppose that would be okay.” I bow my head, trying not to stare but aware of every move he makes as he removes his tunic and drops his bandolier of blades onto the cold limestone ground.
When he peels off his boots and pants and is left in nothing but a pair of tight undershorts, he steps into the water, keeping his eyes averted. “Would you prefer more or less light?” he asks.
In truth, I want no light. I want to be with him and not have to think about him spending this time with me while looking at another female’s body. I don’t let myself think on that too long. “It’s fine like this.”
He’s on the side of the pool opposite me, and I wonder if that’s what he intended—if he really planned to bring me down here and not kiss me again.
My gut clenches painfully at the thought. Tomorrow is the ball, and the next day I need to go out in search of the hiluca blossoms and the Hall of Doors. If I can’t be the one to kill Erith and bring down the Elora Seven, then I need to do everything I can to help my brother do it.
Before I can let myself think about it, I move across the pool to sit beside him.
His gaze tracks every move, then skims over my bare shoulders before going back to my mouth. “I can’t stop thinking about kissing you.” He says it like a confession, as if I won’t want to hear it. Then he closes his eyes, as if he’s still fighting it.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t.”
“If you don’t want me to, tell me because—”
I put a finger to his lips. I don’t want him to say any more. I don’t want him to talk himself out of kissing me. I don’t want him to talk me out of letting him. I shouldn’t, but I need tonight. Once I find the portal, I’ll leave Castle Craige and never have a reason to return. If Jasalyn is successful, I’ll leave Faerie as well.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t stop thinking about it. Because I can think of nothing else,” I say. “And I was thinking about it a long time before you kissed me tonight.”
He slowly takes my hand and threads our fingers together before tugging me through the water toward him. “She said I’m going to break your heart.”
“Probably,” I whisper. I straddle his waist and loop my arms behind his neck.
“I don’t want to hurt you at all.” His lips part and he scans my face over and over. “We haven’t talked about what happens when you go back to the shadow court.”
“I know.”
His hands slide through the water and find my hips, gripping, his thumbs stroking across my stomach through the wet fabric of my shift. “And you’re going to let me kiss you anyway?”
“No.” I sweep my mouth over his, lips still not touching but barely a breath away. “I’m going to kiss you.”
Then I do. Selfishly, I kiss the Wild Fae king. His mouth is soft under mine, and when I suck his bottom lip between my teeth, his grip tightens on my hips and he pulls my body flush with his.
He angles his mouth, opening. I exhale a groan of pleasure.
I want him so acutely that need tightens in my core.
His hands fist into the wet fabric of my shift, shoving it up until it’s bunched around my ribs and his hands are at my waist, his thumbs stroking the sensitive skin above each hipbone. Pleasure and hunger tangle together and pool low in my belly.
He pulls his mouth from mine and presses a finger to my lips, looking toward the long, dark path that leads to the stairs. Then I hear it too. Someone’s coming.
My eyes go wide, and I bite back a giggle, like a schoolgirl caught doing something mischievous. Misha’s hand is still on my waist, and I can taste him on my tongue. I’m delirious. Drunk on him.
“What do we do?” I ask. “Should we . . . hide?”
Two voices. I can hear them more distinctly now. They’re close.
He eases me off him with low groan, but his hands linger at my hips until the last minute, as if he’s reluctant to release me. “Grab your clothes.”