"Then stop blocking my way," she says and shoves me with her free hand. I don't move.
She hits my side again. Harder. And I barely feel it. The impact is nothing compared to the way my body is screaming at me to close the distance between us.
She hits me again, then again. Her fists small but wild, and I tighten my grip on her wrist.
"Are you done?" I ask, my voice rough.
She doesn't answer. She just stares up at me, her green eyes blazing, her lips parted as she catches her breath.
She hits me two more times, each blow weaker than the last, and then she stops.
We're face-to-face, the heat between us rising fast and sharp. Her skin glows with anger. Mine is slick with sweat.
I don't know how to explain that the thought of her walking into danger makes me feel like I'm drowning. That the idea of losing her is worse than anything Nicolae could do to me. That she's become the one thing I can't afford to lose.
Her gaze drops to my mouth, just for a second, and that's all it takes.
I don't think. I just move.
I fucking kiss her.
It's not gentle. It's not careful.
It's electric and desperation and every ounce of restraint I've been clinging to finally breaking apart.
My mouth crashes against hers, and the world narrows to her lips, her taste, the way she gasps against me.
I release her wrist and cup her face with both hands, tilting her head back as I deepen the kiss. She makes a sound in the back of her throat.
She tastes like fire and fury and something I'll never get enough of.
She pushes me with both hands, and I step back, looking at her panting.
I have no idea what she's going to do. Did I mess up? Cross a line I shouldn't?
Should I apologize? Tell her I made a mistake?
But it's not a mistake. It's the only thing that's felt right since I've been here.
"Should I stop?" I ask, my voice low and rough.
"Don't you fucking dare stop," she says and comes at me. Her hands fly around my neck as she kisses me back.
Her hands fist my hair as we kiss, and I lift her up. She wraps her legs around my waist, and I press her against the wall, our bodies flush as her nails dig into my skin.
"Octavian," she says, and if she ever stopped saying my name, I think I'd lose my mind.
I kiss her like I've been starving for it, like she's the only thing keeping me alive.
Her body fits against mine like it was made for this, and now that I have her, I'm not stopping.
23
KEIRA
His mouth is on mine, and I forget how to breathe.
Octavian kisses me like he's been dying for it, like I'm the only oxygen in the room, and every nerve in my body lights up at once. His hands grip my face, tilting my head back as his tongue sweeps against mine, demanding, claiming, setting me on fire.
