During my horseback ride with Lord Dayton, I could not shake the feeling that he, too, sensed the urgency looming over me, as his attention grew more insistent. His hand briefly returned to my back but did not linger, probably because Kent’s dark, dangerous eyes were fixed on us.
“You must know that the time for you to make a decision is coming.” Lord Dayton started, not in the least subtle about his intentions.
“Yes.”
“I hope you will consider me as your future husband.”
My attention immediately shifted to Kent who moved closer to us and crossed his arms over his chest. He looked so handsome in his dark blue uniform. It almost seemed unfair to the other man with no notable features, and terribly out of shape.
I bit my lip, noticing how Kent’s nostrils flared as he gave a distinctly unfriendly glance to my unfortunate companion.
What would Lord Dayton do if Kent were to lean over me and take my lips right now at this very moment?I wanted Kent to touch me like he did before, pressing me back against the tree. The vivid picture that I had in front of my eyes, mademy knees weak. My head started to spin and blood rushed to my face.
In the silence that followed, I could feel both men looking at me expectedly.
“Yes?” I said, just to say something.
I could clearly distinguish a triumphant look on Lord Dayton’s face aimed at my guard. Kent’s eyes burnt through me as if there was no one else around.
What just happened? Did I say something wrong?I had not been paying attention to the conversation.What did I agree to?
I was about to ask Lord Dayton to repeat his question, but he hurried off toward the stables, saying something about his horses.
That left only Kent and me. Without saying a word to me, Kent marched back to the palace so quickly that I almost had to run to keep up with him.
“Wait.” I called, but he would not listen.
I must have said something that pushed him over the edge, but I had no way of knowing what it was unless he told me. Anger, jealousy, frustration, and even something darker that I could not quite comprehend, was slipping through his every move, every gesture.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, but he said nothing. “What did I say that was wrong?” I tried again, without any success.
We took the stairs and entered the long gallery with hundreds of windows on both sides.
“Kent?” I called him, but he did not even turn his head.
When we entered the private wing of the building, I could not contain myself any longer, and placed my hand on his arm. Apparently that was a mistake, because he reacted by spinning me around and dragging me to a plain looking door, which turned out to be a storage room. The space was filled with cleaning supplies, buckets and brooms. The darkness was barely compensated by one tiny window that was close to the ceiling.
His hard chest pressed against mine, his hands landed on the shelving behind me, on either side of my face. I could sense his warm, confident power. His eyes locked on mine, but I did not see any sensuality in them. He was mad.
I should have been scared, intimidated, but instead flames licked my insides, consuming me whole, making me want things: sweet, dark, forbidden things. Nothing reasonable or important came to mind. My gaze shifted to his lips, silently begging him to kiss me.
If I could think straight, I would probably be terrified. Yet, I wanted him to take all my choices away, make me feel like I had none.
What was this feeling? And why did I crave it so desperately, as if it was a part of me that I had been missing all along?
Suddenly, everything seemed so simple and easy. There was no Lady Corliss with her constant demands. No Rutherford pushing me to fulfill my imaginary duties, or suffering the ridiculousness of the Dayton brothers and their dad. There was no Red Queen, or looming engagement. No prophecies or any expectations of others to mold me intosomething they wanted me to be. All the pressure and worry just fell away, none of it mattered, only being in the moment was important.
I just looked at the male who leaned even closer to me, not even a little bit intimidated by him. On the contrary, my blood was nearly aflame with pure, blinding need.
“Why?”
His hot breath scorched the tender skin of my neck. Kent moved closer to my jaw and his lips just grazed the corner of my ear.
The shockwave of my body’s response was nothing I was prepared for. Involuntarily, my hands landed on his forearms. Waves of something smoldering and obscure expanded until there was no space left for anything else. The situation was dangerous for both of us, and yet I could not move.
“What?” My eyes landed on his mouth.
The shape of his lips was sin itself, beautifully drawn with a slightly fuller lower lip, I was dying to tug on it with my teeth.
