“Kole?” I said tentatively. Even though he’d paused, I stepped toward him until our chests were nearly brushing.
My heart thrummed. I wanted the warrior. Wanted him to touch me, caress me, make me forget all that was going on. I wanted release. From him.
And I knew he wanted that too.
“You want me, just like I want you,” I blurted before thinking better of it.
His eyes widened, ever so slightly. Just as fast, his breaths turned rapid.
For a moment, he stared at me, and I didn’t think he was going to reply, but then he said roughly, “What I want is irrelevant, Your Highness.”
My lips parted.Gods and Goddesses,he’d all but admitted it. He trulydid want me too.
I licked my lips and said hesitantly, “What about whatIwant?”
A glow flashed in his eyes, but as before, an answering flare elicited the magic around his wrist. He hissed again and said, “What is it that you want, Your Highness?”
My gaze crawled up his chest, taking in his strong build and the thick column of his throat. Kole was far fromsuitable, as my parents claimed I needed to choose, but my marriage was a long way off. And at the moment, in my opinion, Kole suited me just fine.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been with a male,” I said quietly and nibbled on my lip. “A long time.”
His breath sucked in, and another flare of magic came at his wrist. “Careful. A dillemsill is going to appear any second if these flares keep happening.”
My lips parted as understanding hit me. “Is that why you were called back to the Council when we were in Stonewild while traveling to Silventine Wood? Because the Councilknewyou wanted to break your vows?”
He didn’t reply, but his gaze continued to smolder, and his silence spoke volumes.
I licked my lips again, and he tracked the movement. “What if...Ineedyou to comfort me? What if I ask that you do certain things to me so I feel safe? Would that make the magic flare if you were only doing things that I asked you to do so I felt secure? So I felt protected?”
His throat bobbed, and his aura felt as though it was on fire. “What is it you need, Your Highness?” His voice sounded hoarse. Strained.
Oh Gods.A rush of liquid heat shot to my core, and Kole’s nostrils flared in a sharp inhale. His aura heightened even more until it felt like it was pounding through the courtyard, but the magic around his wrist didn’t flare. Itdidn’t flare, and I’d just told Kole that his protection was what I needed.
I hesitantly laid a palm on his chest.
His muscles jumped, and his breath sucked in.
“I need you to touch me, Kole, so I feel safe and protected. As the warrior guarding me, I need you to do this. Will you please help me? Help me feel better?”
His eyes blazed, and a second of silence passed between us. Voice hoarse, he finally said, “You need that? Truly?”
“I do.”
He sucked in a breath and lifted a finger. Tentatively, he placed it against my cheek, then trailed a line down my jaw, my neck, then to the top of my breasts. His touch was featherlight. Maddeningly so.
My breaths turned rapid. So short I could barely breathe.
“You need this?” he said huskily. “So you feel good?”
I nodded. “Yes.Please.”
His throat bobbed, and he stepped closer. More boldly, he slipped his arm around my waist, splaying his hand against my back as his other cupped my hip, kneading the flesh. “And this? Do you need this to make you feel safe?”
Panting, all I could manage was a nod.
“Gods help me,” he said under his breath. “I don’t have the strength to resist you.” A shallow breath lifted his chest, and his throat bobbed again, but he didn’t stop. “What about this?” His voice sounded strained, and tension lined every fiber of his body, but he slowly leaned down and pressed his lips to my throat.
A single kiss upon my neck nearly had me on fire. Arching, I moaned, leaning into him and gripping his shoulders. “Yes, Goddess, Idefinitelyneed that to feel safe.”
