He simply hums in response as he goes back to perusing the menu, the smirk never leaving his face.
We practically needto be rolled out the door after our meal. It was probably the best meal I’ve ever had. Fresh fish cooked in a way that kept it flaky and tender and bursting with flavors I can’t even identify.
The second we’re outside, Bastian immediately snatches my hand in his, interlacing our fingers sending a wave of warmth up my arm and through my body. It’s so unexpected that I completely freeze up before he gives a gentle tug, getting my feet moving in the direction of the nearby canal.
The same magical lights that were inside the restaurant are floating in the air above our heads, illuminating the path alongthe canal giving the whole place an ethereal vibe. I’m so busy taking in the path that I startle when Bastian’s thumb brushes along the back of my hand.
“This is our last night together, you know,” he says, voice quiet.
I turn my head to face him and catch him already looking at me with a soft look on his face. “What do you mean?”
The corners of his mouth tug down into a small frown. “It’s incredibly unlikely that I’ll be able to enter the palace.Who I amor not.”
“Oh…” I turn my face forward. “Right, I suppose that makes sense.”
I’m tugged to a stop by the hand holding mine. His free hand reaches for my waist, turning me to face him. He lifts the hand from my waist to tilt my chin up, so I’m forced to meet his gaze. It’s one of the most serious expressions I think I’ve ever seen on his face.
“Just because I can’t enter the palace doesn’t mean I won’t still be nearby.”
My brows jump. “You’re sticking around Seelie after you deliver me to the palace?”
“Don’t make it sound like you’re some object to be passed around,” he all but growls at me. “But yes, I am intending to stay close. That is, if you want me to.” He untangles our fingers and brings the hand up to brush a stray lock of hair behind my ear, trailing his finger slowly down the shell of it sending a shiver through my body. The side of his mouth kicks up in a sly smile. “Cold?”
“No,” I whisper. His eyes flare and I can see as the hunger and desire swirl in them. A muscle in his jaw twitches as he clenches it tight.
He starts to lean closer and my breath hitches. He rests his forehead against mine and my eyes close as his breath ghostsover my lips. Suddenly, his lips brush against mine, a whisper of a touch, but a jolt of electricity sparks through me at that minute touch. I jerk back with a soft gasp, bringing my fingers to my lips, where I swear, I can still feel a lingering tingle from the shock.
Meeting Bastian’s gaze he almost looks as if he was completely unfazed until you take in his eyes. His pupils are blown wide, and they look downright ravenous.
“Fuck,” he curses and it’s the only warning I get before his lips crash down to mine in a searing kiss that sends sparks throughout my body and down into my fingertips and toes. His lips move over mine in a rhythm that has me fighting against him for more. His tongue drags across the seam of my lips, encouraging me to open for him. I do with a soft moan into his mouth. His answering groan vibrates through me. Our tongues tangle, fighting for dominance. It’s not until I’m tugging on the hair at the nape of his neck that I realize my hands found their way there. His trail their way down my sides, skimming over my hips until they reach the curve of my ass. It takes a mere moment before he loops his arms under my thighs, lifting me into his arms and pressing my back against a wall that I didn’t even realize was near us. I drag my teeth along his lower lip, biting down enough to draw out a pleasure-pain hiss of breath from him. The action further sets him off and he begins to go absolutely feral. I whimper in response to the incredible harshness of his kiss.
With that sound it’s almost as if I dumped him into the chilled water of the nearby canal. I can barely collect my thoughts by the time I realize that my feet are back on solid ground and Bastian is several paces away from me, breath ragged and eyes wide.
“That–that was a mistake. I shouldn’t have done that.” He takes another step backwards. “I’m sorry,” he grits out before spinning and stalking off into the night.
What the fuck just happened?
My fingers lift to my kiss swollen lips, still tingling with the aftermath ofthat. I can’t even call that a kiss, it’s nowhere near as intense a word for what that was. It was more like a claiming.
Except he turned tail and ran the second he came back to his senses.
I can feel the heat of my cheeks as my shame and embarrassment rush in.
I look around, taking in my surroundings for the first time since he took over every ounce of my attention, which apparently means I missed the entire walk back to the inn because I’m standing right near the bottom of the stairs that lead up to the Deepwater.
Turning on my heel, I head back the way we came, leaving the inn behind me. I should really go up to the room, but I need to clear my head and perhaps a walk along the canal will help with that.
I drag my hands through my hair.
Fuck.What have I done?
I mean he kissed me first, but I’m the one who pushed him further. The embarrassment of the whole moment is overshadowed by the sting of rejection.
“Stupid,stupid, Liv,” I mutter to myself as I walk along the waterfront.
Of course, he’s not interested in me. I’m justhere, meanwhile he’s pining around for his mate. And I all but threw myself at him the second he kissed me. How could I do that to him? We’re kind of, sort of, friends. Friends don’t kiss their friends likethat.
Gods, things are going to be so awkward between us now. Now I’m starting to regret suggesting we share the one room likeadults. The gods should smite me where I stand. That would be a better outcome than whatever stilted interaction awaits me back at the room. Things would be so much easier if we could have the night apart to cool down.
