"This is work. Conversations with another people’s leader? This is nothing but business."
Forget anything nice I said about him. “Is this personality a new development for you? Or were your first words out of the womb ‘I hate you’?”
He snorts. “The latter.”
I say nothing back, slowing down slightly so I get the pleasure of walking behind him. Sweet fuck, he has good legs, ridiculously long and stacked with muscle. Have I always been a leg woman? I sure am now. Said legs turn down my hallway and one weathered hand opens my door for me.
"Let's not pretend you're a gentleman, Rexxan. You’re not fooling anyone.”
"I've claimed many titles in my life, Renna. A gentleman is not one of them.” He narrows those blood-orange eyes at my bedroom setup. “You've pushed the bed up to the wall."
"Err…yes. I was practicing acrobatics in here earlier. I can do a backflip off the bed. Do you want to see?"
"Not particularly, no."
I laugh out loud. He does seem to make me laugh, even though he’s not funny. It’s an odd thing, to dislike someone so much and yet be well aware of the fact that they are probably misunderstood. “Fair enough.”
My eyes meet his, his expression unreadable, and I’d kill to know just one of the thoughts in his head. The air between us is thick with unspoken words and untaken actions. The quiet buzz and hum of the palace quiets into insignificance as his eyes leave mine and drop down to my mouth.
He’s going to kiss me.
The gentle rise and fall of my chest increases in pace, my breaths falling into time with his. His head dips a fraction of an inch, the muscles of his jaw relaxing with a steady exhale. I’m encapsulated in him; in the smell of red wine and fresh rain on a still forest. The heat of his burns warms my skin as his solid body presses my back further into the wall, caging me in like if he’s going to kiss me, he’s going to do it right.
I know this isn’t the smartest idea, but I’ve craved his touch from the second I met him. One touch, onekiss, and I’ll leave him alone. My breaths come hot and heavy as his hand holds my jaw, his gaze serious through thick black lashes. Just as the tension gets so palpable that I can hardly breathe, his face dips, sculpted lips hovering over mine. Every point of contact between my body and his burns with desire as I teeter on the precipice of the ultimate sin.
“Oh, wow.Oh, wow. Can I join in?"
I turn my head to see Onyx and Stellan stroll around the corner, each of them skidding to a halt with a dumbstruck expression. Stellan's eyes light up like a dog that has found a treat. Cool air swirls its way through the gap between Rexxan and I, taking any remnants of our desire with it..
But it’s not Stellan I am worried about. Onyx says absolutely nothing, just unlocking his door and calmly going inside without a glance in our direction. Stellan blows each of us a kiss and breezes into his room, laughing hysterically through the apple between his teeth. “Oh, Ren. You’ve outdone yourself this time. Sleep well…or don’t!” He calls, locking his door.
I tip my head forward, burying it in the King's chest. “Fuck.”
"We're a bad idea, Renna," he says, returning my feet to the ground. I groan into my hands. Onyx will slit my throat for this. Whilst I have no shame in indulging myself in the bedroom sense, I have always kept it professional. Being seconds away from tongue-tangling with the Forest King in the hallway? Not professional. He must sense I’m internally melting down because the conversation takes a swift pivot.
"What's your favourite food, huntress? I've told you mine."
"Strawberries and chocolate," I whisper.
"That's two."
I roll my eyes with an exaggerated sigh. "Together, dipshit. You eat them together."
For the first time since I have known him, a hint of a smile crosses his lips. It’s spectacular, like the first shard of golden sun that pierces a rain-laden sky. "Stay for the ball in three days, then leave. Don't turn Espan down. But I swear to the gods that made me, if he touches you in front of me then I'll happily deal with the war that starts after I kill him."
I nod like an idiot, lost for words and drowning in a need that I just cannot explain. I despise this man. I repeat this over and over as Rexxan shuts my door and leaves without another word. I bury my stupid, incompetent head in my pillow and rattle off every swear word I can think of before heading back out and knocking on Onyx's door.
"O, it's me."
He opens the door, drying his curly hair with a towel, freshly bathed. "Rennalya."
Full name.I am officially fucked.
"Before you say anything, that was the first and last time that has happened with him. We didn't do anything—“
"I don't care. Do what you want."
"Onyx, please. I'm sorry."
