Page 76 of Shadowborne: Reckoning

I leaned into him. ‘Remind me. Please?’

A chatter of nobles staggered past, just beyond us, and he wrapped an arm around me, pulling me deeper into the hedge, then through a low gap, then another, until we’d entered a small, square space, lined in hedge, with another tree, but no benches this time… and no visible gap.

“Where—”

‘The king’s secret spot. He showed it to us with pride. Your benches are twenty feet that way.’

Then, before I could respond, he took my hand and tugged me into the shadows under the tree, turned me around and pinned me against it with his body.

As he descended on me with a rushing breath, I grasped for his lapels and pulled him into a heated kiss that sent jolts through my belly.

24. Remind Me

SOUNDTRACK: Nearly Break by Steven Rodriguez

~ DONAVYN ~

Heart pounding, I pressed Bren back against that tree, intending to reassure and kiss, perhaps touch her—remind her of her beauty. But my body thrilled, and I was forced to plant a hand on the trunk of the tree, over her shoulder, to brace myself when she grasped the lapels of my jacket and pulled me down.

Her kiss was deep, frantic. Her hands clawing.

I wavered, wanting her—always wanting her. But it was a night full of people. She just needed reassurance. She’d had a tense exchange with a man who wanted her. Ruin was here. Her shame had crept back in. Of course she’d be reminded and need soothing. I’d soften the kiss, whisper to her what I’d do when we returned to our rooms, and—

She bucked against me, dropping one hand to stroke me through my trousers, sending a bolt of pleasure through me that turned my need to insistence.

I went still and broke the kiss, panting, staring at her as she clawed at me. Her eyes were open and locked on mine.

‘Just don’t damage the dress—I can’t get undressed, Donavyn. But please… I need you. I need to remember what we have isn’t like what these people do to each other.’

‘Bren, there are people nearby—’

‘They don’t know about this spot, right?’

‘No, but—’

‘Please, Donavyn. Please.’ Her gaze was pleading.

Oh God.

New plan.

Exhaling heavily, I tipped up her chin and pulled her in, diving for her mouth again, tasting her deeply, insistently, leaning my weight against her, pinning her to the smooth bark of the wide tree. ‘You don’t make a sound,’ I growled in her head. ‘I am not sharing the sound of you with every fucking tomcat in this maze.’

She nodded quickly, her breath quickening as I dove for her again, cupping the back of her head so her hair wouldn’t be mussed and covering her with my body as she fumbled at my waist, unbuckling my belt and pulling my shirt from my trousers with short, sharp tugs, until she got it loose and her little fingers made short work of the buttons.

When she spread her palms on my abdomen I sucked in and she leaned back, bringing her eyes up to meet mine and biting her lip as she slid them down to loosen my trousers and free me from them.

Holy shit. We were going to do this.

Still holding her gaze, watching for that flash of fear, or shadow, and finding nothing but the heat of her want, I reached for the neckline of the dress, slipping fingers along that tight seam that pressed her breasts upwards, plumping them and slid my hand in to cup and knead at her—then slid the plump soft round out of the unforgiving confines of that corset and had to swallow a groan when her nipple hardened right before my eyes.

She gasped when I lowered my head to tug that firm peak gently with my teeth and grabbed for my hair, holding me against her, body stiffening and hips bucking when I sucked.

But the angle kept my body away from hers, and that couldn’t be borne. So, with heavy a muttered curse, I let her go only long enough to lean down and grasp the hem of her dress, slide my hands up her legs and lift the skirt until I grasped her ass in both hands and could lift her.

She nodded quickly, urging me on through the link as I repositioned her and her body slid against mine, her soft heat embracing me, inviting me.

The urge to call for her, to growl, to make some fucking noise was so urgent, I kissed her fiercely to cover it. For a time we tangled, her hands on me, while I held her ass, pulling her against me with both hands and kissed her with such ferocity our teeth clinked.