Page 132 of Taken By Shadows

Kaed’s head snapped back as he laughed, and he released my chin. “You have a sense of humour about you. I will admit, I did contemplate at least four different ways to kill him since I scented him on you when you walked up here.”

I swallowed a wave of nausea. “Don’t. Please.” I tried. “Or what happened today was for nothing, and they’ll take you again.” An ache formed in my throat.

Kaed growled again, and for some reason, he held my hand to his chest as he did. I could feel the vibrations of every muscle fibre pulled tight beneath his shirt. Every part of him was cut from stone and granite.

My own muscles clenched in response.

They clenched across my torso as my heart squeezed. And much, much lower.

Kaed studied me before he spoke. “I think you’re beginning to confuse me with a caged animal instead of the person I am.” His timbre dropped low as his words found me. “You’ve seen me bowed too many times, you think you can command me not to kill him?”

Out of nowhere, there was a scalding heat rolling off him in waves. His fist grasped an invisible ball, and a cloud of shadows manifested in his palm, swirling like a storm.

“I think I know the person you are.” My voice was steady despite the shadows pooling from him.

“And does that person frighten you?” He took a step closer. “Intimidate you?” Closer. “Excite you?” His eyes dipped to me, heavy lashes now fanned over his cheeks.

My mouth went dry as our bodies touched.

Kaed traced my jaw with his free hand and I moved with his commands as he tilted my chin upwards.

A tether tugged deep inside me and a soundless breath escaped my lips.

“What are you doing?” I finally said. Breathy. Panting.

“I’m going to kiss you.” His finger tipped my chin a little higher, to near pain but teetering on that dangerous precipice of teasing and torture. “And I want you to enjoy it.”

His mouth moved down to mine, but he held it just far enough away that if I used my tongue, I would barely touch his lips.

That tether inside me twisted and tugged until it might snap.

“Do you want that?” His breath was heady as it fell over my lips.

I wanted him. But how did I admit that? How had I come to this part of myself? The part that wanted him and didn’t remember to hate him? I was losing myself to my selfish desires, forgetting why I needed to leave. Needed to be free.

“Imogen, I need to hear you say the words.”

My eyes had closed as he said my name. A command and a prayer in his words, his voice undid something in me.

Every second was as long a day as his lips lingered just out of reach and my heartbeat slowed.

“I want you,” I whispered.

His answering growl was something I felt shudder all over my body. It radiated from him to me and shook my core, awakening it.

His hand cupped my neck and held me steady when I tried to close the gap. His head moved closer, and his lips grazed mine.

“Is this supposed to be a punishment?” I rasped with a hitched breath as he withheld the kiss, the taste of him.

He was torturing me as he refused to give in to those few inches of space, controlling every movement between us.

The darkest rumble of laughter poured from him as he held my head just where he wanted. “Trust me, peach. This is just teasing.” He paused. “You’ll know when I’m punishing you.”

I whimpered.

His jaw flexed in response, and he looked like he wanted to bite me, not kiss me.

His lips whispered across mine.