Page 158 of Taken By Shadows

I found Kaed in his study. I’d knocked and let myself in but wasn’t prepared for the way he destroyed me just by casually standing there. He leaned against a bookshelf as he held open a book and scanned its contents. He looked devastating. Like a god had manifested in this world and held the cord of my desires in their hands. And when I saw Kaed’s dark hair falling over his scar, blue eyes crushingly beautiful, with full lips, I felt that being wrap the cord around his fist and pull me towards him.

I nearly shook my head to clear it as I gaped at him. Kissing him, having him touch me like that, had been some sort of undoing. Like the ribbons of my body had fluttered open and I couldn’t remember how to tie myself back together unless it was his hands on me. Inside me …

It was one thing to have fantasised about Kaed in my own head where it was indulgent and decadent. Safe. But to have actually tasted him … I craved him again, constant, lustful hunger ravaging me.

I was starving now.

We’d had very little time alone since his bedroom …

And it was torture. Being in the same house, now the same space as him and knowing we had other things to do, this party to prepare for, which would feel trivial to attend if not for the information we needed from the council members who would be there.

Holding up the letters as I walked in, I tried not to think of Kaed’s lips on me. “Tymon held up his end.”

“Good.” He slammed the book and turned his back.

“Good? That’s it? Good girl, now leave?”

He turned at that to see me now with arms folded.

Fine. I turned to leave, but the way was instantly blocked. He moved with such speed I hardly saw him, as his arm came out to stop me and pressed up against the door.

And I couldn’t fight the fiery feeling that heated my blood when he did that.

I looked up to him as he leaned in.

“The seals are broken on these,” he said, plucking the invitations from my hands.

“To the Lord and Lady of the Alabaster Palace,” I said, reciting the inscription on the front. “You no longer want me to be your lady?” The feigned shock dripped off my tongue like candied acid.

Kaed’s lips turned wicked at that challenge. He placed his other hand on the other side of me and hemmed me in between the iron bars of his forearms.

I hated and loved how that made my breath come quicker.

“What I want I can’t do to a lady in this room,” he purred, leaning closer. His breath tickled my ear and sent my skin on my neck shivering.

“I didn’t understand you to be a male who let rules dictate what he did.”

Why was I doing this? Goading him to take me in his study.

I didn’t even know if I was ready for that. For the implication of going further. What we’d done in his bed had been … intense … and divine.

I’d been with people before. I knew what it meant to be with someone. But I didn’t know what it meant to be with Kaed.

“I’m not. But I told you before when we first arrived here … I want you to beg me for what you want from me.” His voice was dark and musical as it landed on me like plucked rose petals.

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Bastard.

Had he teased me and kissed me, touched me and heated my blood, only to have me on a string? On a tether.

My features hardened, and I pushed on his chest to shove him away.

That was a mistake.

Touching him just sent shockwaves through my fingers, and I wanted to grip his shirt instead of push him away.

I balled my hands into fists instead of raking my nails down his clothes. But Kaed didn’t move at my push. He stayed staring down at me like he was hungry and hadn’t eaten for days.