Page 136 of Between Two Kings

“That’s not what he does. He—”

“He’s a snake!” Leo yelled.

Tem fell silent.

Leo leaned in, his voice dropping to a strained growl. “He may wear a human form but make no mistake, Tem. He is a monster. You have no idea what he would or wouldn’t do.”

Tem stared up at him, shocked at the fury in his tone.

“This is not your concern, Leo.”

“You do not get to tell me where my concerns lie.”

She could feel the warmth of his body. Her basilisk side was fully awake, hungry, reaching for him. Tem couldn’t suppress it forever. “And you do not get to be angry that he hurts me when you hurt me too.”

Leo froze.

“Your only concern,” Tem whispered, “should be your wife.”

A muscle ticked in his jaw. “You were once my wife.”

This was dangerous territory. Tem had to steer them out of it. “Not anymore.”

He was still holding the end of her curl. Now he dropped it, touching his fingers to her waist instead. The heat of his skin radiated through the thin fabric of her dress.

Tem didn’t move. She could only stand there, helpless, as Leo brushed his fingers slowly across her ribs and up between her breasts. He tugged gently at the front of her dress, deepening the V and exposing her cleavage.

They stared at each other.

Slowly, as if daring either herself or Leo to stop her, Tem raised her hands and brushed her hair away from her shoulders. Leo sucked in a tight breath, his eyes dipping immediately to her breasts. There was no sound except the crackling of the fireplace. A glance between his legs told her that his cock was hard, straining against his trousers. How easy it would be to touch it—to take it in her palm and squeeze.

Her nipples hardened at the thought. She knew Leo could see them.

Tem should turn away—she should adjust her hair and cover herself. But she did neither of those things. She wanted Leo to see her—wanted him to know exactly what was waiting for him beneath her dress. Tem was starved for his touch. The crest was pulling them together, forcing them to face what neither of them dared to voice out loud. It wasn’t over for them. It never would be.

“Tem,” Leo whispered, her name barely a breath.

Everything seemed to shrink—the walls contracted, as did the space between them, Tem’s will to resist. There would be nothing left of her if she stayed in this room for one more second.

Leo stepped closer.

Tem stared at his shoulders, his chest, his hands. She saw the sharp bones of his fingers, the deft angle of his thumbs. She wanted those hands on her.

Another step.

He was far, far too close.

As if in a trance, Tem’s face rose to his. Their lips were an inch apart. She did nothing but breathe him in, feeling the warmth radiate from his body to hers. He was so warm, as if the flames that crackled in the fireplace originated within him.

“Tell me you want me,” Leo murmured, his voice low and rough.

He smelled incredible. Like summer and cigars and deep, dusty libraries. It was impossible to ignore—impossible to resist.

Tem closed her eyes. If she looked at him for another second she was going to kiss him. “I already did,” she whispered.

“No.” His breath fanned her face. “You said you missed me. That’s not the same.”

“It’s close enough.”