Page 63 of Dance of Stars and Ashes

The scrape of teeth against her collarbone nearly had her flying out of her skin.

He pulled up and looked at her, and their gazes locked, two stars finally colliding in the empty void of space.

Slowly, he lowered his head, and her lips parted as she licked them. His hungry eyes traced the movements of her tongue like a monster preparing to devour her body and soul.

They both paused, breathing in each other’s air, the tension alive with static. Zarya inhaled a deep breath, ready, so fucking ready for this.

She leaned in, but… Rabin pulled away, his expression hardening to stone before he lowered her to the ground and stepped back.

“I’m sorry. We shouldn’t do this,” he said, the words falling from his mouth and plunging to the earth with a thud.

“What?” she asked, blinking furiously as she used the tree for support, the abrupt change in tension leaving her dizzy and close to collapsing.

“Forgive me.”

Then, he turned around and disappeared into the trees.

Zarya woke up in her bed with her skin flushed and her heart galloping in her chest. What the fuck was that? Had he just… What had he just done? Made her think he was about to kiss her and then just… stopped? Forgive him?

She shoved her hand into her soaked underwear, her fingers roughly circling her clit as she curved off the bed, coming apart almost immediately. But it wasn’t enough. That bastard. Once again, he’d done this to her, only this time, he’d hooked a chain around her neck and yanked her to the ground before he’d tossed her back.

Fire kindled under her blood, so she rolled off the bed, marching through the haveli and down to their private section of beach.

She dove into the water, underwear and all, sighing at the cool water slipping over her fevered skin, letting the adrenaline drain out of her fraying nerves.

What had that been about? Why did he touch her like that only to back away? Why shouldn’t they do this? She’d never been so irritated and pissed off in her entire life.

She rolled onto her back, floating in the water with her arms and legs spread out as she stared at the sky. She thought of him again, of the way he’d felt against her. Of his rough hands and his soft mouth when he’d kissed her neck.

The way his cock had thrust against her, clearly wanting this as much as she had.

She ached for him, bereft of that electric and damning touch. Why couldn’t she let go of this?

Empty and unsated, she slid her hand over her stomach, plunging her fingers inside her body as she again made herself come to the devastating image of the man who would surely be the death of her.

SEVENTEEN

Everything progressed from bad to worse as Zarya descended into the foulest mood she’d experienced in months. Not since before she’d escaped Row’s cottage had she felt such paralyzing frustration.

Over the next week, the palace became her own personal jungle, festering with venomous stares and awkward silences as Zarya tried to avoid Rabin. If they ended up in the same room, she pretended he was no more interesting than furniture.

But he was making it impossible. Despite the fact he had been the one to walk away, his gaze followed her everywhere. He seemed to follow her everywhere, his expression wavering a line between regret and expectation. Zarya had no idea what it was supposed to mean, and it was only making her angrier. And more confused. And completely miserable. And it certainly didn’t help that he kept on being so damned beautiful.

At night, she tossed and turned, thinking of him, doing her best not to give in to what her body craved. She wasn’t sure what she was holding out for. To prove something to herself or to him? He’d never know what she got up to alone in her room.

What had he meant when he’d said they shouldn’t do this? Why not? Was this about what had happened with Vikram? Had Vikram told his brother to back off?

Zarya hadn’t even considered that until now. She still needed to talk to Vikram. He’d sent her notes more than once, asking if they could meet. She kept dreaming up some excuse or another to hold him off. She was sure she didn’t want him. Not only because of his ties to Amrita, but because, after experiencing what she’d felt with Rabin, she knew Vikram wasn’t the one.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Rabin, either, but that was fine. At least now she knew what she was waiting for. Someone who made her feel that way but didn’t screw with her head in the most infuriating way.

Gods, every time she thought of how he’d been the one to approach her. He’d been the one to put his hands on her, and then he’d just… stopped.

Fueled by restlessness, Zarya couldn’t sit still. She marched over to the palace, looking for Yasen. She pounded on his door, and he opened it.

“Where is the fire?” he asked.

“I need to train,” she said, dispensing with any niceties.