Page 44 of Heart of the Villain

Her skin tingled where Arlet had touched, and her mind was lost in it until she was alone in the long hallway leading to the kitchen, where she could focus on other things besides Arlet’s feverous touch.

“Ivelle, why must you make everything so difficult?” The Aeris home was large, with many rooms Ivelle could have slipped into, unnoticed.

Marlena searched the first few rooms off the long hallway, and to her dismay, Ivelle wasn’t in any of them. The next room went into the wine cellar. I should take a couple bottles home… might make it easier to deal with her.

She opened the door and called down the spiral staircase, “Ivelle! You have literal seconds before I start to lose my cool.” A pair of footsteps bounded down the hallway, pulling her attention away from the cellar. “Gods, thank you. It gets old scolding you like a child all the ti—” Marlena turned the corner and was met with Arlet, her lips immediately finding hers. She pinned her against the hallway wall, straddling her thigh to get her body as close to Marlena as she could. She was the one with the position to take control, but she still let Marlena lead.

Her hands trailed up the sides of Arlet’s body. Marlena grabbed a handful of her ass, earning a gasp against her lips.

Anyone could come through and catch them. A thrill of excitement crept up her spine, and Marlena wouldn’t have cared about being caught if it were anyone other than Arlet.

What would they think? Marlena, with the powerless one…

Marlena still let her hands roam over Arlet’s curves, but she pulled away from her mouth, kissing down the slope of her jaw. “Is this you trying to convince me to stay?”

I could.

Arlet leaned her head back, grinding against Marlena’s leg between her thighs. “Is it working?” she panted.

“Aw, pet. You’re extra needy tonight, aren’t you?” Marlena nibbled on her earlobe.

Arlet inhaled sharply. “I need you. Been needing you so badly. Thinking about you between my legs all week.” Her words were breathy, hinting at just how desperate she was for Marlena.

She grabbed Arlet by the face, squeezing her cheeks to push her lips into a little pout. “Want me to get you off so you can stop thinking about me?”

Arlet shook her head as best as she could with Marlena’s grip still on her face. “I don’t want to stop thinking about you. I want you to stay so I get my taste too.” She ground her hips again, this time with more pressure and need. Marlena knew if she reached a hand between Arlet’s thighs, she would be soaked.

“I think I like the idea of you touching yourself in bed tonight when I’m not there to give you your fix.” Marlena kissed her puckered lips greedily.

“Marlena.”

Arlet startled at the voice, retreating away from Marlena until her back pressed against the opposite wall.

Marlena wiped her lips, fixed her dress, and turned to face their interruption. “Now you choose to show up.”

Arlet was flustered, her eyes wide with worry. They’d been caught red-handed by Ivelle—Ivelle, who had reason to turn Marlena’s life upside down if she pleased.

Marlena schooled herself into calmness, pushing away whatever tension she felt. “I’ll meet you outside. Don’t make me come looking for you again.” She pointed towards the front of the house where their vehicle would be waiting to take them to Fortis’s docks.

Traveling to Marlena’s new home was a fucking pain.

Ivelle eyed them both, her arms crossed like she might put up a fight. Instead, she turned and left the hallway, leaving Marlena and Arlet alone again.

Arlet shook her head, doing her best not to freak out—but Marlena could see through her attempt at masking her nerves. “I—Mar, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have… Oh gods, what if she outs us?”

Her reaction struck a chord inside Marlena, but not one of understanding, even though moments before she’d been concerned about the same thing. One that made her speculate why this was Arlet’s response to people finding out about them. “Why are you so worried?”

Arlet’s brows drew together like the answer was obvious. “Why wouldn’t I be? After what you said about your parents today to Vega, how they don’t want her to be with Bridger… What makes us think they’d be okay with us together? The powerless Videri doesn’t stand a chance at being the right match for their soon-to-be seat holder daughter if Bridger, future Commander Dimico, can’t be for Vega.”

There was so much she didn’t understand—so much Marlena couldn’t tell her yet. It’s not time. She ran a hand down her face, the only sign her temper was rising. “Arlet, I can’t hash this out right now. I have to go.” She gestured towards the front of the house. “I’ll see you soon, okay?”

A flash of hurt washed over Arlet’s face, her shoulders sagging with an abrupt exhale, and for the briefest of seconds, Marlena considered staying—letting Ivelle wait outside all night if she needed to.

But she couldn’t.

Marlena peeled her eyes off Arlet and left her standing in the hall, hopeful she wouldn’t mope in the hallway for too long.

They could talk about this later.