Page 81 of Thief of Hearts

I needed Zain.

But I forced myself to wait, to see if the magic would overtake me. And the longer I stood there, the more amorous I felt. The worse the ache got. The fire burned brighter and hotter.

I didn’t feel weakened or in danger of fainting. Perhaps it was because I was battle-favored. I could withstand the cost since I was already strengthened.

Deciding that I would be fine, I unlocked and opened the door and ran to our room. If Zain wasn’t there, I didn’t know what I would do. I would probably go mad from the frustration.

But when I threw open the door, he was there.

“Thank Invara,” I breathed.

He was lying on his bed. He had released his shoulder pins and so his tunic fell to his waist, held up by his annoying belt. He was reading something that he put under his pillow when I came in.

I wanted to laugh. I wasn’t here for his book.

Not able to help myself, I drank him in. If I had been attracted to him before, it was nothing like it was now. He had the most glorious chest I had ever seen, and all I could think about was licking every inch of it.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“Never better.”

He got up and reached for his pin to reattach his tunic. And as much as I would have liked to undress him again, it seemed a crime for him to cover up. I moved quickly, faster than I ever had before, so that I stood between him and the table.

“Don’t do that,” I said. Not able to help myself, I reached out to run my fingers along the lines of his torso. Soft and strong and warm.

“Basileia—”

I raised a finger to his lips and saw a muscle in his jaw clench. It was as if I were hyperaware of him and his reactions. As well as my own.

Everything was heightened. It almost felt like being in a dream.

“I’ve been with you for days and days, and despite the fact that you are the king of thieves, you haven’t tried to steal another kiss.” I pushed up on my toes so that our lips were close together. That muscle in his jaw flicked again.

“I’m not sure I can steal what is being freely offered.” He put his hands on my upper arms, and I anticipated that he would pull me close, but he just stood there.

Like he was keeping me where I was.

I didn’t understand.

So I tried to play with him. I reached up to touch the back of his nape, stroking with his soft hair. “You think I’m offering to kiss you?”

“I think you’re dying for me to kiss you.” There was a strange quality in his voice. I had thought he’d be eager. Excited.

I certainly was. I brushed my lips against his chest and his grip on me tightened.

But he still didn’t pull me to him.

“Are you drunk?” he asked.

I smiled against his skin. “No.”

“Have you had Ilionian honeyed wine?”

I’d heard all about that drink and its effects. “Do they even have that here?”

“They have everything here.”

Why were we talking? I moved my mouth to press small kisses against his neck. He stayed totally still, completely silent. I wished my mind were working better so that I could understand what was happening right now.