Page 69 of Blood Curse

Stellan turned towards me without coming closer. His silver hair was damp from the spring, and his shirt still had a narrow cut over his heart. The skin under it had healed, but I could smell the blood that had touched the cloth.

My mouth watered.

“Distance?” he asked.

“Not yet.”

“What do you want?”

The answer arrived fast enough to frighten me. I made myself wait until I could hear the water behind us and Elias closing his medical case.

“I want to kiss you.”

Stellan’s pale eyes stayed on mine. “Is the Crown asking for it?”

“It wants your blood. The kiss is mine.”

“Then I’m here.”

He didn’t reach for me.

I stepped into him and caught his face between my hands. His skin was warm after the spring. The rough line of his jaw pressed into my injured palm, and I shifted before the bandage could snag.

Stellan touched my waist through his wet coat. His hold stayed light. I could leave without fighting him.

I kissed him.

Relief hit first. His mouth was familiar, soft for half a second and then hungry when I opened for him. I gripped the back of his neck and pulled him closer. His hand spread across my spine.

The Crown poured more heat into me.

I knew it wasn’t all mine. That didn’t make my body less willing. My nipples tightened under my soaked blouse. I pressed against Stellan and felt his response through our wet clothes.

He broke the kiss first.

“Bryony.”

“Still me.”

“You’re staring at my throat.”

“I know.”

“Stop?”

“I want another kiss.”

“Do you want me to kiss you again?”

The question forced me to notice what had changed. I looked at his throat.

His pulse beat once.

The Crown made it loud enough to drown out the rain tapping through the garden arches.

I released him.

“Yes,” I said. “I want to stop.”