Page 20

Head dipping, he nestled into the crook of her neck. The tip of his nose traced the vein that pulsed in time with her fluttering heart, and his nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply.

‘Pomegranates and verbena,’ he hummed. Tone dropping an octave, his chest rumbled as he said, ‘It has grown to be my favourite scent.’ Looking at her through the reflection of the overly large mirror they stood in front of, Rymedur’s gaze sharpened. The look a wordless promise. ‘I could devour you, little demon,’ he growled, pressing a branding kiss to her erratic pulse.

‘Rymedur.’ Breathless. Barely a whisper. Areanel gulped, shoving her desire aside. ‘We can’t. We’ll be late,’ she reprimanded. With every ounce of self-control she could muster, Areanel used her elbow to push him away.

Rymedur frowned, hand sliding around her waist. In one swift motion, he twisted her so that she was facing him. With her back to the mirror, Areanel gripped the lapels of his shirt to steady herself. She felt dizzy. The worst thing was, he hadn’t even touched her yet. Not in the way she needed.

‘Rymedur!’ Areanel’s voice caught in her throat when he wrapped his arms around her, winding them tightly. The pressure was almost making her spill out of the top of her low-cut corset. What was he thinking? They needed to leave soon!

‘Yes, love?’ his sinful lips asked as his gaze shifted down to the sight of her chest, now flush against his. Delicious mischief glinted within his green eyes.

The thick, heady scent of her want filled the air around them, mixing with his scent and reminding Areanel of a winter’s morning in the forest: the perfect balance of fir needle, cedar leaf and eucalyptus.

Hot breath fanned her face, and her eyes fluttered in time with the rapid beating of her heart. Desire coursed through her, thick and heavy, pooling low; she moved to press her thighs together in an attempt to dull her obvious need, but Rymedur had wedged his knee between them, preventing any sort of relief.

Delicious friction had her gasping for more. The grip on his shirt tightened, turning her knuckles almost white. She fisted the black fabric in her hands, desperate for him.

Not knowing whether to pull him closer or push him away.

Cool metal touched her knuckles, the sensation a stark contrast from the flustered heat spreading through her body. Sunlight caught the silver chain around Rymedur’s neck, drawing her attention to the way his throat bobbed. He clearly wanted her as much as she needed him.

His face moved closer, inch by achingly-slow inch.

Areanel’s lips parted—whether to tell him to stop or to beg him for more, she never knew, because Rymedur took the opportunity to devour her just like he had promised.

Lips crashed into hers.

Harsh and full of need, he captured the words before she could speak them.

The force sent her rocking back, and she would have stumbled had he not been holding her so tightly, like he was afraid she would disappear if he didn’t.

Whispers of shadows uncurled themselves from his skin, brushing against hers. They slithered along her skin, lacing themselves in her hair and disappearing into the long raven strands where they became corporeal, pulling her impossibly closer to their master.

A groan rumbled through Rymedur and into her mouth as their tongues fought for dominance, to consume, to claim each other. Areanel answered with a moan of her own when her soaked, sensitive core moved against his thigh. He pulled her even further into him, and her pulse thrummed against his deliberate touch.

The muscles in her shoulder stretched as she reached up to wind her arms around Rymedur’s neck, and she reached a hand into his midnight blue strands. Wrapping them around her fingers, she tugged, pulling him closer.

Rymedur’s hands—large against her—trailed down her body. His fingers splayed wide, pressing against her skin—a juxtaposition to his tender movements when he helped her dress. He touched her like he could mould her to him. Gripping. Clutching. Seizing every part of her that he could. Mapping every inch with quiet reverence.

Bending slightly, he wrapped a massive arm around her waist as his other hand moved between the tall slit in her skirt to grasp her thigh. Heat pooled at her core, burning at the lack of attention. With one swift motion, he lifted her off the ground.

Instinct took over, and Areanel encircled her legs around his waist. The grip of his hand on her thigh was branding. She couldn’t think properly—but it wasn’t enough. She wanted more. Needed more.

Tilting her head to the side, Areanel coaxed a long, drawn-out moan from Rymedur’s sinful lips. ‘Little demon,’ he growled, biting her swollen lips.

Her tongue flicked out, teasing him. Daring him to give her more.

A rough, shuddering sound sent a thrill through her core as he exhaled. But instead of moving closer, Rymedur moved away.

What was he doing?

He did not heed her call.

Pressing his forehead to hers, their breaths ragged and rampant, he dropped a gentle kiss to her lips and slowly untangled himself. She let her legs slide down his, the material of his clothes soft against her bare, scarred skin. He gently placed her feet back on the ground without a sound, his actions slow and hesitant, as if he were reluctant to let her go so soon. She pulled back to look him in the eyes.

Emerald met cobalt. A summer’s forest against the brilliant blue of a clear sky.

Restraint. Rymedur had barely restrained himself—his desire so clear in his emerald gaze that it seared into her. Areanel was sure her own reflected his—gods, she wanted him to lose all control and take her right then, damn their responsibilities.