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Rafe dropped his mouth to her ear and whispered, “This bed will be yours. I will take theother.”
“Okay.” Her voice came out asqueak.
“Unless you would like to sleep in my bed.” She could feel his grin against her ear as his warm breath slid across her skin. “There is room for two, youknow.”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” She swallowed hard and risked a glance up at his face. Bad idea. His eyes were sparkling, the silver practically glowing in the darkness of the room. The candlelight flickered across his handsome face, creating shadows that Bree wished she could trace with her fingers. And his bare chest...damn him to hell. It just wasn’t fair how good helooked.
“You are looking a little flushed, Bree,” he said with a chuckle. “Should I open up a window and let in some air so that you can cooldown?”
What a cockybastard.
She pushed against his chest and stepped back, inwardly groaning at the distance she was forcing between them. “You’re right. It is a little warm in here. Probably best we sleep in separate beds. Because of bodyheat.”
“Body heat?” His lips quirked. “Does that mean our close proximity has made your body feel someheat?”
“You wish,” sheretorted.
But the truth was, she was the one who was wishing. For more of his touch. For the closeness to never end. For just one kiss, to see how his lips felt. He looked as though he would be the kind of male to be averygood kisser. The kind to make kneesbuckle.
Too bad she would never findout.
“Very well.” Rafe stepped back, dropped his pants to the floor, and slid under the covers of his bed. He was still wearing underwear, of course, but Bree had just gotten an eyeful. And it did little to calm her racingheart.
Slowly, she pulled back the covers, fiddling with the pillows as she fought with the urge to take back everything she’d said and jump right into bed with him. She didn’t think he would turn her down. In fact, she had a pretty good feeling that he would throw back the covers and welcome herin.
But she couldn’t. Couldshe?
No, shecouldn’t.
It was a terrible idea. He was a Dark Fae, and she was a shapeshifting Light Fae who had once been human. She was going to leave this realm just as soon as she could. That could be tomorrow for all she knew. Giving in to these feelings was a terribleidea.
Besides, they weren’t reallyfeelings, were they? It was just lust, right? All Bree wanted to do was jump his bones and nothing more. It would be silly to make things more awkward just because she was itching for a certain kind of release, one that only Rafe could giveher.
She just needed to exercise some control. That wasall.
So, she hopped into bed, the springs squealing underneath her. The covers were soft and silky, and they smelled like sandalwood. It was a scent that inexplicably reminded her of Rafe, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was right there beside her, even if they were separated by a small slab of floor and a bedsidetable.
“You look tense,” he said in a drawl. “Do you need something to take the edge off so you can relax andsleep?”
“Stop being suggestive,” shesnapped.
“I was not being suggestive, Bree.” The amusement in his voice made her wish she could stride over to his bed and slap him. But then she’d probably end up falling on top of him. “Although one might wonder where your mind is at if you thought itwas.”
She let out a huff of irritation. “If you weren’t being suggestive, then what did youmean?”
“I have a tonic that is meant to help you sleep,” he said. “I have taken it a few times when my mind won’tsettle.”
Right. By the forest, she was such anidiot.
“No, I think I’ll pass.” She loosed a breath. “But thankyou.”
At least half an hour passed, and Bree still had not drifted off to sleep. Her mind was racing with thoughts of everything that had happened in the past few weeks. The attack at the feast, the ball, the trip to the volcano, and now Seath’s body showing up just outside of her quarters. She felt as though she were missing an important piece of whatever puzzle was being laid out beforeher.
There was an explanation for all of this, one that would point to whoever was behind itall.
Sure, there were those she had suspicions about, but nothing solid. Ethne, for one, and her strange disappearance that night. Lord Dagen could even be behind it. He’d asked her to spy on the Prince. Maybe he’d do anything to stop Taveon from ascending to the throne. She also couldn’t forget that strange fae, Fillan, who had shown up in the Prince’s chambers during theball.
She hadn’t seen him before then, and she hadn’t seen himsince.
