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“If you’re afraid, we don’t have to. I get that it scares you.” Scooting closer, he placed a hand on my knee, the warmth seeping through the blanket and into my skin. “You can’t be brave all the time.”
“Are you calling me a coward?” My heart raced at the insult. I had fought and bled more times than I could count. How dare he speak to me as if I was a child running around with a wooden sword.
He shrugged. “I know you can fight, but some wars are won in here.”
Tapping his head, he smirked, eyeing me, waiting for me to refuse, but I wasn’t a coward, and though I had never kissed anyone before, I wouldn’t let that inexperience give him the upper hand in this situation. “How does a kiss work when making a bargain?”
“That’s an excellent question,” he said, sliding over to me, his thumb rubbing a circle on my leg. “We believe that one must exchange fluids. With males, its blood, but with a male and female, it is a kiss. One of the more deadly bargains for the fae as all fae possess some levels of magic and with a kiss they exchange a sliver of that power.”
“I’ve heard of fae bargains, but never done with a kiss.”
His hand slid across my thigh, the sensation sending my heartbeat into an erratic rhythm. “The dark fae like to be a bit more dramatic and sensual about our dealings. So, are you ready?”
It’s just a kiss. This is no different than learning any other battle technique.
Still . . . his mouth will be on mine.
Glancing at his lips, I noticed how full and soft they appeared and that sent my mind spinning. This was more than what I was ready for, yet if he spoke the truth . . .
As if realizing the uncertainty, he gently took my hands. “Relax and follow my lead, and you may just enjoy yourself. We’ll go slow.”
Too nervous to speak, I stared into his silver gaze, waiting. He moved his head closer to mine until we were barely inches apart.
“Close your eyes,” he whispered, and so I did.
Smooth lips gently pressed against mine, the sensation warm and inviting. He moved his mouth, tugging at mine to open, though I didn’t understand why. When I did, his tongue touched mine and a different exhilarating feeling skittered through me. He didn’t taste of anything particular, but it reminded me of fire and starlight. I liked the tenderness and brush of his lips on mine and how when our mouths moved, they seemed to know exactly how to fit back together. Unsure what to do, I tried to mimic his movements until the kiss deepened and became more demanding.
Heat traveled from my chest and out to every part of me. While the warmth of my flame gave me comfort this ignited something else. I couldn’t describe exactly what, but my body reacted, inching closer to his and my heart raced as if I had been running for miles. A heady daze filled my thoughts the deeper Callum kissed me and the desire to stop disappeared. I wrapped one arm around Callum’s neck, this unbearable need coursing through me. He groaned against my lips, the sound a purr in my ear.
We fell back onto my bedroll, Callum landing on top of me. He grabbed my face and began kissing me in such a desperate way, my head spun. I dragged my hands across his bare back, along his sides, anywhere I could touch. Losing myself in the way he tasted.
Callum pulled back, breathing heavily, a dangerous curve to his lips. “What do you think?”
“It’s nice.”
“Nice?” He arched a brow, his magenta hair falling beautifully in front of his face. “I’d hoped for a bit more than nice.”
“Why did you do that? Is it always like that?” I asked, truly not understanding how two people who were not together could kiss in that manner. Is that what all dark fae did and so carelessly with each other?
Resting on his elbows, he hovered closer to my face. “Sometimes,” he said, his breath washing over me. “It has been known for certain deals to go further.”
“What do you mean?”
With a wicked grin, he lowered near my ear and kissed right under my earlobe, the gesture making my body arch on its own. “If the deal is made between two fae with an attraction for one another much more touching will take place, but we have no more time for that lesson today, little sparrow. We have a ways to go before the river takes us to the city. We haven’t even made it to the gate.”
I don’t care.
The moment those three words entered my head, I froze.
I don’t care?
How could I think that?
This is what Mr. Assan had warned me about. This was why I had to keep my feelings in control. I let go of Callum horrified at my thoughts. “You’re right, thank you.”
This game with Callum, which had been curiosity was growing into something else. The more Callum taught me about intimacy, the more I understood why my teacher forbid it.
We gathered our things and returned to the boat. Watching Callum row us out, my heart beat wildly. What was this fluttering feeling in my chest? I had a sense of longing, but why? Why did I continue to think of his hands touching me, his mouth across mine?
