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“Hoods up,” Daimis says. I obey and watch his face disappear under the cowl. He pulls a key from a pouch at his hip and opens the door. The door swings open and a cold, damp breeze tugs at our clothes and hair. The fresh scents of plants, earth, and water spill in from the open door and wraps around me like the embrace of an old friend. We quickly exit the castle, and Daimis shuts and locks the door behind us. In the distance, the roar of fast-moving water calls to us. Gods above and below, it feels good to be outside. I’ve been locked up in the castle for too long. We may technically train every day outside, but it’s surrounded by the castle walls and only offers a limited view of the sky. I breathe the fresh open air in and sigh, contentedly. The full moon casts its silvery gleam on everything, allowing us to see without the aid of a torch. Although I imagine I can see better than Daimis with my shadow sight.
The clanging of armor reaches us before two Steel Guards come into view. I look around, but there is nowhere to hide. If I was alone, I’d just cloak myself, but I can’t exactly do that now.
Daimis yanks me into his arms, my body crashes into his warm, hard one, my breath leaving me. His large hand is splayed across the small of my back, keeping me firmly in place. His smell, a fresh scent of birch and cypress, reminds me of a crisp winter day, but then there are undertones of pure sultry male, and warm spices, like a fire burns within him.
I should punch him. . .or shove him away from me. . .I should definitely do. . .something. Instead, I just stare at him. He watches me right back, his full lips slightly parted, his gaze roaming over my features. Gods above and below, every part of my body is pressed intimately against every part of his, letting me know he’s just as aroused as I am, and I feel like this is exactly where I should be.
He reaches up and moves my hair behind my ear.
“What are you doing?” I ask, my voice airy.
He shakes his head a little, like coming out of a trance. He leans toward my exposed ear. “I’ll get rid of them, but I need you to just go with it,” he whispers. His warm breath sends not unpleasant shivers across my skin.
The guards, of course, that’s why he pulled me into his arms.
Get your crap together Sahra.
The clanging of armor grows louder, the guards will see us at any moment.
Daimis nuzzles my neck, his slight stubble tickling. I giggle for the show, but when his soft lips find a spot just below my ear that sends a flare of heat through my body, I suck in a breath. He freezes for a moment, then he repeats the brush of his lips, like he’s testing, trying to get me to respond again, my traitorous body obliges, and I melt into him.
“You smell incredible.” His voice is a low deep rumble that has a thrill of excitement settle low in my abdomen. His brush of lips shifts into an enticing, sensual kiss. A breathy sigh escapes my mouth. I feel his lips smile against the skin at my neck, his teeth oh so gently scraping there before they resume their seductive trail down to my collarbone. I arch into him and slide my hands into his soft, thick curls. A growl of pleasure rumbles through his body, and he holds me tighter to him.And I want more.
“Who goes there?” one of the guards says, breaking the sexual trance we both seemed to be under.
I forgot we weren’t alone. I forgot that this was just for show. For the briefest of moments, I forgot everything but what Daimis’s lips were doing to me.
Daimis lifts his head and gives the guards a wide-eyed look of surprise, one that I think is genuine. His gaze finds me, and we stare for a moment. His hair is mussed by my hands, and I’m sure my cheeks are blazing red.
“Hey! You can’t be out here,” the other guard says.
Daimis drops his head for a moment and when he lifts it again, a devilish smile is there. “Gentlemen, it’s me, Prince Daimis,” he drawls. “Be on your way. I’m afraid this outing is only for a party of two.” He pulls me tighter against him.
My hands now on his chest can feel just how large his hard muscles are beneath the thin material of his fine shirt. What would his bare skin feel like under my fingertips? Against my own nakedness?Ugh, stop Sahra.I need to get out of his arms and fast. I step back, but Daimis wraps his arm around my waist, tucking me into his side.
One of the guards drops his gaze out of respect, the other has a grim look, but nods just the same. “Don’t stray far from the castle, Your Majesty, and call out if you need any help.”
Daimis’s face is full of mild amusement. “Oh, I can handle this one just fine all by myself.” He smacks my ass, and I yelp. The guards chuckle.
In one swift motion, I slide my blade from its sheath and hold it to his side, putting enough pressure on it, that he moves his body away from me. He takes my free hand in his warm one, leading me down a narrow path and away from the guards. I’m surprised, and a little impressed by the predominant callouses on his warm hand. Very un-prince-like.
Once we’re out of eyesight, I yank my hand from his and try to act nonchalant even though I’m still reeling from what just happened. I’m sure my reaction to Daimis is probably just my body’s response to my missing the connection we once had. It’s only natural that I’m drawn to him. But it definitely can’t happen again.
I turn to Daimis. “The spank was over the top.” While I wasn’t a fan of it, I am glad that it allowed for a safer topic than what else happened between us.
“Had to sell it,” he says fighting a grin. “Besides, I think you liked it.”
I hold my blade to the bulge straining against his leathers. I try not to gawk at the impressive size. “Don’t make me castrate you, Princess.”
He chuckles, completely unconcerned with my threat.
I roll my eyes at him and sheath my blade. We continue down the path which hugs the side of the rocky mountain. A variety of ferns and green shrubs peek out where they can from the rocky terrain. The farther we walk, the louder the roar of water gets.
“This is where the servants go to get water for the castle,” Daimis says over the noise. We come up to a clearing, where the waterfall spills over the lip of a small cave. Water collects in a pool that stretches across the entire floor of the shallow cave. Trees and moss-covered rocks crowd the pool’s edge. A well-worn foot path shows where the servants go to dip their buckets.
“Are you going to run?” Daimis asks over the roar of the water. He doesn’t say it with accusation, only curiosity. I imagine if I say yes, he’d wish me the best of luck and wouldn’t stop me.
I step over a large rock. “Not without my money or scale.”
