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When he tipped me over the edge, I called out his name against his neck in a breathless gasp. Over and over, I called for him. Only him. I adjusted my hips, trying to find the tip of his length, but he shook his head.
Erik nipped at my bottom lip. “Not here.”
“Why?” I kissed his throat. “You have me, all of me.”
His fingers traced down my spine. “If you think I’m going to let the first time be ass deep in grit and sand, you underestimate me. I will take you, but it will be in my bed.”
Damn the hells.
He cupped the back of my head, drawing me close, and spoke with a new sort of longing, dark and fierce. “Be sure before doing this, love. Do this, and I don’t go back. You’re mine.”
A tremble ran up my arms. Buried in the dark timbre of his voice was a threat. A promise. I hesitated for a breath, then kissed him.
“I said I’m yours.” I trapped his face in my palms. “I’m waiting for you to becomemine.”
CHAPTER38
The Serpent
I’d never dressed so quickly. Even still, my shirt was disheveled, my trousers half laced, and Livia kept snickering at my back trying to keep her dress from falling down those perfect breasts. This was dangerous, doubtless a horrible idea, but I’d damn us both for more of her.
When we reached the palace, I crushed Livia against me, hand on her face, and kissed her briefly. She kept her eyes closed when I pulled away. By the hells, I wanted to memorize every edge, every curve of her features with my mouth, my hands, everything.
“Serpent.” Livia’s breath heated my lips. “Is this as far as we’re going? Because I’m not complaining, I—”
“No.” I cupped her cheek and smiled. Unstrained, unburdened. “But we need to be quiet.”
“A king sneaking into his own chambers?”
“My face gets seen and all at once people decide they have need of me.”
She slipped her fingers through mine, biting back a laugh as I eased one of the lower doors near the terraced gardens open and led us inside. In the distance, chatter echoed through the corridors from the revel.
Livia clung to my arm, keeping pace with my stride, even accounting for the catch of my limp. The sound of heavy boots had us leaping into an alcove, bodies close, foreheads together, laughing softly as a pair of guards strode down the corridor on their patrols.
“Hurry.” I tugged her up one flight of steps, taking them two at a time. Livia cursed and squeaked trying to hold in a laugh when her damp gown caught under her feet.
“I am the one that has a crooked leg,” I said, scooping her up under her arms. “Must I teach you to walk?”
She covered her mouth, face red. “Go back to sneers and cutting words and I might stop laughing.” She paused. “Never mind. You do this growl in your throat when you try to be rough, and—” Livia blew out a breath and locked a heated gaze on me. “Quicken your steps, Bloodsinger.”
“Gods, woman, I’m not the one falling.” I tightened my grip on her hand and finished the climb to the third level before I parted a hidden panel in the wall. “This way.”
“I saw Celine use one of these. Never told me you had secret corridors.”
“Livia.” I drew her mouth close to mine. “I have secret corridors.”
She kissed me. A burning kiss, one that bruised my lips, threatened to draw out poison blood. I’d sing her back to health until I drew my final breath if she kept kissing me this way.
The corridor led to my chamber, and the instant we emerged, Livia used her slight body and pinned my back to the wall. She roved her hands down my stomach, drawing out a guttural sound from my chest when her fingertips teased the top of my belt.
I wouldn’t survive the night. No mistake, Livia Ferus was unraveling every thread of my being kiss by kiss.
A rough breath slid out of my throat when her sly fingers slid into my trousers and curled around my cock. In the gleam of her eye was something villainous, as though my captive knew she’d gained all the control, she knew she was the one in command.
“Love.” I gripped the roots of her hair, trying to find purchase to keep upright. “Shit, I’m going to come all over your hand.”
“Then you’ve found out my plan.” She purred and dragged her teeth over my neck. “I want to see you unravel the way you’ve destroyed me.”
