AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A surge of emotions and Rion was running his hands up and down her arms, his breathing unsteady.
“You can if you want,” he whispered, stomach clenching at the thought. Her breath was ragged, heart racing, and he sensed her desire. An intense, overwhelming thing. He’d let her mark him if she wished to. It was an old practice. A custom many had done away with, but that didn’t stop the animalistic desire from arising. And if she wanted to, gods, he’d beg for it.
She pulled away ever so slowly to look him in the eye. Flushed. Breathless. Beautiful. Surprise and shame flickered down the bond, but Rion rose up and pressed his body to hers, capturing her in another kiss.
“No,” he said, voice thick. “Don’t stop.”
Her body shook. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Rion pressed a kiss beneath her ear. “Does it feel like you’re hurting me?” Arianna didn’t respond, but she tilted her head back and he kissed her neck, pausing at her racing pulse. “I’m yours,” Rion said. “Any way you want me, I’m yours.”
Chapter Forty-five
Arianna
Arianna woke in Rion’s arms, their bare bodies pressed close beneath the blankets. Time was an irrelevant concept and she refused to care that they’d slept in.
Last night . . .
Last night was an experience she wouldn’t soon forget. Their bodies entwined in a sea of skin and nails and teeth, the world a forgotten whisper. A smile graced her lips and she stretched, reaching her arms overhead.
Rion’s grip tightened and he pulled her into his side. She ran a hand through his newly shortened hair and he finally cracked one eye open.
“Hi,” she managed. Arianna hadn’t let him sleep much. Her body had been on fire and she blushed at the memory and at what she’d almost done.
“Hi,” he returned. She nuzzled his neck and kissed the base of his throat. “You missed your party.”
She shrugged. “There’ll be others.” Rion raised a brow. “It wasn’t really . . . pleasant after our dance.” All she had wanted to do was join him on the sidelines. Niall hadn’t let her dance with anyone other than Talon. So much for meeting the ambassadors and those among the court.
And after the dance—she clenched her teeth. She didn’t want to think about anything that had happened between her leaving the ball and closing the door to their room.
“I didn’t know she was there,” her mate said quietly.
“I know.” She wasn’t stupid. Rion barely let Ellie near him, let alone a stranger. And with their mating bond, she was fairly certain she’d never have to worry about him running off with another female anyway. Still, she wondered why he’d left at all. “Why were you there?”
He propped his head up and leaned on one elbow. His hand still rested on her hip, thumb rubbing lazy circles over her skin. “Someone told me a gift was waiting in my room.”
Arianna furrowed her brow, trying to understand. “And you went?”
He studied the edge of the pillowcase. “I thought I knew what I was walking into.” He sighed and ran a hand through his shortened hair. “I thought if I ignored it, then whoever had orchestrated the event might try a different tactic. One that might catch you in the crossfire.”
If she hadn’t just experienced the best night of her life, she might have throttled him. “You should have talked to me first. We could have sent someone in to check it out.” He didn’t respond. Arianna caught his eye and gave him a stern look. “You’re not alone anymore. You can’t put yourself at risk like that.”
He pressed an aching kiss to her brow. “Exactly. I’m not alone and I can’t bear the thought of someone hurting you because of me.”
“Don’t you think I feel the same?” Again, silence. “When I realized what my father was trying to do, when I felt the bond tearing apart—” She lowered her voice. “The pain was unreal, and I don’t want to ever feel that again.” Rion swallowed hard. “Promise me,” she pushed. “Promise me you won’t do something like that again.”
He stroked her arm and she knew a hundred thoughts flew through his mind. Assassination attempts, poisonings, impossible missions he wasn’t supposed to return from. “I promise to try.”
***
By some miracle, Arianna hadn’t missed the council meeting. She wasn’t even sure why they were still having one. Surely the council had partied well into the night and were hung-over from all the wine.
Then again, maybe she’d ruined the whole occasion by leaving early. She was the guest of honor. They were bound to notice her missing. Had they gone in search of her, or had her Móirín guards informed Niall and the others that she’d retired early?
Arianna marched into the meeting room, her anger pulsing with that ancient power stirring just beneath her skin. One of them was responsible for what had happened last night, of that much she was certain. She just needed to figure out which one.
Their sleepy gazes snapped to attention when Rion followed, his magic on display for all to see. Arianna yanked her chair out, the wood scraping across the floor, and sat with her legs crossed.
