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“Just through the rest of yesterday and overnight.”
“And where didyousleep?”
“Where are you hoping I slept?” he cooed, inching closer to her. When she rolled her eyes, he gestured at the velvet chaise opposite the carved wardrobe etched in glistening dragon scales. “Relax, I slept there.”
“Why am I fainting? What is this spell doing to me?” Aura studied Rush, trying to see beneath his layers once more. But his neutral expression concealed all his secrets. Rush couldn’t have always been known as the King of Sin. Was it because of Sorcha’s death? That she hadn’t returned his affections in the way he’d wanted, then died? The Rush that Sorcha seemed to know was gone. Or maybe not fully. There had been the tiniest of glimpses. Possibly…
He didn’t answer her question of course, only said, “Astor delivered the book to your twin sister while you were settling into my pillow.”
Aura gritted her teeth and was about to ask what book when she remembered the recipe tome from the library. She wanted desperately to inquire about Sorcha, but she couldn’t, not yet, not when she was discovering more, not when she knew Rush would make sure she never found out if she asked questions about her. He might even find a way to tweak the spell so she never found Sorcha at all in her dreams. Or even forget about her all together, the way Hana was made to not remember Rush and Astor. Rush might not have another vial, but he would find a way to gain a second from a sorcerer. Perhaps Sorcha might even know how to break the spell somehow since she knew Rush. If there were clues about Sorcha, they might possibly be in this room, but how would she ever find herself alone here? There had to be a way…
And then she remembered the shared kiss with Rush, the seductive way his lips had felt against hers… An answer rumbled within her, one that she was privier to than she wanted to accept. There was more to Rush, more to his story, and if she was going to spend the rest of her life in this palace, then she would find out precisely what was happening to her. Maybe even break the spell herself while still being able to keep her family safe. And the only way to uncover it was to give in to temptation.
Aura’s eyes fastened to the King of Sin’s and she bit her lip. “I want you to meet me in the ballroom for a dance. We never got to have one at the party.”
He cocked his head, his gaze latched onto hers. “You danced, kitten.”
She batted her eyelashes. “But not with you.”
Rush arched a brow, watching her as though she were mad. “Are you going to ask me to court you next?”
Her lips curled up at the edges. “Perhaps your cock isn’t as filthy as I thought.”
He snorted. “Why the change of heart? I already told you I won’t break the spell.”
“I like that you chose to give the book to my sister.” She brushed past him, taking in his smoky scent. “If you decide to meet me in the ballroom, then I’ll be there after I clean up. And if not, I’ll dance alone, I suppose. I do know how to pleasure myself anyhow.” With that, she left his room, unable to hide her smile.
Chapter Fourteen
Rush
A soft melody poured from the piano as Rush’s fingers flew over the keys. The sound was muted with the lid down and he was rusty from not having played in years, though he was never very good. His mother had insisted he take lessons when he was a child. Music never failed to put a smile on her face and he had always loved to be the one to make her happy.
Rush slowed his fingers, hitting the wrong keys as the song slowly drifted into silence. Sorcha could play well, but she had loathed it. Hated being proper and learning all the things wealthy ladies needed to learn. He missed her… So fucking much. His chest tightened and he placed her memory away, back into the depths of his mind as he always did.Soon…
“I didn’t know you played,” Aura said from behind him.
Rush jerked his hands from the keys and slammed the cover down. He clenched his jaw to take away any lingering emotion he’d let slip through the cracks. “What can I say?”
With a forced smirk, he swung one leg over the bench to look up at her. Her hair was still damp and pinned back in a braided twist. She wore a deep green dress with an embroidered bodice, the neckline swooping down to expose the swell of her breasts. He allowed his gaze to linger there as he thought about their kiss in the library and how he wanted to taste more than just her lips. She’d asked to meet here—implied she wanted more than kisses. It was something he’d been waiting for her to want.
“I know how to use my fingers for more than pleasuring women,” he said softly.
“If your playing is any indication of skill, it seems your partners are protecting your ego,” Aura drawled.
His gaze snapped up to meet hers. She lifted a brow at him and his lips spread into a grin. “Even a king can’t be an expert ateverything.” He rose from the bench to stand close to her, his nose a breath from hers, inhaling her starlight scent. “But no one is faking their moans in my bed.”
“Because you don’t pleasure anyone in your bed.” She stepped back and put her hands on her hips. “You fuck them in the bed you gaveme.”
A true laugh rumbled from his chest. “Touché, kitten.”
“So…?” she asked coyly.
“You want me to prove it?” He inched toward her, reaching out to take her waist, but she whirled away from him with a playful smile. A smile that beckoned him to follow. A tease. A promise for more. He thought about the curse, his revenge, but in that moment, he could wait, he could prolong. It wasn’t as though it was coming to fruition right then anyway.
“Weren’t we supposed to dance?” Aura motioned him toward her with a delicate finger.
Dance.Yes, that was why she’d asked him to meet her in the ballroom. And, like a fool, he’d come straight here to wait. He remembered how she danced at the party. How she moved. And he wasjustirrational enough to let his desire for her control him.
