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year 3 of the curse
The first word that escaped her lips was a curse. A crude one at that.
I resisted the urge to smile; I had to remind myself that I was livid.
“Is that any way to speak in front of yourcommander?” I still held the blade to her throat, the tip just barely piercing the skin. A thin line of blood rose to the surface, the coppery scent wafting to my flaring nostrils.
My thighs rested on either side of her lithe frame, and every ragged inhale she took had her chest rising to meet mine. My anger at her being here was quickly being replaced with another feeling.
Wicked heat curled in my stomach as her breath tickled my cheeks. My gaze fell, taking in the sight of her face beneath the moon’s precious light, memorizing the curve of her full bottom lip, how enticing it looked. I wondered what she’d taste like, if—
“I told you to bring me,” she panted. I forced myself to look into her eyes, abandoning her lips. “You knew I’d follow.”
I did. Really, I did. Kiara was nothing if not stubborn, a trait I could almost admire. On anyone else, I’d have found it utterly irritating.
“Kiara,” I rumbled.
A tremor shook her body, and my palms grew clammy. The hand holding the knife trembled.
“This is my choice, Jude,” she whispered. Slowly she brought her hand to my wrist, curling her fingers around it. She made no move to shove me away, to try and free herself. She just held me.
Choice.
King Cirian had never given me a choice. Not in all my years of serving him. Why the hells did she have to use that word?
Kiara took in a deep breath, and the blade at her throat dug deeper. “Do you put blades to all of your recruits’ throats? Or am I just special?”
A raspy chuckle left me. I wasn’t sure who was more surprised by the sound.
“I think we both know you’re not like the other recruits, Kiara.” I said the words before I could think better of it. I lost all rational thought around her. Since the beginning, before she’d even known I was her commander, it had been easy to talk with her, but now…
Now, with herunderme, it was a damned miracle I could form any coherent thought at all.
“I’m flattered,Jude,” she sneered, though I noted how her voice wavered. “If only I could return the favor.”
I smirked as the silver of the blade flashed in the soft moonlight. Without breaking contact or losing my hold on her, I sheathed the weapon.
I lowered my mouth to her ear, her hair tickling my cheek. “I’d imagine you would rather enjoy that. Perhaps too much.”
I had just raised my head when she struck.
Her lips captured mine, the force of her kiss catching me off guard.
I groaned into her mouth, stunned beyond belief, but not disappointed by the turn of events. Kiara let out a breathy sound, and my entire world tilted on its axis.
Gods, her lips were just as soft as I’d imagined, just as plush. Kiara tasted like adventure itself, like a wine I’d happily grow drunk off.
I brought my hand to cup her cheek, the other winding around to the nape of her neck. My fingers fisted her silken hair, gripping the strands and pulling her impossibly close.
A soft sigh escaped her, and I felt her melt into the kiss, intome, as her hands traveled to my chest, her fingers clutching the thin fabric of my shirt, her grip unrelenting and desperate.
For a moment we were suspended in time, where the only reality that existed was the sensation of our lips moving as one. Gods, we fit together so perfectly, like we’d been created solely for the other—
This time, when my world tilted, it wasn’t because of her kiss. Before I even knew what had happened, I was flung onto my back…into the same position I’d had her in moments before.
Cold steel pressed against my throat.
“Much better, don’t you think?” She cocked her head, a daring smile gracing the lips I’d just tasted. I wanted to laugh, to curse, to lift up and kiss her again.
