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Valerian gets that stubborn, I’m royalty look. “Funny, that’s exactly what I’m asking.”
On some silent signal, Asher, Eclipsa, and Mack all make bathroom excuses. Ruby tries to protest but Mack grabs her by the waist on her way out.
As soon as the magical ice door freezes behind them, I face Valerian. The pulse in his neck jumps. I can see the conflict inside his eyes. That overwhelming need to protect me. To keep me safe. To keep me his.
No matter the cost. Even if that cost is my free will.
“I can’t let you put yourself in harm’s way, Princess.” His eyes soften as he runs the back of his two fingers down my cheek. “If you’ve learned anything from the past few months about me, you would know that.”
I take his fingers in my hand. I don’t want to fight. Not tonight. “And if you’ve learned anything about me, you’d know I’m not going to cower from the chance to save my species just because it’s dangerous.”
“You’re not mortal, Summer. You’re Evermore.”
“No, I’m both.” Something about the vulnerability in his eyes gets to me. He stiffens as I lean forward, brushing my lips against his. “If you truly care about me,” I murmur softly, enjoying the way his breath shudders. “If you truly believe I’m your mate . . .”
My plan was to use my feminine wiles to make him listen. To tease him with the possibility of a kiss. But I underestimated how thirsty my body is for his touch, and my traitorous tongue darts into his mouth.
Oopsie.
A low growl vibrates his chest, and I fight to keep control of my senses as he suddenly drags me into his lap.
Abort! His kiss deepens, the words I had poised and ready sinking into oblivion, along with every thought in my head but how nice this is.
So very, very nice. Like the first bite of cookie dough ice cream I ever had. Granted, I emptied the entire carton in minutes and then licked the inside clean.
Licked. The word makes me think of Valerian’s tongue and all the things he can do with it.
The things he is doing with it right now.
Moaning, I melt into him, focusing on the absolute pleasure of my body pressed into his. His teeth playfully nipping my bottom lip. His tongue parting my mouth. Claiming me.
His hands stroke my back in slow, lazy circles, reminding me just how thin my dress is—and just how skilled his hands are.
Dangerous territory, Summer. Stop focusing on ice cream and tongues and refocus on your plan.
What was that again?
I squeak in protest as he lifts me by the hips and settles me so I’m straddling him in the chair. My dress rides up my waist, presenting large swaths of bare skin for his fingers to explore. The snowflakes fall heavier now, melting against my arms, my legs, painting me in iridescent flecks that smear beneath his touch.
His hands glide up my thighs, slowly, the pads of his thumbs grazing the sensitive inner portion.
When his thumbs flick at the edge of my panties, I gasp. My mind goes blank. Emptying of everything but those fingers as they tease and tease and—
My back arches violently as a puff of air erupts from my lips.
“Every male below us can sense your racing heartbeat,” he purrs. “Let’s see if we can give them a crescendo.”
He kisses me again, gentler now, as if I’m an exquisite chocolate to be savored one tiny bite at a time. Those thumbs tracing little circles in time with his tongue and my heart and . . .
Holy pixie dust, I want to devour him whole.
Right here. In a box of ice. Surrounded by shimmery snowflakes and wintry mountains cut out against the stars.
One of his hands slips into my hair, undoing the rhinestone pin holding it together and sending the tiny blue roses Ruby weaved around the base raining down over my bare shoulders.
Each one draws shivers over my aching flesh.
How did this backfire? My plan was to get his attention and then make him see my point. But Valerian is a drug, and I’m a shameless addict. Willing to sell everything—even my dignity, even my choice to be his mate—for just a taste.
