Page 119 of In The Shadows

I trail light fingertips along the side of her breast, finding blades hidden in her corset vest. I count them slowly, watching as her breath hitches with each touch.

“Three on this side,” I say as I move to the other side.

My fingers skim the underside of her breast as I go, and I close my eyes to keep in control.

I want to rip this damn vest off her.

“And the matching three on this side. Is your black dagger strapped to your thigh as usual?” I ask.

She swallows hard as she stares at me. Her leg swings up and hooks around my thigh. The hem of her dress riding up to her knee. Her soft, pale skin exposed. I want to drop to my knees and lick every inch of her until she tells me to stop.

“Maybe you should check. Just to be safe,” she asks breathlessly.

My cock twitches at the thought of running my hands across her bare skin. Her eyes go wide as she sucks in a breath.

There’s no hiding her control over me. I’m lost. I can’t bring myself to stop, even though I need to. My whole body is a flame needing to be doused.

I lock eyes with her as I place a hand on her knee. Hesitantly, I glide along her thigh until it meets the holster of the dagger. I watch her face for any warning to stop. She shifts in my grasp, rubbing against my cock. I can’t stop the deep growl that comes out of me as a fire blazes within me.

Her lips part as she whimpers, and her breathing quickens. I tighten my grip on her wrists and dig my fingers into her thigh above her dagger. It would be so easy to continue the path, sliding my fingers beneath her undergarments.

“Did you wear this dress just to tease me, temptress? Knowing how it would make your eyes shine like vibrant gemstones, and I wouldn’t be able to resist? Do you have any idea what you do to me, and how much I hate you for it?” I ask as I grind into her.

She moans as her eyes roll back.

“Yes. And you don’t hate me. You may try, but you fail every time,” she says, panting. Her muscles flex beneath me as if she’s fighting the urge to continue rubbing herself against me. I close my eyes, trying not to give in to the temptation and allow her to.

When I open my eyes, hers are scanning my face. The air around us grows heavy, like the moments before a violent storm breaks free. She pushes off the wall, her arms straining from where I hold them. Her lips brush against mine in the faintest touch, but it sends a bolt of lightning shooting from my head to my toes.

I stare at her lips, frozen in the moment. My breath lodges in my chest as I war with myself.

What are we doing? This is wrong and reckless. I need to back away and run as far from her as I can, but why does my gut say I’ll regret that the moment I leave her side?

No one has made my heart sing like this since Lily. My chest aches at the thought of betraying her, even though I know she’d want me to be happy. Would she wish for my happiness if she knew it was with our enemy’s queen, though?

“Theo,” the queen’s voice cracks as she looks up at me with unshed tears in her eyes. The pain and sadness plastered on her face doesn’t feel like an act.

Has all of this been real and not some kind of trick to win me over?

If I give in, I could lose everything I’ve worked for and stand for.

Is she worth it?

Yes.

My heart races as I stare down at the queen. Her lip quivers as she holds back her emotions.

Screw the gods, the fates, and even King Asher. They can damn me to the Underrealm because it doesn’t matter. None of it matters because she’s mine.

Releasing her wrists and thigh, I grab her face with both hands, slamming my mouth into hers. It’s a fiery explosion fueled by the past weeks of light touches between us.

She gasps as I press hard against her. She moans as she feels my cock, and I slide my tongue into her mouth. Her nails dig into my back, and I groan as lightning trails down my spine.I need more of her, all of her.

I grab her ass, rubbing her along my length. She adjusts her hip and whimpers as I slide against her clit. Too much clothing is between us, and I debate ripping her dress off right here in the alley.

The queen feels utterly perfect in my hands. I could get lost in her touch, her taste, and her sounds. I grind harder into her, chasing the pleasure that shoots through me with each movement.

She moans louder, and I capture the sound with my mouth. I pull my lips from hers and both of us are panting.

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