Page 102 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

Luka stood behind me, looking up and down the hallway as I repeated the spell to lock th door behind us, letting out a sigh of relief at the sound of it clicking back into place.

“Let’s get out of here.” I followed Luka as we rushed down the hall.

We had only made it a few feet when Luka halted abruptly, causing me to run into the back of him.

“Ouch.” I brought my hand to my nose, rubbing over the tip that had met Luka’s back.

“Fuck,” Luka swore. “Someone coming.”

I froze, straining for any indication he was right. Sure enough voices and footsteps sounded in the distance.

“What do we do?” Arlo’s office was the only room in this hallway. If anyone found us here it would raise suspicions.

The voices became louder, every footstep bringing them closer to exposing us. Before I knew what was happening, Luka wrapped his hand around my wrist, pulling me around the corner into a shadowy alcove. Once we were covered in the shadows he spun me, pulling my back against his chest and banding a strong arm around my waist.

I opened my mouth to protest, but he stopped me with his hand over my mouth. “Quiet, Sweetheart,” he whispered against my skin. “We don’t want to be discovered do we?” I shook my head. “Good, then play along.” He released me, removing his hand from my mouth before spinning me and pressing me against the wall.

“What are you doing?”

“We need to make it believable to anyone who walks by.” His nose dusted over my collarbone and up my neck. “Can you make it believable?”

All I could manage was a nod as his hands tightened on my hips drawing me closer. I moved my hands up his body, letting one rest on his shoulder, and winding the other through his hair as my body bowed to his.

He groaned, the sound vibrating against my neck as I tightened the grip on his hair. It took everything in me not to roll my hips against his to get any kind of friction.

He shifted so our faces were touching. My cheek flush against his before he tilted his head to hover his lips over mine. Icould feel his breath against my lips. One small movement and they would be on mine.

My body was coiled tight, heat emulated from every place we touched. If the people had passed I had no idea. All there was in this moment was me and Luka and his hands on my body, his lips on my skin. His hand moved up my leg, finding the slit in my dress as he was so skilled at doing. He continued his exploration until his fingers were gripping the hilt of my dagger. He hoisted my leg up, his hand slipping higher, his calloused fingers skimming the globe of my ass. I wrapped my leg around his and shifted my hips, earning a groan from his lips. I bit my lip to stifle my own.

I dragged my hand from his hair, drawing it across his firm jawline, down his neck and across his chest, until I made it to the hem of his shirt and slipped my hand underneath the fabric, scraping my nails against the muscles beneath.

I yelped as he nipped at my ear and tugged.

His lips moved from my ear back to meet my own, brushing my lips in the lightest of kisses, my breath hitched. I resisted the urge to press in closer. To press my lips against his again.

His hand under my dress moved higher, his hand squeezing the flesh beneath his hand, causing me to shift against him in search of any form of friction against my center.

I held back a moan as he licked and sucked at the skin on my neck.More.I wanted more.

I wanted his fangs scraping my skin before sinking in.

I wanted his lips on mine.

I wanted him to slip his hand into my undergarments. To slip a finger inside me.

I wanted him moving and pulsing inside me.

This, this we could do. Just this once. No talking, just coming together as two bodies.

“Luka—” I pulled him closer, grinding against him again. I could feel how hard he had grown in his pants. I skated myhand between us and stroked him through the fabric. He swallowed as he placed his forehead on my collarbone.

“They’re gone.” His voice was hoarse.

He pulled away, slowly removing his hands from my body. The space where they rested instantly going cold.

“Thanks for playing along.” He didn’t meet my eyes as he spoke. “I’m going to go and find everyone and tell them we found something.” He ran his hands through his hair. Taming back the locks I had messed up.

He took a step back. “I’ll meet you in your room in a bit.”

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