Page 87 of A War of Three Kings

I want to wrap my arms around Aldrin and kiss those beautiful lips, right here in front of everyone, but they cannot know about us yet. The heated look Aldrin gives me as he looks my body up and down tells me that his mind has gone to the same place. He holds my eye and flicks his head toward a narrowalleyway between the main body of the fortress and a tall, freestanding watchtower.

I raise a single eyebrow at him. He cannot be serious.

His eyes darken, and a smirk grows on his lips as he flicks his head at it a second time.

“This calls for a celebration! Who else is thirsty for wine and music?” my father calls over the crowd, to more cheers. “Gwyneth. Let’s make this happen. Open the casks!”

The crowd funnels toward the bonfires of the army’s camp sprawled to the north of the fort. Diarmuid and Caitlin speak excitedly to each other over my head, but I only have eyes for Aldrin, who is a statue amid the moving crowd. He winks at me, then turns and walks down that damned alleyway.

I glance around. Most of the crowd has thinned and moved toward the camp, but many remain in this clearing. I bite my lower lip. My heart races with the anticipation of having Aldrin’s hands all over me, but my mind fears discovery. Would they notice if we both disappeared down the same alley?

My feet are moving before I make a choice.

The second I step into the pitch black, large hands grab me and pull me in.

Chapter 22

Keira

Aldrin pulls me down that alleyway, then pushes me up against the rough wall, one hand slipping down the neckline of my leather bodice, working on the laces. He kisses his way down my neck, toward the cleavage that is exposed.

“I was fucking terrified seeing you on that battlefield,” he bites out. “But I have never been more turned on in my life.”

He presses his body hard into mine, the evidence of his arousal digging into my stomach. His fingers flick over my nipple as he pulls a breast out of my armor. I moan, throwing my head back.

“Aldrin…”

“Yes?”

“Won’t they see us?” I glance at the distant opening of the alley, where people walk past.

“It’s very dark in here. Did you see me when you walked in?” His tongue replaces his fingers on my nipple, swirling around, and I cannot think straight.

“I can hardly see you now,” I murmur.

“Then what are you worried about?” His voice is muffled. “They are so loud out there. They won’t hear us if we are careful.”

“No wards?” My back arches as he cups my other breast.

“No wards. Maybe I want a little more danger tonight.”

I gasp. “I’m starting to think you enjoy the risk of discovery.”

He stands and places both his hands on my face. “Maybe I do.”

I run my fingers through his hair, grabbing a handful and forcing his face to mine as I kiss him. I become lost in those sensual lips. They devour mine hungrily, with brutal force. He bites my lower lip. As I let out a gasp, he catches my mouth and slips his tongue inside.

My hands trail down his chest, but I want to feel skin, not armor. I unlace his chest plate and shoulder guards, tossing both to the ground along with his tunic, then run my fingers up and down the perfect ridges of his abdomen. A maddening desire to taste him fills me. I drop to my knees, kissing a line down his stomach, then licking around the grooves of each hard muscle.

I stop when I reach the waistband of his pants and untie the laces over his bulging crotch with shaky hands.

“Gods, Keira, you will be the death of me,” he groans, looking down at me.

I place both hands on his hips and force him backward until he leans against the opposite wall of the narrow alley. With a quick thrust, I pull his pants down and his erection springs out just a couple of inches from my face.

I glance up at him, a huge smile forming on my face. “What would you like me to do to it, Aldrin?”

“Don’t tease me.” He tosses his head back, his powerful arms bracing it on either side.

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