Page 158 of Kingdoms of Night

The wildness that now filled his heart pounded in his blood. “I love you, Idalno. You and only you.”

Tipping her head back, she peered up at him, her eyes mirroring the hunger in his soul. “I love you, Feron. Always you.”

He swept his mouth then against hers and claimed her. Her hands slid up his chest and tangled in his hair, pulling at the combs as she returned every kiss with her own. The intensity and heat of her made his head swim. He could scarcely hold her as she clutched and ground against him, the rhythm of her body already calling to his.

Yes, yes! He loved the taste of her, the scent of her, the feel of her, every—

She squirmed around abruptly, pulling free and motioning toward the right. “The door! The door.”

“What?” He reached for her, blinking. What difference did a door make right now?

Gasping in a deep breath, she placed one hand over her chest and pointed at the door again. “Someone could find us.”

He grimaced, his brow drawing together. “Yes. All right. Just—don’t go anywhere.” He ran to the dresser nearest the door and shoved it in front. He then spread his arms. “See. No one will get in.”

She laughed, her eyes shining. “Are you sure about that? What if someone pushes really hard?”

He lunged for her, skidding on the thick cushioned rug. “If someone finds us, I’ll protect your honor.”

Then his arm hooked around her waist before she could jump him; her body crashed against his as he brought her to a desk and devoured her with kisses.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN

IDALNO

Amassive tapestry hung on one wall, its colorful threads depicting a clock tower, not unlike the one in Lambton, but its village populated, thriving.

They were in someone else’s room. Ordinarily that would have been an automatic deal breaker. Now it was almost exciting. And if it was Puck’s room, it wasn’t hard to imagine he’d anticipated this.

She couldn’t help but laugh as Feron careened against her. “I have to have you,” he growled.

“Not if I get you first.” She started to twine her arms around his neck, but he had already taken her mouth captive. His lips, hot with desire, encompassed hers as he devoured her. His strength, his scent, his essence, it all encompassed her as he pinned her against the desk.

The throbbing in her blood intensified as he tore his mouth free and stared down at her, eyes hooded and heavy with desire.

“No one has ever made me feel this way, Idalno, ma vigne, my beloved.”

She arched against him, her hands running up the muscular planes of his chest. “And you are mine.” She pushed his jacket off and fumbled with the buttons of his vest, grinning until one of the buttons popped off. He then began fiddling with the ties and stays of her gown, struggling to bring her out of it, magically constructed though it was.

She ripped the vest off him and then tore into the tunic. “Apparently I know my way around men’s fashion better than you know your way around women’s.”

“You know what?” He slammed his palms down on either side of her and glared. “What if I rip you out of all this pink silk and lace?”

“No, no, don’t tear it! What am I going to wear after this?”

“A smile,” he answered with a wicked grin.

That, she did not doubt. But a smile would do little to clothe her naked body. She covered his hands with hers. “This dress is the most beautiful thing I have ever worn in all my life. We arenotripping it off my body.”

“You ripped off one of my buttons,” he said half playfully. He indicated the ragged bit of thread.

“Fine.” She narrowed her eyes at him. Fair was fair. “You can rip one of mine.”

“You have hundreds, hundreds and hundreds of pearl buttons! I have eight. Had. It isn’t comparable. One of mine should be worth… at least fifty of yours.” His mouth twitched, but a smile escaped anyway.

As much as she wanted to rip his clothes off, shewouldbothtake him until he saw starsandwear this dress out when they’d leave. “We’ll take off our own clothes, all right?” When he rumbled a quiet growl in his throat, she added, “It’ll be quick, promise.”

His hungry gaze never leaving hers, he bolted off her and started pulling his own clothes off. Another button flew free and clattered onto the floor.

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