Page 68 of Taken By the Fae

My brows inch closer before I shake my head. “I’m not going to work for you, Tristan.”

He dips one slice of bread into the egg before laying it in a frying pan, then does the same with another. “I figured you’d say that.”

“Good, then you won’t bring it up again.”

His deep chuckle is the only response I’m granted.

“Do you have powdered sugar?”

“Top shelf in the cupboard behind you.” He nods toward the row of storage behind me, so I hop off the stool and open the cupboard. I reach up on my tiptoes and can almost grab it. I jump a little and still can’t manage. A faint laugh sounds behind me before an arm extends past mine and pulls it down, setting it on the counter in front of me.

“There you go,” Tristan murmurs, his lips brushing my ear.

“Thanks,” I mumble.

“Turn around,” he instructs in a deep voice. I don’t feel the mental pull I imagine would come with his mind manipulation if it worked on me, but hell if I don’t want to do what he says anyway.

“If I turn around, you’re going to kiss me.” I can’t stop my eyes from fluttering shut as his hands come to rest on my hips.

“Am I?” The amusement is clear in his voice.

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

“Hmm…” His voice trails off to a light hum as his lips press under my ear. “I can’t do that.”

“We should eat,” I say.

He inhales. “I couldn’t agree more.” He nips my earlobe, and I gasp.

“That’s not what I meant.” I press my lips together, trying to ignore the pleasant warmth pooling in my stomach and between my thighs. My pulse thrums throughout my entire body; he must feel his effect on me.

His hands fall away from my hips a moment before he slides an arm around my waist and guides me back against his chest. My cheeks flush when I feel him against me.

I hold my breath. “Tristan.”

He spins me around, keeping a small distance between us. “You affect me too, Rory.”

I swallow, forcing a nod.

“And you were right,” he murmurs, dipping his face closer.

“Huh?” My voice is strained, my senses overwhelmed by him, his arms on either side of me, his cologne tickling my nose, his closeness warming my skin.

He smirks. “I am going to kiss you.” He presses his lips against the corner of my mouth, and I turn my face enough that our lips meet full-on when he kisses me again. His hands slide from the counter to my hips, where his fingers dig into my leggings as if he’s fighting the urge to rip them off of me.I wish he would.

I drape my arms over his shoulders and lean into him, deepening the kiss and sliding my tongue along his lower lip. He lifts me onto the counter with ease, and I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him as close as the counter will allow. I gasp when he nips my bottom lip, but his mouth swallows the sound.

After several minutes of the two of us battling for control, he leans back and peppers kisses along my jaw before stepping away. He walks to the other side of the counter and plates the food. “Hungry?”

You have no fucking idea.

I’m still catching my breath, so I nod, my lips pressed together. Sliding off the counter, I take a seat on one of the bar stools and take a sip of orange juice, which, based on the remnants of oranges on the counter next to the sink, is freshly squeezed.

Tristan sets a plate in front of me, dipping his face to kiss my cheek.

I find my voice and murmur, “Thank you.”

“My pleasure.” He takes the stool next to me and pours syrup over his French toast before sliding the glass container my way. I drench my toast in syrup, then sprinkle it with powdered sugar. The weight of Tristan’s gaze makes my stomach swirl with nerves, and I shove a chunk of French toast in my mouth. I groan at the amazing combination of salty and sweet, closing my eyes to enjoy it as deeply as possible. I take my time chewing, then swallowing, before I open my eyes and find Tristan staring at me, his pupils blown and his jaw set tight. Heat flashes through me, and I bite my lip as I squeeze my thighs together against the ache blossoming between them.

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