But the hound didn't hesitate. He shoved me into the room with surprising gentleness for such a large creature.
"Good boy, Fermac," Liam praised on his way past the beast.
The door slammed shut, and I heard the distinct click of a lock from the outside. Trapped. I was trapped again, only this time I wasn’t alone.
"Really? The nullifying room?" I accused, trying to keep my tone light despite the panic fluttering in my chest. "What in the hells are you doing, Liam?"
"Sometimes old haunts can be the best places to make new memories," he replied, his eyes glowing bright orange with the force of his berserker.
“Or to replace them.” The raw desire emanating from him swathed the room in a heat that had nothing to do with fire.
"New memories." I repeated, my breath catching in my throat as he stepped closer.
His hands found my waist, and I could feel the tenderness in his touch, a stark contrast to the ferocity in his gaze.
"I want to replace the pain in this room, Raina.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I heard you. I sat outside the door.”
“I thought Saxon was my guard.”
“He was. He told me to leave, only I couldn’t. When he realized I was hellbent on staying, he altered a rune so I could hear you.”
My face felt tight.
“I sat there, on the cold stone, back to the wall all night. Listening to your tears. Listening to you talk to Fermac like he was your only friend in the world. Do you remember?”
I remembered all of it. Liam had been cruel and I’d asked Nox to allow someone else to escort me to my cell, which was what this room was. A cell where magic couldn’t be used.
I nodded.
“Even then, despite being the loudest voice marking you as a traitor, I struggled to leave you.”
His hands flexed, fingers pressing into my hips. “I want to replace it all.”
“With what?”
“With us.”
I swallowed hard, the familiar pull between us turning my bones liquid. The temperature rose as electricity zapped between us.
"Will you let me?" he murmured, closing the distance.
His breath fanned against my skin, nose skimming along my face. He nuzzled my neck, never nipping or kissing as I needed him to. Only skating across.
Soft. Teasing. Driving me mad with want.
His lips brushed against mine. “Hmm, flower?”
“No waiting for a ceremony?” I challenged.
His hands slid lower, pulling me into his body, his erection pressing into my stomach.
“Does it feel like I can wait? It was a terrible idea.”
Still, he didn’t take it further. Liam was waiting for permission.