Page 15 of The Storm
She saw him staring. Slowly she turned her palm up.
Max’s heart beat faster. He reached out a hand but drew it back and planted it palm down on the table.
“Go ahead,” she said softly.
“Are you sure?”
She reached over and grabbed his hand, knitting their fingers together a second before the sheer energy of her magic punched through Max.
He gasped and held on tightly. “Heaven above.”
“I haven’t touched one of the brothers at our compound in some time,” she said softly. “This helps me too.”
Because Irina channeled the soul voices of the world, they needed contact with Irin to leach off energy. Irin males absorbed it, making themselves stronger and steadier. Touching this Irina was like being hit with a punch of magic that warmed Max from the inside out.
He lifted her hand and pressed her palm to his cheek, closing his eyes as he leaned into her touch.
“Tell me your name,” he whispered. “Please.”
“Renata. My name is Renata.” Her pulse pounded against his cheek. “What are you doing?”
Heaven above, he was kissing her wrist. The need had been instinctive. Max pulled back but kept his hand over hers, still pressing it to his cheek, afraid she’d take away the life and heat he’d given her. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Her eyes were wary, but her lips were flushed. Renata’s thumb reached over and brushed over Max’s lips, making him shudder. “This is the first touch you’ve felt,” she said softly.
Skin to skin? Irin to Irina? Max nodded.
“What do you see when you look at me, Maxim of Riga?”
“You’re beautiful,” Max said. “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. You’re powerful. Dangerous.”
“Does that threaten you?”
“No. It turns me the fuck on,” he muttered.
Her pulse beat faster and her eyes locked on his lips. She was vital and alive and wanted him as much as he wanted her. He saw it in her eyes.
He asked, “When was the last time—”
“None of your business.”
Too long. That was what her heartbeat was saying. She hadn’t once tried to pull away from his touch.
Max slid out of the booth, keeping hold of Renata’s hand. He reached in his pocket and left far too much money on the table before he pulled Renata out the door and up the dark stairs. When they reached the top, he turned into a quiet alleyway and pushed her against the wall of the inn, grasping her hips and squeezing as he brought his mouth down to hers.
His lips hovered over hers. “I’ve never kissed before.” Kissing without skin contact was pointless.
Renata smiled. “I’ll be gentle.” She brushed her lips over his. Once. Twice.
“That’s enough of that,” Max muttered. He angled his head and sank his teeth into her full lower lip.
Renata gasped, then took his mouth in a ravenous kiss that matched the hunger he felt.
There you are.
Max lifted her against the wall, and Renata wrapped her long legs around his hips, pulling him closer. Her arms went around his shoulders, and the hair on the nape of his neck rose at her touch. The hilts of her silver blades dug into his chest, and Max’stalesmcame alive, glowing silver in the darkness.
There you are.
