Page 81 of Villainess's Redemption
Wait, I wasn’t drunk. And how dare he!
“The thing! Where it catches the light and looks like spun gold! It’s not fair!” I stumbled slightly, and his hand shot out to steady me. “And stop being so fast! That’s also annoying.”
“Anything else about me that annoys you?” His voice was rich with suppressed laughter.
“Yes! You make my heart do weird things! Like right now, it’s going all…,” I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to demonstrate. “Thump-thump-thump, but faster. And sometimes slower. It’s very confusing and I don’t like it.”
Anderic’s eyebrows rose, his expression shifting from amusement to something else entirely. “Is that so?”
“And your eyes!” I continued, too far gone to stop now. “They’re like… like the ocean during a storm. All blue and scary and beautiful and… wait, what was I angry about again?”
“I believe you were explaining why my existence offends you,” he supplied helpfully, rising from his chair with fluid grace.
“Oh right! You’re avoiding me! Why are you avoiding me? Is it because I got poisoned? Because that wasn’t my fault! Well,technically it was, but not really, and-” I swayed dangerously, and suddenly found myself caught in his arms.
“You smell nice,” I mumbled into his chest. “That’s annoying too.”
I lifted my head from his chest, the room fading away in the background. “And another thing…” My words trailed off as I met his gaze. Had his eyes always been this intense, like storm clouds gathering on the horizon? The air between us crackled with electricity.
My hands were still splayed across his chest, feeling the strong, steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath my palms. When had it started beating so fast? The world narrowed down to just this - his warmth seeping through the thin fabric of his shirt, the slight catch in his breathing, the way his fingers tightened almost imperceptibly on my waist.
Without conscious thought, I rose on my tiptoes, drawn to him like a moth to flame. His golden curls brushed my forehead, and I caught the faintest whiff of pine and something uniquely him. A small voice in my head warned that this was a terrible idea, but the wine had effectively silenced my usual self-preservation instincts.
“Ilyana,” he breathed, my name a warning or a prayer, I couldn’t tell which.
I closed the final distance between us, pressing my lips to his. For one heart-stopping moment, he remained still, and I feared I’d made a catastrophic mistake. Then his arms tightened around me, pulling me flush against him as he deepened the kiss.
Oh.
His lips moved against mine with devastating precision, stealing my breath and what remained of my sanity. One of his hands tangled in my hair while the other splayed across mylower back, holding me steady as my knees threatened to give out.
I gasped when he nipped at my bottom lip, and he took advantage, his tongue sweeping into my mouth. He tasted of spiced rum and something darker, more dangerous. Like lightning captured in a bottle.
This is what drowning must feel like,I thought hazily as I melted against him. Every touch, every breath sparked something primal and hungry within me. My fingers curled into his shirt, needing an anchor in this storm of sensation.
His tongue teased the seam of my lips and I sighed, my knees going weak. Maybe Iwasdrunker than I thought because the room started spinning faster. Or was that just the effect he had on me? Either way, my head felt deliciously fuzzy.
“You’re dangerous,” I mumbled against his mouth. The words came out slurred.
“And you’re drunk,” he murmured, nipping at my bottom lip. “Though I don’t mind.”
“No ‘m not.” My eyes felt so heavy. Just resting them for a moment wouldn’t hurt…
His chest rumbled with silent laughter. “Is that why you’re falling asleep while kissing me?”
“Jus’ resting my eyes,” I nuzzled into his neck, breathing in that intoxicating scent of pine and spice. So warm. So comfortable. “‘Sides, your fault for being so…,” I yawned, “…cozy.”
“Cozy?” His voice dripped with amusement. “That’s a new one.”
I meant to come up with a witty retort, but my thoughts were getting fuzzy around the edges. The steady thrum of his heartbeat under my ear wasn’t helping matters. Neither was the way his fingers were lazily stroking my back.
The last thing I remembered was his exasperated sigh as my body went limp against his.
What have I done?was my final coherent thought before darkness claimed me.
* * *
I jolted awake with a gasp, my heart pounding like a war drum. The room spun as I sat up, my head throbbing in protest. The morning sunlight streaming through my windows felt too bright, making my head throb. Fragments of a dream—or was it a nightmare?—lingered at the edges of my consciousness. Golden curls, stormy blue eyes, the ghost of lips against mine…
