Page 7 of Song of the Heart Scale
She raised an eyebrow. “Stalking me, Shadow Prince?”
“Reconnaissance… Also Gianna, remember?” I corrected her, though my smile betrayed me. “I've spent years learning every passage, every corridor, and every blind spot in every noble residence. Knowledge is survival.”
“And here I thought it was just to see me,” she teased, though her voice caught when my hand slid higher on her back, guiding her around a corner.
We froze as footsteps approached from an adjoining hallway. In one fluid motion, I pulled Cat into an alcove and pressed her against the wall, my body shielding hers from view. Her breath hitched and her honey-brown eyes locked with mine in the darkness as a servant passed by, oblivious to our presence. For a split second we were lost in each other’s gaze and the world around us melted away. Then she looked away, her cheeks turning rosy.
I waited until the footsteps faded before whispering, “Your chambers are on the east wing, correct?”
She nodded, her lips tantalizingly close to mine. “Third door on the right.”
We silently crept through the corridors, our bodies close, breaths mingling as we paused at each corner to listen for approaching footsteps. Cat's warmth against me was intoxicating and her scent—a mixture of wine, flowers, and something uniquely her—made my head spin more than any alcohol could.
“Almost there,” I murmured, my lips brushing against her ear as we approached her chamber door. She shivered against me as I guided her the final few steps. With practiced ease, I opened her door without a sound and ushered her inside before following and closing it behind us. The room was lit only by moonlight streaming through the windows, casting everything in silver and shadow.
Cat turned to face me and pressed her back against the door, suddenly looking far more sober than she had in the garden. Her eyes searched mine, dark and hungry with desire. “You're not leaving,” she whispered, more statement than question.
“Not yet,” I replied, my voice rough with restraint.
“Oh…”
“You're staring,” I whispered, unable to move away from her magnetic pull.
“So are you,” she replied huskily as she stepped forward, closing what little distance remained between us.
When she reached up to touch my face, I caught her wrist, my thumb brushing over her racing pulse. “Tell me to leave,” I whispered hoarsely, giving her one last chance to send me away.
“Stay,” she breathed.
It was all the permission I needed.
I captured her mouth with mine and caged her against the door. She responded instantly. Her arms wound around my neck and she threaded her fingers through my hair, pulling me closer with a hunger that matched my own. The kiss deepened, transforming from cautious to desperate within seconds.
“I've missed you,” she breathed between kisses, her fingers tangling in my hair, tugging just hard enough to make my pulse race faster. “Too damn long.”
“I've thought about this every night,” I growled against her lips, my hands roaming her sides, tracing the curve of her waist, the flare of her hips. “Being away from you has been torture.”
“Damien,” she moaned as my lips traveled down her neck, finding the sensitive spot just below her ear that made her shiver.
Her pulse fluttered like a trapped bird beneath my lips as I traced the delicate line of her collarbone with my tongue, tasting the salt of her skin. Her fingers tightened in my hair, pulling me closer as a soft gasp escaped her parted lips.
“We shouldn't do this,” I murmured against her throat, even as my hands betrayed my words, sliding down to cup her hips and pull her tighter against me.
“When have either of us ever done what we should?” Cat challenged, her voice a breathless whisper as she arched against me. The friction between our bodies sent sparks of heat racing through my veins.
I lifted my head to look at her—cheeks flushed, eyes heavy-lidded with desire, hair tousled from my fingers. The sight of her undid something within me, snapping the last thread of my restraint.
“Tonight, I don't care aboutshould,” I growled, lifting her against the door in one fluid motion. Her legs instinctively wrapped around my waist, her dress bunching around her thighs. “I only care about what I need.”
“And what do you need?” she whispered, her breath hot against my ear.
“You,” I answered simply, carrying her to the bed. “Only you.”
I laid her down gently and marveled at how the moonlight cast her in ethereal silver. Her hair spilled across the pillows like liquid darkness, her eyes gleaming with desire and defiance. She was a vision—a dangerous, beautiful vision.
“If Thorne knew…” she murmured, reaching up to trace my jawline with her fingertips.
“Let him know,” I hissed, though we both understood the peril. “Let the whole kingdom know you belong with me.”
