Page 263 of The Daughters of Avalon
Unbidden, tears stung her eyes.
She couldn’t help herself—every word she’d ever longed to say flew to her lips, and she spoke them, but not with her mind, or with her voice, but with her tongue… answering every forage of his with a taste of her own, exploring his mouth as wildly as he did hers, until the kiss left her dizzied and breathless. It was all she could do to remain standing on her own two feet. Of their own accord, her hands moved to his shoulders, and any ambivalence she’d felt before was gone. When he might have moved away, she clung to him desperately, never wanting the moment to end…
Yegods…
If she dared to stay, she would know it was because of this kiss—betrayed by her own heart!
If she left… this kiss would haunt her for the remainder of her life. Only, what possible good could be wrought by staying? Already, he’d warned her that they were not aligned. She really must believe him!
Neither could he love her.
It was all a sham.
Except… it didn’t feel like a sham with his arms around her, and his mouth possessing her, his tongue exploring the depth of her mouth, as though he were committing the feel and taste of her to memory, his tongue lapping and tracing, like an artist rendering.
Cael, she tried to say.
No words emerged through the tightness of her throat. The only sound to escape was a desperate moan. But why in the name of the Goddess, would she deign to reconsider?
Why, indeed?
For a tumble in his bed?
For another kiss like this?
What new demon had possessed her?
Cael d’Lucy was his name.
Only, now that freedom was so close at hand, the last thing Rhiannon needed—or wanted—was to find a reason to stay when she really needed to go.
Rosalynde needs me,she reminded herself.
Elspeth needs me.
Seren needs me.
Go!a small voice commanded.
Flee!
Goddess, alive!There must be a reason he was releasing her now. Clearly, he feared what would happen to her more than he feared her mother’s wrath. Still, this did not mean he loved her.
Nor did it mean he would continue in this vein—kissing her so passionately, whispering love words into her ear.
’Tis a sham,she told herself.
At long last, he tore his lips away from her mouth and Rhiannon felt the separation acutely. “I lied,” he said, reaching for her face one last time, caressing her so tenderly. “I’ve loved you from the moment you opened your mouth, Rhiannon Pendragon… disheveled and lovely, proud and fierce!”
“Cael,” she cried, because now it was impossible to deny she felt the same—only how could it be?
“Take good care,” he said soberly, and then he turned, and pulled the portal closed, shutting her out, and Rhiannon was left mute, with her hands fumbling in midair, feeling for the lingering warmth of his body like a specter.
“Rhiannon!” Marcella called out. “Time to go!”
She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the portal. “What will he do?”
“Whatever he must,” said his cousin. “And you must believe his warning. He will do what he must if he catches you again.”
