Page 120 of At the Mercy of Midnight
She tilted her head. “Do you think?”
He didn’t follow. So he shifted, turning to face her fully, trying to read her intent. “What do you mean? Winslow, there are things bigger than us at play. And if we get any closer…don’t you think it’ll only hurt more when—"
He stopped himself, didn’t let the words cross his lips.
When I die.
Because he knew that was the only possibility. It had to be him.
He couldn’t let her be taken by the Realm, couldn’t let her suffer that fate. He would go willingly if it meant she lived. So, he’d pulled away, denying himself what he wanted most. Not because he didn’t want, but because hedid.
She nodded slowly, eyes downcast.
He took the silence as agreement, standing to move for the door.
“Finley?”
He paused, turned his head, finding her eyes in the dark.
“What if we do find another way?” she asked softly. “What if we get out of this?”
“If we do…then nothing would hold me back.”
She tilted her head. “Oh no?” Something playful in her voice sparked a fire in him. “Do tell.”
Silas gripped the doorframe. “Trust me when I say…” He pushed off the frame and stalked back to her, heat sparking like wildfire in his blood. “That I would lock us in this room.” He stopped above her, holding her eyes, afire with his intent. “And we wouldn’t leave for days.”
Amelia’s hands fisted in her lap.
“Days?” she asked, breathless. Then she tilted her head, a coy smile curving her lips. “Whatever would we do for days?”
Silas laughed, low and incredulous. She didn’t know what she was doing to him. Or perhaps, she did.
Amelia pulled the edge of her lip between her teeth, and he swore under his breath.
Oh, she knew.
He leaned in close, still not touching her. One more brush of skin, and he would lose control.
“You asked,” he growled, voice thick, “so don’t pretend you don’t want the answer.”
Wide-eyed, she nodded, breath hitching.
Silas took in every detail of her face. The flush in her cheeks, the way she looked at him like he held every secret she’d ever wanted to uncover.
“Winslow…” he said, voice low, a warning.
“I’m just curious,” she said, voice too innocent. Amelia caught her lip between her teeth again, and fuck if it didn’t make him want to bite down on that same spot, perhaps find out if she liked a little pain with her pleasure.
Silas swallowed raggedly, body vibrating with his desire.
“Alright, Winslow,” he said, voice just above a whisper. “I want to know every inch of you. I want totasteevery inch of you.” She gasped softly. “I want to feel you tremble beneath me, hear you beg for more, and—” He leaned in, so close that he feltthe next heavy breath she released. “—I want to know what you sound like when you come. Every single sound of your pleasure, I want to fuckingbathein it.”
Amelia’s jaw fell open on a shaky breath.
The silence that followed was electric, laced with heat and everything left unsaid. Their ragged breaths filled the space.
Then he straightened, clearing his throat.
