Page 2 of Flameborne: Fury
Everything.
But what everything? I was her Commanding Officer. There was no—
Bren twisted her fingers in my hair and pulled me down like dragging on a collar.
With a ragged huff that wanted to be laughter, I resisted, placing a hand to her throat gently, just my palm and I didn’t press—but I made her look at me, holding her jaw between my fingers when she tried to push back up into my kiss.
“This is…madness,” I croaked.Folly. Insanity,my mind continued. Yet, her eyes glazed with need, and I knew what I’d find if I slid a hand inside her leathers and between her legs.
Suddenly, Ihadto prove to myself that I was right.
Keeping that hand at her throat, I leaned down to kiss her again, dropping the other hand to the buttons at her waistband where I slipped the tongue of her belt out of its keepers and opened it with a small tug that pulled her hips towards me. Her eyes popped open again.
“Bren, do you want me?” I growled, pinning her with my eyes.
“Yes!” she gasped.
Her buckle clinked as I freed it, and the button of her leathers was between my fingers and—
A shout echoed in the stable aisle and she froze as I instinctively covered her with my body to hide her from any eyes that might peer in the door.
Neither of us spoke. We both panted heavily. My heart thrummed in my ears, but I desperately tried to listen past it for footsteps or—
Kgosi came alive in my head, and the world rushed back in.
‘Donavyn? What has you so exhilarated?’
It was natural to let him see what I saw, to know what I know, but I instinctively blocked him and the act opened my eyes. And my gaze, so clouded by desire just moments before, was suddenly crystal clear.
I’m half drunk, and so is she. I’m her Commanding Officer. She’s half my age. And I’mundressing heragainst the wall of a fucking stable.
With a muttered curse I fumbled at her belt, trying desperately to rebuckle it with numb fingers—then gave up and shoved myself back, away, shaking my head. “Oh, God, Bren, I’m so sorry,” I rasped.
Bren blinked. Frowned. “Wh-what?”
“That was wrong.” I clawed both hands into my hair. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I should never have put you in this position—”
“Donavyn, why are you apologizing?” Her eyes danced, her cheeks beautifully pink as she pushed off the wall, reaching for me, but I stumbled back, shaking my head, and she froze, her soft, sweet smile faltering.
“I’m so ashamed of myself.” I swallowed hard. “I should never have—I’m sorry. This waswrong.”
“What?” she recoiled and my heart, thudding in my chest, screamed. That gaping hole in my core that had gone away when I touched her suddenly yawned open again, sucking at me.
Then, as I questioned myself, Bren’s eyes went wide with horror.
Conviction, and self-loathing punched me in the gut.
I started to babble. “It’s my fault. Don’t blame yourself. We were caught up. Drinking. After a huge day. I was recovering from the Trial, from thinking you’d been hurt. It’s only natural that we’d—”
Lies. It was all lies!
But as I stammered on, Bren raised a hand to her throat—right where I’d held her just moments before—her expression growing more horrified by the second.
I redoubled my efforts to explain, to reassure her.
“I’m so sorry—I’ve dishonored you and my position and… You’re beautiful. You’re incredible. I wanted you. But, I don’t know what got into me. It won’t happen again.You don’t need to fear me, Bren!”
My soulscreamedas she gaped at me, her chest still heaving. Then her gaze darkened and my heart tore in two.
