Page 33 of House of Crimson Kisses
“What?” she says and takes a sip.
“Is that off?” I ask.
“The blood?” She frowns and looks at the goblet.
“No? Why?”
“It stinks. It’s so strong.”
“Smells fine to me.” She downs the rest of it, saving me from having to smell it.
“Wait, are you thirsty already?” she says.
My eyes skirt the crowd to make sure no one is listening or understanding the context, and then I nod because, yes, I really am and now is not a good time for that. Her eyes widen, but before we can discuss it, the Chief and Cordelia enter the room side by side. They walk so close together that if you hadn’t been told their history of hatred, you’d think they were firm friends. Everyone grows quiet. Xavier sits with us alongside Talulla. Amelia is at another table, a couple of rows in front. Lincoln and Dahlia are at the front, near the stage. Gabriel and Keir are on the same table as Lincoln, though Gabriel doesn’t seem interested in anything other than the book he’s flicking through.
Octavia’s hand slides under the table and inches over my thigh and between my legs. The long tablecloth hides her arm from view as she grins at me, her eyes glimmering under the chandelier light.
Acutely aware that Xavier is mere inches away, I mouth the words, “We are not doing this here. And definitely not now.” I give her the most potent “What the fuck are you doing” stare I can muster. But my skin has already broken out in goosebumps.
She grins, her eyes rolling over my arms.
“Octavia,” I growl under my breath.
“Still pissed with me?” she says.
I nod.
“Then I will spend eternity making it up to you.” She slides her nail up my crotch, making a small incision in my trousers.
Mother of Blood,I should stop her. I really should. I hate her for what she’s done. And yet, this isn’t even the bond. It’s me. She’s like a drug and I am already an addict. She’s hurt me, and yet I come back for more because every time she touches me, I melt. I want to feel her, fuck her, come on her fingers.
My head might be furious, but my heart doesn’t want to be away from her.
“Orgasms can’t right a wrong,” I mouth.
“Maybe not, but they don’t hurt either.”
I have no arguments left.
My thighs inch out, stretching the hole in my trousers. I inwardly cuss myself for being a traitor to myself.
She slides a finger up my pussy and finds my clit, and I jerk upwards as she hits the spot.
“Everything alright?” Xavier says.
I nod. But keep my mouth firmly closed. He turns back to face the stage.
“Not a sound,” Octavia mouths at me in silence.
“Good evening, vampires, nobles, hunters, friends, family, humans,” Cordelia says.
The Chief steps into the middle of the stage next to her. I will never get over the sight of them allied. It makes me wonder if Octavia is right. If there is potential in her dream of unifying the city under one rule. One welcoming city for everyone, no matter their race or species or beliefs. One city where she and I and everyone else would belong.
The Chief takes over. “It is our great pleasure to announce the end of the second trial, the amulet trial.” Her hands open and rise in the air, gesturing to the amulet hovering above the stage.
She glances at Cordelia to continue. “As you all remember from the opening ceremony, each team had to pick the most beautiful item in the city and present it to the amulet. The amulet would accept only the most beautiful item and seal it inside.”
Octavia’s finger slides down my increasingly wet slit. Fuck her. How dare she make me this wet. How dare she know exactly how to fuck me in the way I want and need.
