Page 34 of The Mountain King
But as his mouth lay over hers, she found herself wanting to feel what it would be like. Strong hands circled her waist, having released her wrist. The tall, hard body flush against hers, a warming comfort in his strength. His hair fell in her face a bit and Kailigh reached up to tug it aside, fingers tangling in the strands, as silky as a lady’s.
“No protest?” he whispered against her lips.
“I’m beginning to think you’re a man who likes a bit of a fight.”
He grinned, quick and dark, “A bit,” then silenced her.
They weren’t alone. She heard the whisper of feet as people passed them, but there were no snide remarks or catcalls, no huffs. And then she forgot where they were because he swept her away with the gentleness of his touch, soothing as his hand roved up and down her spine. Kailigh relaxed, melting into him. She’d thought he’d be heavy, demanding, an alpha ruler bent on domination, but the rogue was smarter than that.
He was gentling her, like a damn mare.
“There, that wasn’t so bad,” he said, pulling away after a minute. “You didn’t melt into a puddle of green goo like Hrutha said, after all.”
Kailigh jerked back, itching to smack him. She sniffed. “At least your breath didn’t stink that bad.”
Thatwiped the grin from his face. “My breath—you fiend!” Maddugh glared. “I should put you in the tower for such disrespect.”
“You don’t have a tower. Come on, I must find my daughters before they get up to similar nonsense, but with men not as canny as yourself.”
Kailigh still didn’t trust his ulterior motives—especiallynot now, but it seemed his intentions were at least honorable on the surface. What his long game was, she’d have to dig to find out. But she was more or less convinced she didn’t have to worry about whether he had a key to the lock on her door. She was convinced he wasn’t that type. For all his other faults, of which she was certain he had many. He was male, after all. It was inevitable.
