Page 120 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
Just as his hand travelled up my ribcage, igniting my body even more, a harsh rap on the window shook us out of the lunacy we’d devolved into.
He rose above me, just as out of breath as I was, with some color in his cheeks at last. For the first time, he looked as off guard as I’d been feeling. I didn’t even want to think how I looked like right now.
Debauched, probably.
Deliciously, deliriously debauched.
But the weight of that kiss settled down upon us hard and fast. Neither moved, but as each drew a long, calming breath, a chasm ruptured between us.
We were still tangled together, but the spell had cracked.
What had we done?
Whatever tentative truce had settled between us had been obliterated in one moment. And we had to face each other for the rest of our lives, whether we wanted to or not.
Another rap on the window finally drew our attention away from each other.
Acutely aware that the Commander’s body was still covering mine, I squinted and saw that same raven scratching the window with his large talons.
I frowned.
The Commander smirked.
“What is wrong with that bird?” Gods, when had my voice gotten so raspy? “He keeps following me.”
“That is Sylvester. He promised to keep an eye on you and he keeps all his promises.” His gaze moved slowly back to me. “Just like his master.”
The realization swooped down upon me faster than Sylvester had on Orion’s miserable head.
It hadn’t been fate. It had been surveillance.
My entire body, which had been so pliable and inviting only moments before, tensed underneath the Commander.
He noticed the shift and stood up instantly, watching me with a weary, guarded expression.
“That’s how you spied on me,” I mumbled.
The sky sees all, he’d said.
Of course it had been the weird raven I’d argued with. The one who had also protected me.
It seemed it was a pattern for me in this fortress, whether with the Commander or his companion.
But I’d kissed the Commander, my lips still puffy and tender.
I was still lying down on the table, legs dangling over the edge, while he towered over me.
Good gods, how had I let myself get here?
I scrambled down from the table, yanking off the parchments which had wanted to follow me. I slapped them on the table and flattened them quickly, as if trying to erase all evidence this had ever happened. I ran a hand through my hair, trying to tame it after he’d uncaged it.
“You were a stranger and an enemy in my city,” the Commander said, low and rumbled. I took a small satisfaction in the fact that his lips were also reddened. I’d left my mark on him, too. “I had to know where you were–”
“I get it.” I smiled too suddenly, too wide, my face heating up as the kiss whirled in my mind. “I would have done the same thing.”
“Sylvester only reports to me.”
“Like any good spy.” A stilted laugh escaped me.
