Page 197 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
“I want you,” she said after a long moment.
“Why are you saying that like it’s a problem?” I frowned. “It’s kind of required for the state we’re in.”
She huffed a laugh, her hands falling from her eyes. She bit into her lower lip. “You’re the Blood Brotherhood Commander. I was raised not to want you.”
Ah, guilt. An emotion I was painfully familiar with.
One that needed to be snuffed out quickly, without the barest hint of remorse, before it got a chance to fester.
Allie fidgeted, her gaze falling to my chest.
“Look at me,” I said softly. Miracle of all miracles, she did it without complaint. This wasn’t capitulation. This was trust. We both knew she could flick me away with one of her blue tendrils if she wanted to. Yet, she listened and shewatched, gaze drinking me in. “You’re The Huntress and the Protectorate’s First Daughter. I’m not supposed to want you either. But I do.”
I kissed her forehead once more. Then her cheeks, nose, and jaw. I took my time mapping out her gorgeous face with my lips. She relaxed back into the mattress with each kiss.
Only then did I raise my head once more, capturing her eyes and not letting them go.
“We need to remember we're not the center of the world. It's hard, I know,” I went on. Allie’s laughter was sweet, sweet music, beating straight into my chest. “Do you honestly think anybody cares that you’re in my bed right now? And, if anybody does care, why would you bother with their opinions?”
She nibbled at her lips. “You’re right. I shouldn’t.”
“Then don’t. Right now, all that matters is this bed, your whispers in my ear, and your eyes trying to devour me. Fuck everyone else.”
A corner of her lips ticked up. “Fuck them.”
“It’s just you and me now,” I whispered against her lips. “Don’t let the past slither in between us.”
I had to be even more careful tonight than I first realized.
This night could either lay the foundation for our future–one in which we ruled with fists of steel in the morning and melted together at night–or break it.
I pulled back, rising on my knees above her. I delighted in the way her eyes roamed over my body, as if she ached to run her fingers over every muscled ridge I’d trained onto my body.
Good.
She needed to stop overthinking andfeel.
Hard and fast could wait.
Tonight, we needed to learn each other.
Slowly.
Her right arm reached out for my chest. I caught her wrist and brought it to my lips, tongue darting out to trace slow circles.
“So impatient,” I muttered against her sweet skin. I loved the way her pupils dilated, eating up the green.
I leaned down and grabbed her other wrist and pinned them both above her head as my body covered hers once more.
“Tomorrow, we’ll worry all you want. Tonight, we’re doing things my way.”
Chapter
Forty-Two
ALLIE
Icursed myself for allowing any other fumbling man to even breathe in my direction when this was what true passion felt like.
