Page 71 of Golden Queen
He held his hand between us, palm up, and I saw a tiny golden flame flicker to life. It was different than the other flames he had shown me—much more beautiful.
I reached out to touch it. I knew it wouldn’t hurt me, but he grabbed my wrist and stopped me.
"Slowly," he chided.
I moved carefully, at first, but then, when he didn't expect it, I laid my hand fully in his, watching the little golden fire curl up around my fingers. I had already felt it. I knew it wouldn't hurt me.
He made a surprised huff, and then warmth, sweet and delicious, seeped into my skin as he allowed the flames to flare from his palm, entwining around our hands. He curled his fingers around mine, and I could have sworn he breathed a sigh of pure relief.
I leaned forward to kiss him, but he quickly pushed my hair back before it came close to the flames.
I looked at our hands curiously, and then grasped a small lock of my hair and tentatively held it to the fire. His hands had been in my hair after all, so I was certain it wouldn’t burn it.
Just as expected, nothing happened. The golden fire did not so much as part around my hair as I let it fall forward over the fire.
He laughed again, and it was one of both surprise and delight.
When he kissed me again, it felt somehow different, not a kiss born of desire, but something much more intimate. Something that even my reckless heart warned me to be careful of.
He pulled back and turned to lay me on the bed before reluctantly pulling out of me.
The emptiness, as I had grown so quickly accustomed to the feeling of him inside me, left me feeling somehow hollow, even as I felt the slight soreness left from his presence there.
But then he laid his body down next to me and pulled me against him, sliding one arm beneath my head and the other around my waist. The feeling of his skin against mine went a long way towards filling that emptiness inside me.
He pulled the covers over us, resting his chin on the top of my head, and in what felt like only moments, I heard his deep, even breaths as he slept.
I did not want to leave. I might never be able to leave the warmth of his bed and the feel of his skin against mine. I didn't give a damn if the whole of Albiyn came into the room and found me, I would not have given up the feeling of that big arm around my waist for anything.
I fell asleep with our arms and legs intertwined, and I did not wake up until I heard a throat clear somewhere beside me.
Twelve
Iopened my eyes to see Aben Verforge's smiling face leaning down beside the bed.
"Just how drunk did you two get last night?" he asked with a grin.
I narrowed my eyes noting Io's still even breaths behind me.
"Not drunk at all," I said, my voice gravelly with sleep. "Why?"
"Because my cousin does not sleep...and now, not only have I come into his chamber without waking him, but I'm talking, in a rather loud voice, to the naked woman in his arms, and he still has not moved."
In response, Io reached above his head and chucked the pillow directly into Aben's face. "Get out!" he growled as he pulled the covers over my shoulders, tucking them in at my chin.
Aben was laughing as he picked up the pillow and tossed it back to us. "It's dawn, you idiots. You should probably scurry back to your rooms before the servants start moving around."
I heard the door close with a quiet snick.
"Did you not lock the door last night?" I asked.
"Someone distracted me," he said, sleepily, pulling me against him with the arm still around my waist.
"Yes, well Aben is right." I turned in his arms and laid my cheek against his chest, resenting the next words I had to say. "I have to go."
He reached for my thigh, pulling my leg around his waist as he kissed me, catching my lip between his teeth. "Stay with me, Sera darling, and damn the consequences," he growled.
I laughed. "Those consequences would be war," I said, but my heart clenched a little, not at the words I said, but the ones I had nearly said:Those consequences would be war, my love.That was what I had nearly said.
