Page 18 of Storm of Desire
"Tell me there's nothing left betweenus."
Árdís's mouthopened.
The words locked in herthroat.
"You can't say it," he whispered incredulously. "You can't deny it, can you? You say you've tried to throw my ring away, but you can't and you don't even know why. You say you choosethem, but there's a part of you that wantsme."
"I...."
"Yes?"Softly.
"I...."
His arctic eyes held hers for long seconds, and even as she watched she saw heat flare in them. Determination. Her heart kicked into her throat as he reached for her, moving like a striking snake. She knew what he wanted. She knew what he intended. And damn her soul, but she couldn't denyhim.
A hand slid into her hair, dragging her into his arms. Árdís slammed against his chest, her hands crushed up betweenthem.
His mouth crashed down over hers, claiming the kiss she'd spent years dreaming of. The hot lash of his tongue stroked against hers, their teeth clashing in his fury. One hand palmed her side, and she felt his fingers splay over her ribs, his thumb rasping below the under curve of herbreast.
She didn't own the strength to fight him off. Not when a part of her so desperately needed this. She might as well deny the moon in the sky, or the tide itself. Passion swept through her, igniting every nerve in her body. Need. Árdís's fingers tangled in his hair, and she kissed him back, biting his lowerlip.
She had tostop.
She knewit.
But his tongue danced over hers, slow and steady, and his hand began to slide up her body, arching over her breast. Árdís's knuckles curled in his shirt, drawing him closer.Yes.She pushed into his touch, and he captured her soft moan in his mouth. Seven years without a single kiss. She felt starved for his touch, her sex clenching as if it knew where this wouldend—
There was notime.
Árdís broke free from his mouth, shoving at his shoulder. "Stop."
Haakon captured her face in his hands, his expression implacable as he swooped down to capture her mouth oncemore.
"Stop!" She set both hands to his chest and shoved him with all hermight.
He staggered back a step. Maybe two. His shoulders heaved, as if he'd run up a flight of stairs, and the look in hiseyes—
"You still want me," he saidbreathlessly.
Somehow Árdís managed to straighten, pushing herself away from the wall and touching her kiss-stung lips. Somehow her shaky knees didn't betray her. "One last kiss, for old times’sake."
His expression closed over, fury flaring his nostrils. "Like hell." He took a step toward her. "I know you want me. This isn't over, Árdís. You can deny me all you want, but there's still something between us. And we both knowit."
"That was a kissgoodbye!"
She darted beneath his outreached arm, and tugged the window up. "Youpromised."
Haakon stared at her. Footsteps hammered on the stairs, keeping time with her racing heartbeat. Her head turned in that direction, and then she looked back at him, desperation searing through her. "Please."
Another long, drawn-outmoment.
She didn't think he was going togo.
"I promised," he said softly, grabbing his sword belt off the bed and stepping one leg through the window. "And at least one of us knows what that wordmeans."
Not forgiven. Never forgiven. It was a stab to the heart, but she simply shoved him through, flinching as voices broke out in the hallway outside thedoor.
"Search the rooms," a hard voice of commandsnapped.
