Page 24 of Seduced By Darkness
“We could be enemies,” I point out swiftly as I tug free of his hands. “There are five courts here and I know I’ve never seen you before.”
Which means he’s not from Aska. Ifhe’dbeen stalking the hallways of the castle there, then I would never have even looked at Etan.
He’s not Asturian. He’s not Askan. My heart skips a beat. There are only three kingdoms remaining: Ravenal, Stormlight… and Evernight.
The first two leave me breathless with hope, but it’s the last one that steals my breath.
The Prince of Evernight is a monster and I daresay his violent tendencies would rub off on his court. That’s what princes like him do—they gather those around them who thrive on their cruelty, and turn a blind eye to their monstrosities.
He can’t be from Evernight. I’m sure of that.
And even if heisfrom Stormlight, that’s not so… unpalatable. Is it?
“Are you sure about that?” There’s a teasing lilt to his voice.
“I’d remember.”
There’s a strange freedom in this moment. He doesn’t know who I am. I could be anyone. I could be anything I wanted to be. I don’t have to be Iskvien, the daughter of a vicious queen.
“It doesn’t matter who we are, or which court we belong to,” he finally says. “Not tonight.”
“Good.” I grab his hand and press it to my heart. “I want you to…. I want it to be you.” I swiftly correct my words. “I want you to lie with me. Tonight.”
There’s a heated look in his eyes and seconds trip out, until I can barely stomach the tension.Say yes. Please say yes….
“I shouldn’t,” he whispers, reaching up and running the back of his fingers through my hair. “I should wait. I should woo you.”
I don’t have time for any of that.
I nip at his fingers, and the doubt that’s in his eyes is replaced with heat.
“But you present a convincing argument.” He kisses my throat. His voice roughens. “I want you. I want you under me. I want my mouth all over you. Give me a command, my love. Tell me what you want of me.”
“I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to do.”
He takes in a slow breath. “Believe me, my love. You couldn’t—”
I press a finger to his lips. “Promise or no promise, if I ask of you something you don’t wish to do, you must tell me no.”
Those eyes become dark pools. “I promise.”
Good. It takes away any doubts I own. I’ve been trapped in a cage for so long that I want to revel in every moment of this. I want to take this moment and claim it for my own. I crave it. Crave his touch, crave the experience of this moment.
It’s no longer just about denying Etan.
It’s no longer about defying my mother.
This is for me.
It’s the gift I want for myself. It’s the choiceImake.
I want to know what it feels like to be touched. I want to know what it feels like to come under his hands and mouth. I want him to fuck me into this heather, until I’m screaming.
I want it all.
“Lie down.” There’s a strength to the words that I barely even recognize.
A challenge lights in his eyes, but he obeys.
