Page 76 of Winter's Scorching Kisses
“There has to be a reason better than that.” Jasmine frowned at her. “I know you better. You would ignore her and send her away if she frustrated you.”
“Fine.” Adorra relented. “She brought up the fact that she wanted to be with Mathar and how he pleases all the women he beds.” She glowered, hating this weakness she had for him
“And?” Jasmine raised an eyebrow waiting expectantly.
“It bothers me.”
“Have you ever thought of why it bothers you?” Jasmine asked as she grabbed a roll and broke off a piece of the fluffy bread.
“What are you talking about?” Adorra scowled.
Jasmine pointed a finger over at where Mathar was seated. “Perhaps he means something more to you.”
Adorra snorted. “That will be the day. I just want the handmaiden gone.”
“Okay, you won’t see her again.” Jasmine caved. “Don’t be angry with me. I just thought you might like to have one around.”
“I’m not mad at you.” Adorra sent her a smile. “I know you meant well, but when I retire to my room, all I want is peace and quiet. I don’t need some babbling maid going on about people’s private lives.” And she didn’t need Sath talking about her private life with others.
“I was hoping you two would hit it off and become friends.”
Adorra resisted the temptation to snort when she saw her sister was serious. “It was thoughtful.” Because it had been.
“Are we,” Jasmine tried to find the right word, “are you angry with me, for what I did?”
Adorra knew she was speaking of Edmund. “You thought you were doing the right thing. Do I like what you did? No. Do I love you? Yes. And over time my wound will heal, and Edmund will just become the sad past.” She’d already come to accept his death. Now she just had to accept that her sister was the mastermind behind the plan.
Jasmine grimaced as she tore pinches of the roll, mindlessly shredding it. “There must have been signs that Lord Gothar wasn’t the right man for you. That he had an evil side.”
Adorra waved a hand in the air. “I don’t want to talk about this right now.” She still needed time to think about everything that she’d recently learned and wasn’t in the mood to talk about it. At some point, she would be ready, but now, in a crowded hall, was not the time.
Adorra barely made a sound as her slippered feet walked over the grey stone floor of the castle. Her sister had requested her company in the castle garden, which had surprised Adorra. To think there was a garden growing all the way up here in the snowy mountains was a complete surprise, and she found herself drawn on by her curiosity.
She had to see how they accomplished having a garden up here with the constant frostbite and falling snow.
As Adorra walked down a flight of stairs and came to another corridor, she noticed her shadow once again following her.
She rounded on him, pointing a finger into his chest. “Don’t follow me, you murderer.”
At first, Mathar had the audacity to look taken aback, his eyes gone wide, but then he stepped forward and growled at her, “I saved your life that night. Nothing I did was classified as a ‘murderer’.”
“I’m sure you have more important things to attend to like Sath.” Adorra snapped back.
“What are you babbling on about, woman?” He asked looking completely puzzled about what she was speaking of as his brows drew down over his eyes.
“You know what I’m talking about.” Adorra’s cheeks heated as she said the next part, “All the women that you entertain in the night.”
Realization dawned on Mathar’s face. Reaching out with both his hands, he clamped them down around her arms. She tried to wiggle free, but he wouldn’t let go of her. “I haven’t been with another woman after I slept with you.” Her cheeks heated some more. “I don’t need to explain the women before you. All you need to know is that I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind.”
“Sure.” She snorted.
“Let me prove it to you.” He leaned down and took her mouth with his lips.
Adorra melted against him. She wanted to have the willpower to push him away, but she couldn’t help herself. His kiss stole her breath away and sent her heart skyrocketing into the clouds above the castle.
Her arms worked around his neck until one of her hands glided up his neck and into his silver hair, stroking through the short strands.
Mathar pushed them back until her back was pressed up against a wall.
