Page 41 of Blood of the Fallen
Kall…
Where was he? I hadn’t seen him since the trial ended. Lazily, my gaze roved over the camp, but I didn’t find him. After a long search, I finally spotted him. He was ducking through the flap of his tent.
Without thinking, I stood and started to make a beeline across the camp, but thought better of it and went around the perimeter. When I’d made a full circle to the back of his tent, I glanced in every direction, and when I was sure no one was looking, I snuck in.
Kall’s head snapped back as he heard me step in. He was in the process of taking off his tunic, which now hung from his hand. It seemed he’d been in the river to wash off the paint. Slowly, he turned and discarded the garment atop a pile of furs that I assumed were his bed.
The fire in the middle tent was burning low, its warm glow dancing over Kall’s tattooed back and highlighting his perfection. Every clearly defined muscle made my hands itch with the desire to touch them. His wide shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist with two dimples on either side of the spine. The buckskin pants hugged his backside tightly, revealing its perfect curve. My mouth went dry. Blinking, I forced my gaze to meet his.
Wearing a crooked smile, he turned and faced me. “Do you see something you like, Sheela?”
“Do I ever?!” Smiling, I strolled in his direction, pressed my hands to his stomach, and let them travel to his strong pecs, enjoying the warmth and smoothness.
He shivered at the contact, muscles tightening under my touch. One of his thick eyebrows went up. “Did you… change your mind?”
My answer was to push up on my tiptoes and kiss him. A delicious tingled thrilled in my belly as my tongue stroked his. He responded by seizing my waist and deepening the kiss. But to my utter disappointment, he quickly pulled back and held me at arm’s length.
His green eyes roved over my face. “You had kinnikinnick.” It wasn’t a question, which I guessed meant he could taste it in my mouth.
“What does it matter?” I interlaced my fingers behind his neck and pulled him down for another kiss. He was a bit tense at first, but gradually, he relaxed into my arms and returned the kiss fully. His tongue ran along the seam of my bottom lip and stopped at the corner. I shuddered as he licked the sensitive spot.
My hands slid down his back to those two dimples I’d seen earlier. I went a little further, following the dip and enjoying the feel of his backside as it curved up. A moan started deep in my throat.
Kall inhaled sharply, then grabbed my wandering hands and brought them to the front. “You’re dangerous tonight.”
Grinning wickedly, I pulled away from him, removed my tunic in one fluid motion, and lay down at his feet on top of the furs. He hissed in a breath, eyes drinking me in, lips parted as his gaze followed the curves of my breasts. Ila had given me straps of fabric to bind them, but I’d forsaken their use since it wasn’t practical at all.
His chest rose and fell visibly, and that powerful length of him tented his pants. He wanted me as much as I wanted him. There was no doubt about that, but if so, why did he look hesitant? His head turned toward the tent flap as if he expected someone to barge in.
Oh, please, don’t turn me down,I silently begged.
If he rejected me, it would be the embarrassment of the century. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.
To my great relief, he faced me again and lay down next to me. He kissed my lips gently, his thumb caressing my cheek. His breathing sped up, and he looked like someone who was trying very hard not to do something they would regret.
“I thought you wanted me,” I said.
“I do but…” He shook his head, grabbed the tunic he’d been wearing, and draped it over my chest.
Shame surged through me, and I hugged the garment tightly. I started to scramble to my feet, but he pushed me down, and got on top of me, settling his hips between my legs.
My heart hammered as I felt him against my core.
“I would take you here and now if I didn’t think it was wrong,” he said, capturing my hands in his and pressing down.
“Wrong? Why is it wrong?”
“Because just the other day you weren’t ready and now you’ve had kinnikinnick. You’re not thinking clearly.”
“I don’t care,” I pulled him down and kissed him. Slipping my tongue into his mouth, I wrapped my legs around him and drew him tightly against my body.
He groaned and kissed me back. When his lips abandoned my mouth, I almost cursed in frustration, but then he began tracing kisses down my jaw, neck, and collarbone.
“You’re driving me crazy.” He let go of my hands and caressed my naked shoulders.
As he was distracted kissing me, I tugged the tunic he’d laid on my torso and slipped it out. His heated skin seared against mine, a feeling unlike anything I’d ever experienced. My breasts peeked at the contact, and I trembled in need.
He stopped and pushed up, placing some distance between us. His pupils were large, leaving only a thin line of green around them. He breathed through clenched teeth and glanced at my breasts with animal hunger.
