Page 38 of Swift Wings Shadowed Heart
I gently push her backward. “Let’s get you back to bed.”
“He did it,” she says. “I… I didn’t do it. It wasn’t me. I promise.” The last two words are a plea, pitiful and desperate.
My chest tightens in response, a protective feeling overwhelming me. She belongs to my Clutch now. She’s my responsibility.
I push her down onto the bed, forcing her to sit. She teeters on the edge, resisting. I kneel and hold her arms down, forcing her to stay put.
“I promise it wasn’t my fault,” she sobs, grabbing my lapel and shaking me in turn. Tears spill from her haunted hazel eyes as she finally meets my gaze. “I promise.”
Her vehemence causes my chest to tighten further. What could she possibly be talking about?
“Please,” she begs.
“I believe you,” I blurt out, unsure of what else to say or do.
At the words, all tension falls away from her body. Her gaze softens, filling with gratitude. Unexpectedly, she pushes forward, her legs flanking my hips at each side, and kisses me.
I stiffen as her lips move supplely against mine. I know I should push her away, but her scent and the honey taste of her mouth capture me. Instead, my own lips respond to the kiss and my arms go around her waist, pulling her closer.
The kiss deepens. Her hands tangle in my hair. My hands climb up her back then back down as I lose myself in the intoxicating scent and softness of her femininity. Our tongues brush for a split second, sending a jolt straight to my cock.
My sense returns.
By Heratrix, what am I doing?!
Gathering my will power, I heave her up and lay her down in the middle of the bed, deftly detangling her arms from around my neck. The back of my hand pressed to my mouth, I back away as she hugs her pillow and twists her body around it.
The shirt rides up, exposing the curve of her buttocks, a swatch of smooth, toned muscle that shines in the dim light. I turn away, heart hammering, and cock twitching at the same rhythm.
For fuck’s sake!
I walk away, the knowledge that she’s asleep the only thing keeping me back from climbing on that bed and…
The hell with Commander Voltguard’s orders.
Collecting her to go back to Sky’s Edge to begin training was a doomed mission from the start anyway.
19
Rhea
Iwake up from a dead sleep, feeling feverish. Sitting up in a daze, I press both hands to my cheeks, trying to measure my temperature. I swallow. No sore throat. I don’t think I’m sick. But I feel… what?
Thinking for a moment, I gauge the way my skin seems to prickle, the swollen sensation in my lips, and… other parts of my body.Shit!I’m still aroused.Dragon’s breath!I tried to scratch that itch earlier, but no luck there.
The clock on the wall ticks. Beyond the window, gloom lingers. It’s not even daytime yet, so why am I awake? I pad to the clock to check the time. 02:17.
Why did I wake up?
I glance around the room. Something feels different as if the air has been disturbed. I hug myself, thoughts of my mother’s ghost rising. This always happens whenever I go home. A shiver slides cold fingers down my spine.
Well, isn’t this the perfect way to douse my libido?
I hug myself tighter, practically sinking into my shirt. My nose twitches as a faintly familiar scent emanates from the fabric. I close my eyes, basking in the delicious musk. A distinctly male presence fills my awareness. I frown. Vaylen? No. I must be imagining things. I shake my head. My mind seems to be getting better at playing tricks on me. First, my mother’s too-real sight at home, and now this. I don’t like it at all.
Determined to go back to sleep, I start turning toward my bed when I notice a shadow moving in the glow that seeps under my door. I expect it to pass by, but it lingers. Without considering the danger, I stride to the door and throw it open.
Vaylen is crouched in front of me, a folded piece of paper in hand. His blue eyes are wide, startled. His face is at the level of my crotch, too close for comfort… or perhaps not. His gaze slowly moves up, taking its time at the openVof my shirt. He stares at my face, eyes roving as if searching for something. His expression is strange as if he expects to find a ghost. When our eyes finally meet, he blinks in surprise and jumps to his feet.
