Page 53 of Spirit Rites
He tugs me towards him with my uninjured arm, silencing me. He wraps a strong arm around my back and pulls me close to his chest, being careful to make sure my injured arm is not caught between us. He closes the distance between us until there are only millimeters separating us. We’re so close, I can feel his breath on my face. He locks eyes with me. “Is this okay?” His voice is lower than normal. I can’t find my tongue to save my life, so I nod instead. A moment later, his lips touch mine so softly I think I imagined it. But when he does it again, I realize it’s not my imagination. It’s real.Kaldar is kissing me.It takes me an extra second to respond because...becauseKaldar is kissing me.I respond to his kiss, giving as good as he’s giving me. He groans low in his chest and pulls me closer, and I smile against his lips. I love this power over him. But then he tips my head to position us better, and I’m no longer smiling because he’s kissing me with an intensity I’ve only dreamed of. He nips at my lower lip, and a gasp escapes me. His lips leave mine, and I instantly miss them until I feel his lips on my cheek and then on the column of my neck. I shiver when he kisses me below my ear. “You like that?” he murmurs against my skin and does it again. I can’t stop theshudder that runs through me. He kisses me on my shoulder and then finds my lips once again. When he pushes against my lips, I know what he’s aiming for, and I cave. I open my mouth for him, and he thrusts his tongue inside immediately. As soon as his tongue touches mine, he growls low in his chest and pushes me back against the wall gently, still being careful of my injured arm. I’m so lost in him, I don’t even remember what my name is. When we’re both gasping for air, he pulls back slightly. His eyes meet mine in the dark, and he reaches a large hand up to cradle my jaw. “You are the most amazing person I’ve ever met. You know that, right?”
His words rush over me, causing warmth everywhere. “It’s probably just the hormones talking,” I whisper. He smiles and runs a thumb over my cheekbone.
“It’s not just hormones,” he says quietly. He studies my face as if he’s memorizing every single detail. “You are so beautiful.”
“You’re pretty handsome yourself.”
He smiles and ducks his head for one more chaste kiss. “This might be a bad time to bring this up.”
I go still. “What?”
“I’m sure you already put this together, but we have to share a bed tonight.”
“Wehaveto?”
“Sorry. I worded that badly. Wecanshare a bed if you are willing. If not, I’ll sleep on the floor next to the bed. I just can’t sleep out here because with the open windows somebody could walk past and—”
“See that we’re not sleeping together and piece things together. Got it.”
He stares down at me. “You know I’d never force you into anything, right? Even sharing a bed.”
“I know that, Kaldar. And I don’t feel pressured at all. Ifyoudon’t mind, I’m fine with it.”
“Mind?” He snorts. “Kinsley, I’ve wanted you in my bed since the moment I laid eyes on you.”
I laugh. “You have not.”
His eyes go wide. “Yes, I have. Ask me what you were wearing the first day of the first trial?”
I put my good hand on my hip. “Okay, Your Highness. What was I wearing the first day of the first trial?”
Idon’t even remember what I’d been wearing that day. “You were wearing a pair of black pants that had seen better days and a red shirt with a hole right...here.” He points to my left side, and I stare at him in shock. He fingers my hair. “Your gorgeous hair was pulled back into a tight braid. I remember thinking even then that you looked too kind, too gentle for the trials.” I laugh and shake my head, but he doesn’t smile. “Then I learned that you could be fierce too, when those you loved were in danger.” His eyes meet mine. “But you didn’t lose that kindness or gentleness.” He slides his hand around to the nape of my neck under my hair. “And I, for one, am so grateful.” He kisses me again softly, and this time, I’m so stuck in my own head, I barely kiss him back. He kisses me one more time. “Come on. Let’s get to bed.”
He takes my hand in his and leads me back to the room I woke up in earlier. “Don’t we need to close the front door?” I ask.
“Not unless you feel uncomfortable.”
I shrug. “It’s your home.”
“Ourhome,” he gently corrects. “I always keep the front door open as a sign that I’m open to my people.
“That’s nice,” I say rather absently, because I’m suddenly wondering how you get any privacy with a door and windows that stay open all the time.
“Kinsley, what are you thinking?” I can hear the humor in his voice, but I’m not about to tell him what I was thinking.
“All right,” I say, rubbing my hands together. “Which side of the bed do you sleep on?”
He snags my good hand and spins me around to face him. “The door to this room closes and locks.” He leans forward and whispers against my ear. “And this particular room is sound-proofed.” I feel my face go up in flames, even as he smiles gently. “Does that help you feel better?”
Knowing he can see my face anyway, I finally cave. “Okay, fine. Yes.”
He tugs me forward. “Was that so hard?”
“Yes.”
He smirks but releases me. “I’ll take the side closest to the door if that’s okay with you.”
“Perfect.”
