Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
I hold my breath as his face comes closer. “What?”
“Passion,” he murmurs. His lips are only inches from mine. “Hunger. Desire. You hate yourself for wanting a person like me, don’t you?”
He’s just as close as Kelrean was earlier, only with Thane, I can feel my pulse in places I never thought it could pump. “I never said I wanted you.”
“You don’t have to say it.” His eyes drop to my lips, then slowly to my breasts, lingering for just a moment before climbing right back up to my eyes. “It’s very clear.”
I clench my teeth together, refusing to look away even though he’s right.
Gods, I hate that he’s right.
“Going to that little prince’s chambers will be nothing more than a distraction for you, and we both know it.”
“How did you—”
“He’s not hard to read, Quinlocke. Everyone saw the way he stared at you. Treating you like you belong to him. The night was bound to end in one way—with you in his chambers.”
“So you’re jealous, then? Is that it?”
As rare as it is, his lips quirk up on one side, amused. “Not jealous. Territorial, more like.”
“I’m not your property,” I bite back. But why do I feel a delightful twist in my belly? Territorial. Of me?
No. Stop it. Don’t fall for it.
“You may have tossed me those coins, but as far as I’m concerned, I’m the one in charge. Which means during this journey, no matter where we fucking are or how safe you feel in the moment, you’re mine to look after and mine to keep close.” He scans my face thoroughly, then slowly drinks in the rest of my body, searing me with his gaze. I have to clench my thighs together from that action alone.
I fidget in my seat.
“Like I told you before, oh sweet one,” he continues in a silky, deep voice, “I don’t like to fail, and if that means stopping you from making a reckless decision with a prince who might have beast warts, so be it. I’ll be right there protecting you. Watching you. Keeping you safe. Is that clear?”
I refuse to answer him, not with that smug face and entitled attitude. I want to slap him.
He lifts an eyebrow, focusing on my mouth.
“I’m literally starting to hate everything about you,” I whisper.
He says nothing, which only irritates me more. The carriage jostles us around, but I remain steady, matching his stare, waiting for him to lean back first.
But then something tight wraps around me and pulls forward, guiding my bottom closer to the edge of the bench. My breath hitches when I realize it’s Thane’s magic. He stares into my eyes as an invisible hand digs into my waist.
An unavoidable sigh slips out of me as his lips graze mine. A rush of tingles sweeps over my entire body, and heat pools between my legs, hotter than ever before.
My mouth aches for him—no, my whole body aches for him. Why didn’t I feel this way toward Kelrean? During the moments alone with him, I wanted him. But my desire for the prince wasn’t nearly as frustrating. How is it possible to want to slap Thane’s beautiful face and kiss it at the same time?
I have to be under some kind of spell. I’ve never craved defiant, broody, dangerous men like Thane Valkor before. Men who are clearly no good for me. And yet, here I am.
Craving.
Wanting.
“Interesting,” he rasps. “What I see in your eyes right now doesn’t look like hate.”
“Oh, shut up,” I mutter, breathless. And instead of slapping him, I grip a handful of his waistcoat, yank him forward, and kiss him.
Chapter 26
It’s happening.
This kiss. This moment.
Yes. Without a doubt.
I want this so badly that I can’t stand another agonizing second of resisting him.
I pull my mouth away, and he looks at me—really looks at me—before cupping the back of my head and pressing my lips to his again. He groans as I straddle him and clasp his face in my hands. He tastes like ale and mint and smells so good, like firewood, leather, and spice.
The stubble along his jaw is coarse beneath the pads of my fingers, a contrast to his soft skin. Our breaths thicken between the slightest breaks, and he clutches the back of my bodice with one hand while I thread my fingers through his silky hair.
“This doesn’t mean anything,” I say, panting when his hot mouth claims my throat. He presses a kiss there, causing a soft moan to escape me. I tingle everywhere.
“Liar.”
“I’m serious.” I grip a handful of his hair and tug on it, forcing him to look at me.
He stares up, his mouth as damp and swollen as mine feels. “You really don’t know how to stop talking, do you?”
Cradling the back of my head, he guides my mouth back to his, much gentler this time. I melt in his lap, moaning into his mouth, ready for more. Our tongues collide as we wrestle with each other’s clothes. That invisible hand of his skims down my spine as his real hands perfectly cup my ass.