Elodie, however, is still nowhere to be seen. I haven’t caught a trace of her since she fled the ceremony this afternoon.
Sadrie hisses in my ear, “I haven’t seen your pretty priestess all night. I’m afraid you’ll have to sniff her out if you’re craving her attention.”
I scoff in mock insult, my face flushing. “You don’t know what I’m looking for. And I’ve already got plenty of attention fromyou, haven’t I?”
She looks me up and down. “You’re a bad liar, Tiss.”
“Noted,” I say, grabbing her shoulders. I turn her around and shove her forward, marching us both into the cooler air of the hallway. “And it’s precious that you think she’d give me two minutes of her time.”
“I’m sure whatever happened between you two will smooth over sooner or later.” Sadrie turns around, walking backward and pulling me further down the dim hallway with her. “You can’t seem to stay away from each other for long.”
“Oh, shut up,” I mutter, afraid I might combust from embarrassment.
“Gods, you’re adorable when you’re flustered, though.” She winks and pulls me into a deeply recessed alcove near the handmaidens’ quarters where there’s a window seat.
“So glad you're having fun riling me up.”
The intensity in her gaze lights a blue-hot fire under my skin. “I haven’t begun having fun with you, Tiss.”
She grabs me around my waist, my wrist clasped in her other hand, and pulls me to the window seat with her.
"Sadrie!" I yelp, flinging my arms around her as she guides me squarely and firmly on top of her lap. My head whips around to scan the hallway, every molecule of my body attuned to our surroundings. “You’re going to cause a scene.”
“Yeah? And?” Her grin is impishly evil.
“Andwe’re going to get caught.” Thankfully, only warbling harp music and the odd spate of laughter drift to us.
Unperturbed, she only nuzzles into my neck, her lips and the tip of her nose tracing maddening lines on my skin. “Something about you makes me feel shamelessly impulsive. It’s wonderful.”
“It won’t be so wonderful winding up in temple jail. Or wherever it is they throw deviants like us.”
“You're worth it," she whispers, pressing a kiss to my jaw.
“You’re daring tonight,” I snort, but her soft body and gentle breath on my skin send heat directly to my core. Fierce yearning rears up in me, so strong it’s frightening.
“Can’t we simply have fun?” she murmurs, kissing her way down my neck. “It won’t be any trouble, I promise.”
My core clenches despite myself. “You can’t promise tha—gods!” I crumple, heat zapping my clit, as she sinks her teeth into the top of my shoulder. Lust hits me like a brick, jerking my limbs with need. “How long can we carry on like this?” I moan, sagging against her. “Sneaking off and getting wrapped up in each other? It won’t be sustainable forever.”
When she pulls away, her hooded sapphire gaze meets mine. The room swims around us as I gaze back, desire mingling with temptation.
“Let’s be honest,” she says, her voice low and soft. “It’s just a matter of time, isn’t it? Because there’s no way in hell I’m going to let you be.” Her mouth moves to my ear. “Now that I’ve tasted your sweet pussy, songbird, there’s nothing that exists in this world that could keep me away from you.”
I shudder when her mouth brushes mine. Heat pools between my legs, morphing into slick arousal when she deepens the kiss. I can’t help groaning against her lips and tongue.
The memory of that tongue against my swollen clit rattles around in my head, and I can’t stifle a gasp. “How do we always end up like this in places we can get caught?”
“Don’t act like you don’t enjoy the excitement.” She recaptures my mouth with hers before I can reply, and swift ardor flushes every inch of me. My bones turn to liquid.
The truth is Idoenjoy the excitement. Far too much, I’m afraid. And the relentless hunger already has me in its clutches again.
Head spinning, I twine my fingers in her hair. “Threaten me with a good time, and you had better mean it,” I finally husk.
Her hands tighten around me before loosening. “Come on. You’re about to find out how much I mean it. I’d rather it not be here.”
Then I’m on my feet with her pulling me back toward the atrium, while my heart pounds in my throat and down, deep inside me.
What are we doing? This place is crawling with people!But the breathless exhilaration and the intense need are all-consuming. I can’t think around it, can’t react like I should.
