“Aiden,” I murmured.
“Princess.”
We were back to that, were we? “Failed assassin,” I snarled.
His smile was sharp and nothing like before. He straightened away from the fence, stepping closer to me. “Successful spy.”
“Murderer.”
His arm shot out and wrapped around my waist, crushing me against his hard body. “Liar,” he growled.
My heart beat so hard it hurt. My fingertips dug into his chest, piercing his own rapid heartbeat. But I didn’t push himaway. His nose brushed mine. Almost a nuzzle. But no. He wouldn’t.
“You lied to me too,” I whispered.
His eyes searched mine. “And you stole everything from me, little thief. It’s time I stole something back.”
His lips crashed into mine, obliterating my senses. My heart was falling, flying, trying to survive. He kissed me like he was angry. Or desperate. His mouth demanded payment.
With a tight groan, I kissed him back. My fingers seized his shirt like they might rip it to shreds. My body melted into his, surrendering. Just for a moment.
He made a noise deep in his chest. Approval. His warm lips coaxed mine apart, and he tasted my tongue. Breathed me in. His hand wrapped around the back of my neck and clenched.
I shivered, and he kissed me harder. I shoved my hands in his hair and met every stroke of his tongue, every press of his lips with my own hunger.
The heat was nearly unbearable. My clothes felt scratchy and heavy. All our anger and sadness. The hurt. It was burning. Burning away. I wanted it to burn away our clothes, too.
Aiden’s fingers wrapped around my braid and pulled my head back. I gasped as he trailed his lips and teeth down my throat.
“Fucking Four . . .” I hissed. “I can’t . . . I can’t even remember why I hate you.”
Aiden stiffened. Slowly, painfully, his mouth left my skin. The air between us suddenly felt much cooler. He drew back to stare into my eyes.
His cheeks were still flushed. His pulse still beat rapidly in his throat. But his eyes were hard once more.
“Perhaps because you don’t hate me at all, princess,” he said.
I scowled and shoved away from him. His hold on me broke easily.
“Just as you don’t know me at all,” I spat.
His jaw clenched, and he rubbed his thumb over his lips as if he could still feel me there. “I’m starting to think the problem is I know too much.”
What in the deep, dark, wandering hell didthatmean?
My fists clenched. “Gods damn you, Aiden.”
He gave me a bitter smile. “I’m sure they already have.”
Snarling in frustration, I whirled around and stomped back to the camp. My head pounded, reminding me of all the mead I’d drunk.
We were both drunk. That was why we’d kissed. And my emotions had been running high because of the funeral. Otherwise, I never would have...
It didn’t matter, anyway. It would never happen again.
Chapter 8
Kiera
