The sudden admission, with no preamble or bullshit, left me too stunned to speak for a moment.
I hadn’t read much about that dead affinity since I was summoned to the council meeting right as I got to the page. All I knew was that Star Keepers were taught runes to manage their assigned star and worked closely with the Rune Makers because of it. Seeing as I was supposedly assigned to all of the stars, Iwasn’t sure how that would impact my need for runes. Nor did I know what it all entailed.
“We found out I was a Rune Maker when I was drawing as a kid and accidentally created a sinkhole underneath our house,” he continued with a haunted look in his eyes. I wondered if anyone was injured but didn’t want to pry, shocked he was opening up at all. “It’s why I live away from everyone. My family built a house away from the rest of our people for their safety. I just never felt like leaving the house, even after I had a grip on my power.”
My previous anger at him slowly dissipated with every truth he revealed to me. In its place was something far more uncomfortable. It felt like an emotional connection was forming, and with our bodies pressed together and the desire that existed on a physical level, I just…it was too much.
“Can you get off of me, please?” I whispered, maintaining eye contact despite the flush I felt rising to my cheeks. Distance was definitely what I needed right now.
The corner of his lip tugged up as his hips pressed down harder. “Are you going to admit you were jealous?”
My brain felt fried as it tried to keep up with the insane whiplash that was always caused by my interactions with Steele. Meanwhile, my body was a traitorous bitch that wanted me to wrap my legs around his waist and rock up against his length.
“I…I, no—” I stammered as he began to lower his face to the side of my neck.
His breath fanned against my exposed skin, tickling ever so slightly, before his nose brushed against it. He trailed his lips up until they settled over the shell of my ear. The rumble in his chest vibrated through to mine as he asked, “Are you really going to act like you don’t feel that, Princess?”
What point was he trying to make in all of this? I hated the way my brain told me he was playing me…or using me.
“I don’t feel it,” I lied, my voice tight as my breathing grew shallow.
His tongue flicked against the sensitive skin beneath my ear. “So you aren’t jealous and your body feels nothing for me?”
“Correct.”
I forced the word out as he settled his legs on either side of me and pressed to sit up, trailing his fingers from my neck, down to my collarbone, and over the swell of my breasts that were on display in my sports bra. I suddenly regretted taking my long sleeve off before starting my run.
My nipples pebbled from the touch and nearness to them, giving away just how much of a liar I was.
His tongue darted out to wet his lips as his eyes focused on my breasts. “I always knew you were stubborn and hard headed, but I didn’t take you for a liar.”
His voice was husky, and the sound made my core throb with a building need that I desperately did not want to feel for this man.
“I’m not a liar,” I grumbled, barely stopping my body from moving my breast into his hand as his fingers continued to swirl along my skin. “You’ve been mean and condescending to me ever since you laid eyes on me. Why would I want you?”
While my words were harsh, they were the truth. They were also the slap of reality I needed to hear right now.
He didn’t seem swayed, though. Leaning back down with one forearm on the ground to hold him up, his free hand trailed up to my neck before gripping my jaw tightly. He dropped his lips to hover above mine, and my mind went haywire.
Was he going to kiss me?
Was I going to let him?
“Have you ever considered why I feel that way?”
It took a moment for my brain to formulate an answer, but I finally responded, “Yes. You’re angry I put Gabe in danger when he was in Alfemir on his mission, both times.”
I didn’t want to tell him I knew about his parents. Amelia had asked me not to, and it seemed like a horrible breach of her trust to even entertain it.
A dark chuckle rumbled from him as he shook his head. “I actually had no idea about the first time, but it has nothing to do with that.”
My brow pinched together. “Then why, Steele?” I asked, a trace of my hurt surfacing in my voice. I never wanted to be at each other’s throats like this, but he pushed us to this level.
His jaw tightened as his nostrils flared. “Because the second I saw you, I wanted to devour you. I knew how Gabe felt about you, and I thought for certain that I’d never cross the line because of that. But then I saw you with your fingers in your pretty pussy that first night…” He trailed off with a groan.
I opened my mouth, but his fingers on my jaw tightened. “I’m not done, Princess.”
My mouth shut as my pussy clenched at the command in his tone. For once, his tone wasn’t annoying me.
