“What does that mean? Stóirín.”
“Little treasure.”
“Oh . . . ” Her cheeks turn a soft shade of pink as her gaze lowers.
“Now go have a bath. It will relax those muscles.”
Everly nervously glances at Kian, but he keeps his attention averted, giving us what little privacy he can. I reach behind Everly and open her door, tilting my head slightly as I pull back, catching a whiff of her hair.
“Good night, Everly.”
I force myself to turn and walk down the hall toward my chambers, hating the distance between us. I know it’s impossible, but . . . I shake my head in frustration. She couldn’t be . . . She’s human. But the way my body and soul light up when she’s near, the way I would break every rule to protect her. The night I found her . . . I grit my teeth, the fear I felt coming from her was my undoing. I slaughtered those fae without a second thought.
My mood sours the further away I get from her, and I push into my chambers, feeling the magic sweep over me. I walk straight to the balcony, needing fresh air to cool my blood. I should head to the tavern and work off this edge. I may not be able to have Everly, but I can have any other woman down there. As soon as the thought enters my mind, I dismiss it. There is no way I can be with anyone else. Everly consumes me.
I spend the next hour meticulously working on cleaning my sword. It’s a welcome distraction, allowing my mind to focus solely on the task at hand. With a sigh escaping my lips, I slowly rise to my feet and stretch my arms above my head, feeling my muscles pop. Ripping my shirt over my head, I wipe the sweat from my face and head toward the bathroom.
The grinding sound of a shifting wall reverberates through the room. Adrenaline floods my veins, and I spin on my heel, raising my sword.
Hesitantly, Everly emerges from the darkness, her eyes taking me in, as mine do her. She looks like a goddamn angel. Thin delicate straps hold up her soft light pink night dress. My gaze travels down, following the material as it cascades down to her ankles, the silky fabric hugging every contour of her body and tying together at the front with a delicate ribbon. A low rumble vibrates in my chest as she adjusts the silk shawl that hangs from her arms, barely providing any coverage or warmth.
My arm drops, the sword resting in my hand as we stare at each other for a long moment.
“What are you doing here? How did you even know where the tunnel was or where it would go?” I am furious she’s left her room again. “You’re lucky the tunnel led you here.”
Everly moves all the way into the room, and I swallow hard when I see her nipples through the fabric of her thin nightdress. Fuck . . . I tip my head back and count to ten, before bringing my eyes back to hers. Her soft gasp at the obvious magic and heat edging my eyes has lust burning through my body. But that doesn’t stop her from taking another step toward me.
“I knew where I was going,” she whispers.
“Really?” I sheath my sword and lay it on the table.
“Yes.” Her eyes move over my torso, as if committing it to memory. I clench my jaw, my eyes briefly closing under her gaze that feels like fingers caressing my skin. “I could feel you.”
“You should leave,” I grit out, my jaw tightening with restraint.
“Why?” Her voice is raspy, the word getting stuck in her throat.
“Because I’m trying really hard to hold back right now, when all I want to do is tear that dress off you and taste every inch of your body.”
Everly's eyes widen in surprise, and then they darken, hinting at her hidden desires. I watch as she grips the silk night dress at her hips, her fingers tracing the delicate fabric. The electric buzz of desire and magic hums in the air as we stare at each other.
Fuck. This isn’t good.
Since I first breathed in her floral scent, I've been making a conscious effort to control myself. It’s been a fucking nightmare.
“I’ll give you one chance to leave,” I growl.
Everly’s gaze is unwavering as she takes another step closer, her shoulders pulled back in defiance.
“So be it.”
My eyes stay fixed on her as I unfasten my breeches and kick off my boots. With a smirk, I let my breeches fall and step out of them, turning to lounge back in the large armchair completely naked. I rest my elbow on the arm, feeling the soft fabric against my skin, and prop my head up with my hand. Everly hasn’t moved a muscle. She just watches me, the flickering light from the fire dancing across her smooth, pale skin.
“Undress for me,”I demand, my voice more gruff than normal. It's taking everything in me to stay seated, to let her make the first move.
Everly blinks twice, her eyes roaming my naked body, before she slowly reaches up and pulls the ribbon holding the front of her dress closed. As she loosens the ties, the dress slips off her shoulders and her gorgeous breasts spill out. Dusty pink nipples catch my attention as the fire casts parts of her body in shadows.Slipping her arms free from the dress, it falls to the floor like water flowing down her body and pools at her feet.
I swallow roughly, my eyes drawn to the spot between her legs. A low growl rumbles from my chest. She isn’t wearing underwear.
