I applaud myself for stepping up to his game of unabashed glances, but the chill in the tent is starting to make me shiver again. I need to get into the bedroll quick and stay under the covers before my full body begins to shake.
I take a strong step to Keane’s left and walk right into his chest, the man blocking my path once again.
“I can’t let you get into your bedroll just yet, Alexis,” he murmurs.
He brings both of his hands to my elbows and slides them up the back of my arms, holding me in place.
“Then you’ll let me freeze,” I reply quietly.
“I would,” he nods, watching his hands as they move up my shoulders and then down to my collarbone, “if it meant I got to see your perfect body standing in front of me like this for the remainder of the night, I would.”
His brown eyes follow his fingers as he grabs both straps and trails them down to the top of my chest. His knuckles brush against my skin before his hands move in a slow decent down the sides of my breasts, his palms tracing the curves as his eyes look on in hunger. I shiver under his touch yet feel my body light to pure fire, my breath hitching when he runs his thumbs over my nipples.
“We can’t, Keane,” I flush, bringing my own hands up to stop his.
“And why can’t we?” he smiles, eyes finally greeting mine.
Because of the Shadow Oak,I look back at him in confusion and a little bit of hurt.
Because of the words you spoke to me yesterday before the mills, promising that our moments wouldn’t be quick or stolen or hidden.
Or were they just words?
I nearly sag at the thought.
To the Ancients, I hope they weren’t, though I do fear him taking them back. I fear that more than I fear my own body’s lust for him, and that’s a scary thought to sit on.
Because what Keane said yesterday means something to me. It means that there may be more to us than just simple desire. I want him to uphold those words from the mills and keep his promise under the Shadow Oak, not toss them aside for a night we could enjoy physically.
It’s obvious that wants me just as much as I want him. I can feel it in his heated gaze and his hands now gripping my hips tight. I can even feel my body responding for him, knowing that no visions of his hands on the Discerni woman from the tavern will keep me away if he pursues this…
I will give in, even if my heart screams at me not to. I’ll give in to his touch and enjoy myself, but that will be the end of us.
I scowl at the knowledge and forcefully pull myself out of his hold. Keane grabs my wrist before I can make it to the bedrolls and pulls me back,his grip turning me around so that I have to face him yet again. His full body steps into mine in a dominating presence, his fingers wrapped around my wrist tugging and making my chest fall into his.
“There are many other ways to go about this that will not be stolen, Alexis...” he nods, brown eyes looking intense, “you deserve nothing quick, and I will damn sure take my time on you.”
My mouth nearly drops at the words. How did he know what I was thinking?
“And it’s true,” his lips tug up in a small smile, “I will not have you fully until you say the words I want to hear under the Shadow Oak, but that does not mean we have to deny ourselves until then, nor do I want to.”
My heart pounds against my chest as I search his eyes for any hint of a game being played. But his words seem genuine, just as they did at the mills, and he’s looking down at me with a sincere gaze of desire…
“No games tonight, Keane,” I tell him softly. Pleading.
“No games,” he affirms, eyes still dancing across my face, “no challenge. I simply want you, Alexis, if you’ll let me have you.”
My full body flushes as I glance away from him and peer around the tent. I take in the thin cloth surrounding us that’s flapping with the breeze, my eyes moving to the fire dancing from outside and reminding me of where we are.
I sigh and shake my head.
Ancients.
This is not the right place.
Keane looks down at me in genuine question, noticing my silent glances around the tent as his eyes turn curious. I give him a half smile, almost sad that this is the reason why tonight will not end happy...
“The walls are thin, Keane, and I am not quiet.”
