He trailed kisses up the column of her neck, and her head lolled to the side. Her body melted into his for the briefest of moments before she straightened and peeled his arms from around her. “Daemon—” the reproach in her tone was a dagger to his heart. “We can’t.”
“So you said last night. And yet, we very muchdid.”He reached for her again, but she stepped out of his grasp.
Auraelia turned toward him, the stormy grays of her eyes swirling with so many emotions it made his heart ache. But the one that shone the brightest waspain.
Goddess, he would do anything to take that pain away. To take away the hurt that followed her like a heavy cloud blocking the sun’s rays. But he couldn’t unless she let him, and right now, she didn’t seem to see that as an option.
Dropping her gaze to the floor, she released a heavy breath. “We did. And it was wonderful, but it was—”
“Don’t you dare say it was a mistake, Auraelia.”
She brought her gaze to his, her mouth opening and closing a few times before she nodded and took another step away. Silence filled the room as they stared at each other. It seemed that if they weren’t fighting or fucking, there wasn’t much to say anymore.
Daemon donned the mask that she wanted to see. Let the nonchalance he didn’t feel shine through the smirk that tilted up one corner of his lips. “It was just sex, remember? No mistakes were made.”
Auraelia seemed to mull over his words, then a shy smile tugged at her lips. “Thank you.”
“You have nothing to thank me for, Princess.”
Daemon turned away from her and strolled across the room to where his clothes were strewn across the floor. “So,” he said, pausing as he pulled on his trousers. “What’s the plan for today?”
Auraelia had walked into her closet while he dressed but poked her head out at his question, her brows raised in confusion. “Excuse me?”
“What’s the plan for today?”
Stepping back into the main area of her room, she leaned against the entrance to her closet, arms crossed over her chest. “Surely you’re not planning onstaying?”
Daemon shrugged and pulled his tunic over his head. “Would that be so bad?” He winked, and her eyes widened. He could see the wheels turning in her mind as she processed what hesaid and all of the reasons she was bound to come up with as to why he shouldn’t. Before she could give those asinine reasons a voice, he continued. “We brought things to trade and sell in your market, so we will be here for a few days. Ours—” he paused, strangling the anger that threatened to surface, “let’s just say it’s not doing well at the moment.”
Understanding flashed in her eyes, and he knew he didn’t need to say more. The unspoken name of whom was responsible, filling in the spaces of words left unsaid.
Auraelia nodded, then returned to her closet to dress. When she emerged once more, Daemon’s breath caught in his throat. Rich chocolate leather hugged the luscious curves of her legs, and the tunic she wore was the color of her eyes, making them shine brightly beneath the dark fringe of her lashes.
He didn’t bother masking the way his gaze traveled over her body. The way it lingered on the swell of her breasts as they rose and fell with every breath over the matching leather corset that cinched her waist.
Auraelia cleared her throat, promptly pulling him out of his lustful stupor. “My eyes are up here, Daemon.”
Slowly, he met her gaze. Her lips were set into a thin line. One hip jutted out to the side as she crossed her arms—which only brought more attention to her breasts. But there was also a hunger in her eyes—one that matched his own. “I’m quite aware, Princess.”
He let the static build between them. He wanted her to make the first move, to act on the thoughts so clearly written all over her face.
Auraelia dropped her arms, her walls seeming to fall with them. But just as she made to move toward him, a knock sounded at the main door to the suite. And just like that, he watched the walls build back up again.
Son of a bitch.
Auraelia ran her hands down her sides, smoothing wrinkles that weren’t there, then fixed him with a hard stare. “Stay here.”
Daemon smirked at the authority in her tone.So bossy.“I have nowhere else I’d rather be,Your Majesty.” There was a teasing lilt to the latter part of his statement, but he meant every word.
Her eyes narrowed a fraction, but with a curt nod, she skirted around him as she made her way into the sitting area of her suite, closing the door to her bedchamber behind her.
Daemon perched on the edge of her bed and ran a hand through his hair before scrubbing it down his face.
By the time the door opened once more, he had just finished pulling on his second boot. “Crisis averted?” he asked as he leaned back onto his elbows.
Auraelia rolled her eyes, and his balls tightened.
Completely ignoring his question, she countered with one of her own. “So what’s your plan? Or did you intend to spend your entire trip here, in my bed?”
