Being so close to him filled my mind with images of that night in the lavatorium of the academy.
“Evie…” he murmured. “Look at me.”
I shut my eyes and turned my head away.
His hand caught my face, forcing me to meet his gaze, his touch sending shivers down my spine. “Open your eyes, Evangelina.”
I didn’t. I wanted to see what he’d do next.
“Are you in a defiant mood, little doe? Do you really want to know what defiance gets you?”
I shook my head, pressing my eyes shut with all my strength.
He tugged my belt free. It struck the ground like a dead snake. His hand slid up beneath my tunic, and goosebumps raced over my skin like wildfire.
A long breath escaped me as my head fell back against the tree. His mouth crashed onto mine, desperate and hungry. His tongue pressed through my lips, and his hand traced the curve of my breast.
I gasped as he traced my nipple through the fabric of my linen bindings, his thumb moving in tiny, gentle, electrifying circles that sent a delicious shiver through me. I thought I might lose myself right there. How could Kael have such an intoxicating effect on me? How was it so impossible to resist him?
He released my hands and tore through my neckline, the shriek of fabric hurling me back to reality.
I opened my eyes wide and pushed him away.
At least I tried.
He was like solid rock, unmoving. A smirk crossed his face; he found this amusing.
“Let me go!” I shouted, shoving against him.
“I can’t,” he breathed, nibbling down my neck, tracing kisses down the tear in my cleavage.
He reached for my bindings and slipped them down my waist, freeing my breasts. My nipples hardened painfully. I told myself it was the cooler air, but that was obviously a lie.
“Please…” The word escaped me as I tried one final push before surrendering to the moment.
He cupped my breasts in his hands, giving them attention theyhad never known. His tongue traced one nipple, tasting it with slow licks, then he bit down hard while he squeezed the other between two fingers.
I latched onto his shoulders and moaned, loud this time. Then I caught myself. What if somebody heard us?
“Kael… Please let me—ah!”
He bit down my neck, hard, drawing another moan from my throat I’d desperately attempted to muffle.
Images flashed between my thoughts—us in the lavatorium, his power breaking loose, Selena bent over the tomb…
Tears burned in my eyes once more. I couldn’t tell if it was from the pain inside or the pain outside.
Kael noticed and cupped my face, brushing away a tear with his thumb. He kissed me once more, then held my gaze, his eyes pouring into mine as our faces hovered a breath apart.
“Open your power,” he growled.
“What?” I stared at him, lips swollen and parted, breath catching at the command.
He drew closer, his voice a whisper against my skin. “Let go, and you will see.”
His mouth explored my skin again, my neck, the scar, down my breasts until he kneeled before me. His fingers hooked the top of my breeches, and he pulled down slightly, slowly, kissing my lower belly, my hips, and lower. I shivered at every touch of his lips on my skin.
“Open,” he rasped, voice rough against my skin, “and you’ll see just how little she ever meant to me.”
