He laughs, deep and resonant, the sound shaking through my bones.
‘Trust me, Thorn, those stitches are the last thing on my mind.’
He takes another step forward, pressing me against the wall with his hips. ‘Tell me you don’t want this,’ he murmurs. ‘Tell me you haven’t also thought about this, and I’ll go.’
Gods, yes, I’ve thought about this. Only my imagination was lacking. Here, now, his voice alone is enough to make me slick with heat. His hand brushes over my ear, then clasps behind my neck.
All I have to do is lean forward, and my mouth will be on his. Devouring him. Feeding the hunger that’s been growing inside me since the first time I saw his icy-blue eyes.
My chest is heaving, and we’re so close my nipples are pebbling, brushing against him.
‘Tell me,’ he demands.
But I can’t. I can’t say I don’t want him as much as he wants me.
After a beat, his smile curls, low and oh so dangerous. ‘You want me too,’ he purrs in satisfaction. ‘Fucking own it, Thorn.’ He slides a well-muscled thigh between my legs, and I let out a low moan as he hitches my body against him in the most delicious way …
There’s a fierce bang on the door, and a second later the door swingsopen. Kyor is already moving away from me, ready to defend us both, but he lowers his hands a fraction when he sees Benny standing there.
‘You okay, Rose?’ Benny asks pointedly.
I nod, but I know that my colour is still unnaturally high.
Words. I need to manage words.
‘Fine,’ I squeak.
Kyor grabs his shirt from the bed and looks back at me. ‘Think about it,’ he orders me, like I actually have the option not to.
Chapter 45
Practice in the battle yard recommences two days later, when they find another siphon to help suppress people’s powers. The replacement, Roderick, isn’t anywhere near as strong as Zelle, meaning he can’t just stay in place but must constantly move around the yard, offering the other Rettlings inevitable opportunities to flex their magic whenever he is far enough away.
I make sure to stick close to Llinos and Benny, just in case Zara tries to pull one of her stunts. Jonas is also determined to make sure I’m protected, but his protective presence is stifling. Thankfully, one of the court guards came and called him away, and with reluctance, he went.
I finally feel like I can breathe.
I haven’t met Kyor for morning training since our moment in my room, nor do I know if he’s been there to meet me. Being alone with the prince right now feels like a bad idea. I need to focus on the Retterheld.
The sun beats down on us, just strong enough to ward off the morning chill. Benny is busy watching Grenda and Oke engage in a fight that has most people’s attention. Despite all his powers of observation, he’s still not got anything on Grenda. Whatever her powers are, she doesn’t need to use them. Either that, or she’s managed to shield them from his sight.
While he’s focused on figuring it out, Llinos and I are practising our sword skills. Or at least, that’s what we’re meant to be doing. She seems far keener on gossiping.
‘He hasn’t taken his eyes off you the entire morning. Are you sure you didn’t do more than stitch him up?’
‘You were out of the room for ten minutes,’ I reply, swinging my sword at her. If she’s not going to pay attention, I’ll at least use it to my advantage. ‘What exactly do you expect us to have done in that time?’
She arches an eyebrow. ‘I can think of a few things.’
‘Well, they didn’t happen.’ I glower. ‘None of them.’ Except in the vivid dreams that came instead of me.
I swing my sword again, trying to push down the memories of the way Kyor pinned me against the wall with his hips. The way he asked if I’d thought about him taking me. The way I can still feel his muscled form pressed against me, like it’s permanently imprinted on my skin.
‘Well, I think he definitelywantedsomething to happen.’ Llinos refuses to let it be, continuing to press as she sweeps my sword away from her with a gust of wind. Apparently, Roderick’s far enough away from us that she can use her magic, and she’s definitely using it to her advantage. ‘From the way he’s looking at you now, I’d say he still wants something to happen.’
‘He always looks at me like that,’ I snap back, refusing to glance in Kyor’s direction. ‘Remember the whole thing about blaming me for his mother’s death? The look you’re talking about is hatred.’
She snorts. ‘Nope, that’s not it. But even if it were, have you never heard of hate sex?’
