My eyes flew back to his. “That would be reckless. We’re under my father’s roof right now. There are peopleeverywhere.”
“None are close by.” His white hair slipped over his left shoulder as he tipped his head, resting the side of his forehead on the wing of the tall chair—his posture relaxed and composed. The King of Shifters sniffed once, and his nose wrinkled. “Except for your dear friend. He’s stationed down the hallway. And while I allowedCaspianto eavesdrop on our argument in the bookstore, I will not abide him listening in on our intimacies. If he wishes to stay alive, it would be prudent for him to stay where he is.”
King Athon knew my cousin’s name.
Caspian knew the truth.
That was information I would need to think on.
Not taking my gaze off a shrewd set of shifter eyes, I stated as calmly as I could, “Cas only sneaks up on someone when he plans to kill them. If he knows the truth about us, then you are safe until Igive orders otherwise.” My cousin would disobey our king, knowing the reality of my precarious situation.
A horriblegrowlerupted inside the room.
I jerked in place and glowered. “Hush. It is the truth.”
King Athon flashed his tiger fangs, a warning to tread carefully with any other threats to his person.
I ignored his surly ways and wiggled my nose. “I suppose we already smell like one another. Was that part of your reasoning?”
Reluctantly, the shifter king put his tiger fangs away. He answered bluntly, “We reek of each other. As long as a shifter doesn’t sniff between your legs, no one will be the wiser.”
I tapped my fingers on my right leg and finally allowed my attention to wander to my illegal soul mate’s chest, no longer making myself behave—no one else was here, I could do as I wished. A goodly portion of his muscles showed, his black vest opened wide, displaying his warm russet skin. I lowered my lashes over my eyes as I ogled his body, once again, startling desire roaring through my veins, astonishing and potent. My gaze slid down to his thighs where his leather pants hid nothing, his muscles flexing as he opened his legs even wider—arousal piercing in my Fae-spark from him. Hereallyliked me looking at him.
I licked over my bottom lip.
Fuck it. I hadn’t been a good girl since I first smelled him.
I turned toward the door and lifted my right hand—but my courage unexpectedly wavered. The metal was cool under my fingers as I slowly twisted the lock. I waited long moments before pivoting back around to my illegal soul mate.
I peeked up at him under my lashes, my eyes caught on a view I never thought I’d enjoy this much. Unbidden heat pooled low in my gut.
It was astounding what could change with a different outlook and a few mind-blowing experiences from this shifter.
“I’ll give you one last chance to back out, elf.” King Athon leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees, his penetrating gaze capturing mine. His brutal shifter tone was gruff and deep. “You know I can feel your anxiety, too.”
I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin as a slow song drifted to my ears. “And as you bloody well know, I play with fire quite regularly. This is no different.”
“Cute, Princess. But it’s not the same.” King Athon’s nostrils flared as his eyes caught on the apex between my thighs. He ground his teeth together, gritting, “The reason I’m here right now is that I want to fuck you. I’m not here for titillation purposes to have sex in my enemy’s castle. If you don’t want the same, I’ll leave.”
King Athon wasn’t going anywhere.
It was a powerful thing to be wanted, his frank words restoring my nerve and strength of will.
“That wasn’t the fire I was referring to.” A brazen thought percolated inside my mind. Itmightwork to keep him here. I shored up my courage once more, and put my idea into action. I began swaying my hips sensually to the slow beat in the air, asking quietly, “Areyoubacking out of your own plan?”
“I am not.” The King of Shifters’ massive form gradually sat back on the chair. His voice was calm and collected. “This will be interesting.”
I walked toward him, rotating my hips to the fluid beat, a throaty chuckle slipping past my lips. “Is itinterestingso far?”
“It is a promising beginning.” King Athon cocked his head slightly. “I’ve never appreciated how an elf moved until tonight.”
My lips quirked up. “Do you like what you see?”
The King of Shifters’ eyes snapped up to mine so ferociously that I froze in place—caught by a more experienced hunter.
“Yes.” King Athon stood from the chair like the tiger he was, fluid and brutal. He prowled right at me, ordering sternly, “Don’t stop.”
I hesitated, but I gradually lifted my arms above my head and began rotating my hips again to the sensuous tune. I couldn’t look away from his hard gaze, rasping, “Like this?”
