I swallowed, my breath catching on the edge of a laugh. “That’s a new one.”
“Not really.” His voice dropped to a near-growl. “It gets truer every time I see you.”
The air between us pulled taut. I pressed into the wall and tipped my chin up in the unspoken invitation of someone who wasn’t about to back down.
He leaned in, his light, woodsy scent sliding over me, his nose brushing my temple. “You fought well. I adored how you dropped him to his knees. But if he’d caused you even a hint of pain, he’d be dead.”
“Let’s let him live for now. We need everyone.”
“We don’t need him.”
“Even him.”
He tilted his head. “Why? We could end this now.”
“Because…” How could I explain? “I lost my sister. He lost his brother.”
“Don’t pity him.”
“I don’t believe I do, not more than normal. But I turned her death into a need for vengeance, and he’s done the same.”
“You two are nothing alike.”
“In some ways, not. In others, we are.”
“Please let me kill him.”
My laugh snorted out. “If he touches me again, he’s yours.”
“Good.” Concern shadowed his eyes. “You’re sure you feel alright?”
“I am.”
“I’m glad.” His mouth brushed the corner of mine. “Then I can do this without guilt.”
His lips captured mine. I felt his kiss all the way down my spine and in the heat that unfurled low in my belly. He didn’t rush; he coaxed, testing, giving me the option to push him away.
I didn’t.
His kiss was a conversation without words, urging me to trust the fire between us. I wasn’t ready to burn, but I was ready to feel the heat he had to offer.
When I leaned in, he deepened the kiss, one hand sliding from the door to curve over my hip, his fingers pressing enough to feel like possession. I latched onto his tunic, and the world ceased to exist.
When he finally pulled back, his mouth lingered over mine, his breath warm against my lips. His golden eyes searched mine for a moment before a faint, smug curve touched his mouth.
“Stop fooling around, Minx.” His gaze dipped to my mouth again like he knew exactly where my thoughts had gone. “It’s time to work.”
I narrowed my eyes at him, because my brain was still busyreplaying the last thirty seconds in shameless detail. “I wasn’t the one?—”
The smirk deepened. “Mmm. Keep telling yourself that.”
“Oh, sure, King Trewyn. Because your idea of ‘work’ never involves distracting me with that smug grin.”
“You adore that about me.”
I couldn’t deny it.
He moved toward the center of the room, already shedding the lazy lean for something sharper, more focused. Black training gear clung to him in ways that were criminal for a man who expected me to concentrate. Sleeves shoved to his elbows revealed the strong lines of his forearms.
