Clothes dropping to the floor in gentle wooshes.
The bed dips behind me, and a gust of air flies beneath the quilt as Thane slides into the bed. He doesn’t touch me, but I notice the magic-infused bulbs in the room slowly dimming. When I glance over my shoulder, one of his hands is in the air to control them. He only leaves one light on across the room so we’re now bathed in darkness.
“You’re a bold one, Quinlocke.” His voice seems louder in the dark.
“Am I?”
“I took you as a coy woman. I mean, other than when you constantly talk and ask the most annoying questions.”
I fight a smile.
I feel him shift closer. His skin is warm, radiating on mine. He smells like smoke and pine, shadows and salt.
“Why do youreallywant me in this bed?”
I gasp when I feel his mouth on the shell of my ear. His warm breath spills down the curve of my neck.
“Unlike you, I’m considerate. You’re way too big for that sofa.”
He unleashes a throaty laugh. “Lies.”
He shifts closer, and I feel his stiff erection press into my backside. I curl my fingers into the pillow beneath my head, trying to bottle my excitement.
“You asked me why I didn’t put up more of a fight for my own room, but I noticed you didn’t, either. And you know what that tells me?”
I don’t answer—can’tanswer. His mouth is now skimming over the slope of my shoulder and causing a delicious stir between my thighs. I hold back a moan and close my eyes, falling victim to that simple act.
“Shall I explain?” he asks, sliding a hand over my hip to find the hem of my nightgown and ease it up.
“Explain,” I breathe as he cups my sex.
“It tells me that you want more.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
The hand that was cupping me slides into my underwear, and I hitch a breath. He skims a finger between my delicate lips. “I do now.” His laugh is dark and delicious. “You may think you can resist me, but your body will betray you every time.”
Oh, gods.
“And what about you?” I ask, breathless. “What do you want?”
“To be theonlyman who can do this to you for the rest of our time together. Will you give me that?”
He sucks on the bend of my neck while creating small loops around my slick bundle of nerves with his finger. I nod in pleasure, answering his question.
“What else do you want?” I ask.
“To watch you come again. Only this time, I want to witness it while I’mburieddeep inside you.”
“Is it wise to gothatdeep?” I ask through a breathy moan. It’s now I realize I’m rolling my hips and grinding against his hand, desperate for more.
“I didn’t mean that in the physical sense.”
“Emotionally, then?”
“Precisely.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about that,” I assure him. “It’s impossible for me to fall for an assassin.” I can’t help but smile.
