Kel’s pupils are dilated, breath sweet from the drinks. “You are ferocious and beautiful, my Rose. You deserve to claim what is yours after that display.”
“Claim what is mine,” I echo.You’re mine, Kel. I’m yours.
His hands roam over my body as I melt in his arms, letting go of all the worries and pent-up energy. “I have never wanted anyone the way I want you right now.” His mouth dips to my neck, teeth skittering along the sensitive skin. “I have never longed so desperately to show you.”
“Show me what?”
His lips are a hair away from mine. “My devotion to you.”
I sigh, becoming limp in his arms. My hips rock, feeling his steel length through the thin ribbons of my skirt. His hand snakes around to grip my waist, pulling me against him.
Spitefully, I think,Feel this, asshole.This is what it’s supposed to be like.
A beat passes, and Caspian’s familiar purr caresses my mind.And isn’t it delicious?
I press my lips to the exposed skin along Kel’s collar bone. A purely male rumble emits from his chest. I twist my head to give him better access to my neck and see Ezryn near the entrance of our enclosure.
He’s watching us.
A strange smile skitters across my lips as I continue to taste Kel’s skin while looking at Ezryn. It doesn’t feel strange that he’s here during this intimate moment. In fact, I can’t help but remember the time in the forest when he wound my hair around his hand as Kel laced up my bodice.
A deep moan escapes my lips, and I lick my way up Kel’s throat. A thrum of satisfaction crawls through my body at the sounds he makes with each press of my mouth. I look up at him through my lashes. How many times can I ask him to kiss me? So, I don’t ask. I rise up, lips parting, eyes closing.
He slaps a hand over my mouth as he growls, “I need to leave, or I am going to take you against this tree.”
He drops me, then stumbles, reaching out to a branch to steady himself. Ezryn darts forward, holding him up. “Don’t go out there right now, Kel.”
Kel grips Ezryn’s shoulders, his face a pained grimace. “I can’t be in here with her like this. Just look at her.”
Ezryn tilts his metal helm and regards me. “I’ll take her for a walk.”
“She—”
“I will not let harm come to her,” Ezryn says. “Trust me.”
Kel grits his teeth before he nods.
I tap Ezryn hard on his gauntleted arm. “Hey, do I not get a say in this?”
“No.”
“Did I mention how annoying it is when you two gang up on me?”
Ezryn leads me into the fray of the party, and I don’t look back. Stupid icy prick. Kel gets to storm around when he’s angry, but the moment my mating bond takes over a little bit, I get banished like a child?
“I’ll find us a quiet place away from the crowd—”
I break out of Ezryn’s grip. Rage bubbles in each of my steps. I know exactly where I’m going.
I march toward the thorn staircase.
Ezryn leaps in step with me “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to talk to the Prince of Thorns.”
“I can’t let you go up there.”
I spin and fix Ezryn with a glare. “I won’t let Caspian keep tormenting my mate. Trust me, Ezryn. Let me do this.”
