“Alex,” she answered simply, grasping his hand in hers.
He raised a brow at the lack of information she offered but didn’t push. She appreciated his complete acceptance of her answer with no pressure or expectations.
“What brings you to this fine establishment?” he asked.
Alex snorted, taking a sip of her ale before answering. “Strong currents.” Confusion showed on his face. “Currents?”
“Long story. One that I am not particularly inclined to rehash at this moment.”
“Fair enough.” He took a long pull on his ale.
“Won’t your friends get lonely without you?” Alex gestured to the group he’d been standing with earlier.
“I’m sure they’ll survive without my devilish good looks for a short time. Besides,” he looked to where she had gestured, “they are all deviants and bet me that I couldn’t get you to have a drink with me.”
“Oh, so I’m just a conquest then?”
“Not at all. More like an easy win. Una and I go way back, and the drinks were free, so I didn’t buy anything.” He grinned, and her lips twitched in answer. “And for all intents and purposes, we are drinking and sitting together; therefore, I win the bet.”
This time Alex truly did laugh. “Devilish good looksandintelligence. A rarity in men these days.”
“Oh, so you do find me devilishly handsome then? Good to know.”
Alex was saved from having to answer him when a large basket of steaming rolls plopped in front of them. Her stomach rumbled in response. Una winked at her as she refilled their mugs again. She turned to Davin next, “Don’t think I’mgiving this one to you for free, too, laddie. You’ll be paying for this one.”
The grin he shot at Una made the muscles in Alex’s stomach tighten. She hadn’t been lying when she had said he was good looking, and his easy going manner only added to his charm. They fell back into conversation easily, discussing training styles and politics, even the noticeable shift in the demeanor of the provinces. Alex even risked hinting at the issues with security and supply ships, without giving away vital details, and confirmed that Varon was not alone in their struggle.
The conversation was so damned easy. Ale flowed much like the conversation and the stragglers that occupied the inn for mid-day meal were replaced with field workers finishing their day's tasks, hot and in need of refreshment. Davin hadn’t so much as noticed when the rest of his group had departed.
The sounds of raucous laughter and jeers surrounded them but Alex barely noticed. How long had it been since she had just talked with someone, shared stories of her fellow guards, without needing to be somewhere or handle a problem?
As the volume of the inn grew, their chairs had moved closer, so close that she could feel the heat radiating off his thigh, pressed up against hers. The ability to hear the other speak became increasingly more difficult. Alex watched Davin’s hand flex as he gripped his pint, not to lift it but simply to hold it as if he needed to squeeze the mug to expel the excess energy building inside him. His muscles rolled and the veins in his hand popped. Alex momentarily lost the conversation, involuntarily licking her lips as her thoughts drifted to his hand, up the muscles cording his exposed forearm, and need speared through her.
What in the name of the Gods is happening to me?
He had asked her something, but the words neverreached her ears, sifting away like sand through a clenched fist. Davin was grinning at her, open and unabashed, no ulterior motives or hesitation, just enjoying the moment. The second her eyes met his, fire erupted inside her, desire swimming in his golden eyes, molten and hot. Under her clothes, she could feel her body greeting the clear desire emanating off him.
Why shouldn’t she take advantage of the offer? She had no obligations, no commitment, and she was undeniably attracted to him, her hardened nipples and the ache in her lower abdomen testament enough. He held her gaze, one moment, two…three. An unspoken conversation crackled in the air between them. She stood from her seat and turned, looking back over her shoulder at him.
Davin’s smile filled with concern as he glanced down at the table, the empty mugs still yet to be cleared.
Alex took a step back toward him and whispered, her lips brushing his ear. "I may have drank my weight in ale, sir. But I'm still perfectly capable of deciding to take you to bed."
That's all he needed to hear before his chair scraped the floor and he turned toward the stairs; Alex close on his heels. There was no hand holding to lead her. No whispered words to entice her feet to move with his.
Up the stairs, they passed the door to Alex’s room, but Davin kept going, stopping at the door just beyond, making quick work with his key to unlock it. Her feet had barely crossed the threshold when his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her against his lean body.
Turning, he shut the door with his other hand, following its motion with their bodies, pressing her between his hard chest and the door with only his arm bracing them. His lips found hers a second later and she whimpered from the decadence. This man could kiss. He delved into her, stroking her with histongue, moving his mouth across hers, leaving no question about his blatant desire.
The hand not holding them together gripped the back of her neck, feeding her mouth to him. Arching, she pressed against him, feeling the hard length of his erection push against her stomach. Dipping, he slid his arm from around her waist, across her ass, landing behind her thigh, lifting her petite frame easily. Pressing his knee forward, he pinned her to the door, freeing the hand that previously held her.
With that hand now freed, he gripped her hip and squeezed, the pressure of his thumb digging into her. Desire shot from the point of his fingertip straight between her legs, forcing a guttural moan from her. Throwing her head back, she offered her neck, which he happily accepted, trailing kisses in his wake, his other hand moving to cup her breast, where it pushed against him.
Desire coursed through her body, demanding to be satisfied. Rivka’s face floated behind her closed eyelids. Alex went motionless, her heart racing. Her mind reeled, panic setting in.What am I doing?
These were not the hands she wanted on her body, the fingertips she wished would trail down her spine, the lips she missed pressing between her breasts...
A strangled gasp shuddered from her mouth. “Stop”. It was barely audible but Davin froze and retreated, giving her space.
