“It matters because of the front we’re supposed to show. It matters because my people need to think that at some point I’m going to have an heir. Otherwise they’ll—never mind.” He sinks back into his chair and rubs his right eye with the heel of his hand. “What was I thinking, doing this? And with you, of all people.”
I didn’t walk in here to be insulted. “Meof all people? You’re the one who caused this joining. You’re the reason why I can’t go back to my home, why I can’t go anywhere unless you’re there, too. Do you think I want to be in this?”
I’ve had enough. I rise and start to leave, but his hand shoots out and stops me.
Feylin rises slowly, eying me as he straightens to his full height, a head taller than me. He gazes down with anger blazing in his eyes.
“We wouldn’t be in this mess if you hadn’t needed saving.”
“I didn’t need saving.”
He laughs bitterly. “Oh no? Tell your ex-boyfriend that. Tell anyone else who was in that ballroom.”
Why’s his jaw so straight? Why are his eyes so dark that I lose myself in them? Why am I now looking at his chest?
When I glance up, his gaze is locked on my lips.
I lick them and his eyelids flare. This attraction between us infuriates the hell out of me. “You want to blame me for today,but you’re the reason today ever happened. It’s because of you that we’re in this, and if you’d find a way to break the joining, like you said, then I’d be out of it.”
Instead of replying, Feylin gently trails his finger down my cheek. My nipples tighten at the thought of his finger going lower, and lower still.
My mind’s screaming for me to slap his hand away, but his touch holds me in place. Sheerwantclouds my brain.
“I wonder,” he murmurs, “what that kiss would’ve been like. What it would feel like now.”
His finger traces the top of my nightdress, dipping to outline the V between my breasts. My nipples are so tight I’m pretty sure they’re about to pop off.
“You feel this, don’t you? This, that’s between us.”
I close my eyes and swallow. His finger runs over my collarbone. The urge to slide my hands through his silky hair’s nearly overwhelming. I curl my hands into fists to keep from doing just that. Also, maybe if I don’t look at him, maybe he’ll go away, and all these insane sensations will stop.
But they don’t. His finger trails over my lips, and a shudder rocks my spine. I open my eyes and he’s smiling slightly. “Whatever you feel, I feel ten times more.”
“Impossible,” I whisper.
He smirks. “It’s not.”
I will see his wager and top it. Keeping my eyes locked on his in a silent challenge, I slowly rake my fingers down the rippling muscles of his chest.
“You’re so hard,” I whisper.
“And you’re so soft.” He shivers as my finger traces his abdomen. “I thought you didn’t like touching me.”
“I don’t.”
His mouth turns up into a smug smirk. “Then why are you?”
“I’m trying to torment you.”
He exhales a husky sigh. “Please.Torment me more.”
His flesh is silky, manly, and oh wow, do I want to feel all of it. Touching him gives me a head rush that’s euphoric. It makes me feel like I’m falling into an ocean of limitless ecstasy.
And I don’t want to come up for air.
It must do the same to him, because he tips his head back and moans.
So I don’t stop. My fingers glide down his abs, slowly sliding to his waistband, where I make little circles on his flesh.
