She could drive herself mad trying to reason this out.
What was the truth?
Xaydin led them back through the woods until they reached the waiting horses. “Shall we go tell Dash the good news?”
“Sure.” And with that, another thought hit her.
Rushing to catch up to Xaydin, she pulled his head down to hers. Shock registered on his face as she pressed her lips against his ear. “You said you knew a shape shifter?” she whispered.
He nodded.
“Can you send for him?”
Scowling, he looked down at her.
“Trust me.” And with that she kissed his lips.
It was supposed to be a meaningless thing. Nothing more than a friend might give a friend or a child to its mother. An act to keep the imposter thinking they were being intimate and that she wasn’t scheming.
Yet the moment her lips touched his, electricity went through her. Not just because they were softer than she’d ever imagined, but because the spicy masculine scent of him hit her at the same time.
More than that, he pulled her against him with a heated passion the likes of which she’d never experienced. His tongue swept against her lips. Instinctively, she opened them and welcomed him with every part of her.
Xaydin couldn’t breathe as he tasted innocence and passion. Never in his life had he ever been kissed like this. She fisted her hands in his hair and held him close.
A part of him wondered if he were dreaming or if she were trying to bespell him. Something that should be impossible, and yet he had no resistance to her. Especially not at this moment.
Holding her close, all he could do was imagine what it would be like to lose himself inside her. To make love to her until they were both sweaty and spent.
Had she ever been really and thoroughly loved?
Sadly, neither had he. But that truth had never bothered him. As a prince, he knew he was nothing but a trophy to the fairer sex. He’d never expected to be loved by anyone.
Not really. His own mother couldn’t stand to be around him. Why should anyone else?
And he’d been content with that all his life. Yet now…
He wanted something more. Something impossible.
The touch of a loving hand…
A dream he knew would never come.
“Umm…” Masakage began coughing. “Do I need find a water bucket? I was debating a bolt of lightning, but that might cause permanent harm.”
Xaydin cursed the bastard as Gisela pulled away and ducked her face behind her hand.
“Sorry.”
He hated the sound of her embarrassment. If that had been his brother, Masakage would have vanished and not interrupted. Of all people, his brother would have known how rare an event this was. That he didn’t just reach out and molest any woman near him.
No, Masakage would have respected what he saw and made himself scarce.
The temptation to slug the imposter was even greater than before.
Which reminded him of what had led to that kiss.
Ronan.
