I looked to where Shade sat on one of the lounges, brow furrowed as he read one of the romance novels I borrowed from the castle library. His skin had darkened from our days in the sun, those swirling marks not as stark as they once were.
The Gods, or fate, had drawn us together for a reason, and I feared it was the worst, a future condemned for tragic ending.
The Giver of Love was a cruel Goddess indeed.
We hadn’t kissed since that first night, and how I craved more. Just the memory of his lips on mine made my body tingle, no matter how hard I tried to push the feelings away.
I wanted him, needed him, and I shouldn’t. I was about to marry another man; it was selfish of me to want him in such a way. To crave him.
Gods, I craved him.
It wouldn’t be fair, not to him and not to me. That’s why I couldn’t give in to this feeling. I couldn’t give Shade my whole self. Not yet. Not when my responsibilities were still to Eleanor, to the promise I made my mother to prepare her to take her rightful place as Queen of Galisordis.
Shade knew that,Iknew that,but it didn’t stop the longing. The deep ache to be touched by him, to be held closely, to soak in his warmth and comfort.
To know he was mine.
Sensing my gaze, Shade looked up, and a small smile spread across his face when he caught me staring. He had started doing that more.
Smiling.
Our weeks together had shown me so much more than I ever thought possible, his previously blank mask now bore an array of emotions. Curiosity. Wonder. Happiness.Desire.
It was his smile that never ceased to make my stomach flutter, no matter how many times I’d seen it. Warmth spread through my chest each time he sent it my way.
In this moment, I couldn’t return it with a smile of my own, so I turned back to watch the rain again. The last thing I wanted was to ruin our final night together.
“Will you dance with me?” His deep voice was close, and when I spun around, he stood before me, hand out in offering, smile bright, and his intense silver eyes locked on mine.
His odd request pulled a chuckle from me. “There isn’t any music.”
“Humor me,” he murmured, his smile turning into a lilting smirk.
I placed my hand in his, sparks dancing across my skin, a feeling that would never get old. “I’m not a very good dancer.”
“I’m good enough for both of us,” he stated, drawing another laugh from me.
“Modest too.”
He sent me a wink and pulled me close enough our bodies were flush. I gasped at the sudden contact, and my heart thumped an erratic beat. Everywhere our bodies touched, tingled. Static lingering as warmth soaked into my skin.
Gods, I was burning up.
A hand settled on my lower back, and the other pulled our joined hands to his chest. Swirling silver zeroed in on my parted lips, and my heart took off.
I wanted to kiss him, more than anything.
His eyes darkened as if he could sense my desire. Then he moved, leading us gracefully across the floor. My body followed, entirely at his mercy.
Chapter 25
Shade had been right; he was a good dancer. He glided us effortlessly around the room, supporting my body as he led me into spin after spin. My eyes didn’t leave his. I could get lost in those orbs, the liquid silver when his emotions were heightened.
Did he feel what I did? The fire burning hotter the longer he held my body close.
Shade lowered me into a dip, leaning over me as he followed me down. His warm breath tickled my throat, and my body flushed. The heat built into an inferno, coiling tight and low, and my breathing increased.
He lifted me slowly, bringing our bodies flush again, each inch of gradual contact torturous.
