He steps closer.
I step back.
“Hiding,” I whisper. I creep backward until I’m pressed flush against the wall. “I saw your brother one hallway over.”
He hums, taking another step closer. The air around him vibrates.
“And where are your guards?”
“You wanted to find me in a dark closet with one of my guards?”
He growls. “You know that’s not what I mean.” He’s right in front of me now, barely an inch between us.
All I can see and smell and sense ishim.
He braces his hands against the wall on either side of my head, muscular arms caging me. The air tightens—there’s no escape.
I hate it. I love it. I can’t tidesdamned think.
“I’m waiting for an answer, wife.” His breath skates across my lips.
“I—I saw a chance to be alone. I took it. Everyone wants to be alone sometimes.”
His gray eyes study me, nearly black in the dark.
“Which guards?” he finally asks.
“Don’t punish them,” I protest. “It’s not their fault.”
“Which. Guards.”
“Gregoran and Freynk. But please don’t punish them. I like them.”
“Youlikethem?” he growls, pressing closer. “I’m feeling more and more inclined to eviscerate them.”
My hand finds its way to Zev’s firm chest, splaying over his heart. I don’t say anything, teeth catching my lower lip as I look up at him with wide eyes.
He mutters a curse, his gaze dropping to my mouth.
For a moment, neither of us says a word.
Zev trails a finger across my collarbone, up the line of my neck. He’s breathing hard. So am I.
“Can I kiss you, Mayah?” he whispers.
It’s dangerous how easily he unravels me. How badly I want to lose myself in him.
Just one kiss. Just one taste.
Then I’ll stop.
“Yes—” The word has barely left my mouth when his lips capture mine in a deep, punishing kiss. His mouth claims me with urgency, full lips coaxing mine open. My hands tangle in his soft locks, a loud groan tearing free.
I try to stifle the moans rising in my throat, but he drinks them down greedily—like he wants every gasp, every sound I’m not supposed to make. The harder I try to stay quiet, the louder I become. His tongue plunders my mouth, and Tides drown me, I’m lost in him. Large hands grip the backs of my thighs, hoisting me up until I wrap my legs around his waist.
The stone wall is hard against my back, and my husband is hard everywhere else. I’m utterly consumed by him. He breaks away only to trail hot, open-mouthed kisses down my neck, nudging aside my necklace to dip his tongue in the hollow between my collarbones before kissing his way back to my lips.
I should push him away. I should tell him to stop. Tides, this is dangerous.
