My hackles rose. “Interesting. If you insist on browbeating the issue instead of letting it go, then I’ll get to the point: I’ve never had a problem with the bloke holding any weapon straight.”
Aire’s pupils blew the fuck up. With predatory calm, he lifted off the joust railing, the gradual motion sending my palpitations into wild disarray. Stalking toward me, his body loomed over mine, the proximity so potent I might get stoned off his scent.
He bore down on me like an active volcano. “And the rest of them?”
I gaped, recalling how he watched the men approach me earlier. “That’s none of your goddamn business.”
For the second time in six hours, his eyes dropped to my lips, the irises sizzling like a pair of explosives. “No,” he rasped. “It most certainly is not.”
So hehadbeen jealous.
My mouth tingled, and dammit, my pussy clenched, the tight cleft throbbing between my thighs. I chuffed so much oxygen, the vent in my cloak split, offering a glimpse of cleavage.But thank Seasons this diviner couldn’t read me beyond the surface.
Very well. Lust, I could forgive. He’d always been gorgeous, and this had nothing to do with yearning. Nevertheless, I refused to go there for a thousand reasons.
Aire’s blistering gaze sank to my bust, then jolted back to my features as if he’d been caught sinning. “Never mind the rest of them. Let’s focus on one. Tell me you believe that knight is worthy of your skillset. To say nothing of this Rhun character as a viable training partner.”
“You’ve known him for three solid seconds,” I contested.
“Which is less time than it would take you to extract his spleen, depending on whether he possesses one. Is that the type of subpar opponent you wish to combat on the practice field? Say the word, and I’ll retract my statement.”
Unbelievable. “Are you getting these vibes from your psyche or some highfalutin whim? Because I’m pretty sure I know the difference by now.”
“Meaning what?”
“Meaning one minute, you’re a humble defender of peace. Next, you’re acting like a biased prick.”
Based on the depth of our voices, we could have either been flirting or laying out the terms for a bloodthirsty siege. Both options took on a feral, provocative note. But like fuck was I about to surrender an inch.
“Divinely perceptive or not, it’s not like you to make unfair assumptions,” I snapped. “Or to downgrade my ability to choose valuable sparring partners.”
Instant dismay stole across Aire’s face. “I did not intend—”
“At least, that wasn’t the knight I knew before you left. And for the record, Rhun’s fighting skills suit me just fine. I save the real thing for the rest of the troops, while he and I spar forlevity. It’s a tease between us, not actual combat. Deliberately mispronounce his name all you want, but it’ll always come out right from my mouth, whether I’m crossing swords with him or sitting on his cock.”
Gone went Aire’s remorse. It fizzled out like a magician’s special effect. In its place, a combustible noise skidded up his throat.
I hadn’t meant for that last bit to come out during a pent-up argument on his first day home. I also hadn’t reached his boiling point so much as rammed my boot into the thing, kicked it over, and spilled the contents.
Aire hammered his opposite palm on the other side of the railing, the heat of his body soaking through my dress. My intakes hitched, a primal buzz shooting through my veins. Antagonism intensified the effect, the friction tightening in my cunt.
“Then my original allegation stands,” the knight husked. “That obscene tongue of yours should be leashed.”
“You don’t believe that.”
“Oh? Why is that?”
“Because you’re not a chauvinist. And despite your chaste sensibilities, you’ve heard the clan say worse on a daily basis. It seems I’ve got a greater effect, but my tongue doesn’t repel you.” I matched his stance, my bodice rustling against his jacket. “It intimidates you.”
That fully-loaded gaze bolted me to the ground. “You’re right.”
I blinked, whiplashed. “Any particular reason?”
“I do not know.”
We halted on a precipice, capable of saying things we wouldn’t be able to take back and ruining this night. But we’d done that once already. Awareness softened his pupils, repentance consuming the blue of his irises.
Aire dipped his head, studying my hand close to his on the railing. Our fingers clenched the bar, inches from brushing.
