“The sorting drink proved you are ducai.” His breathing changed, faster, harder. “But don’t ever tell anyone what happened to you.”
“I won’t,” I promised and leaned my head against his shoulder. His hard hands grabbed my hips, and he lifted me onto his lap and curled his taut, muscular arms protectively around me. My heart pounded and fiery heat pulsed through me. I took a few deep breaths to compose myself before I twisted to face him. Cool fingers brushed the hair off my cheek, and he tucked it behind my ear. He studied my face as if he was memorizing it, admiring it.
“There are people from LOA here,” I breathed.
“What are they going to do? Tell Commander Locke you were sitting on my lap at The Nightcap?”
I licked my bottom lip. “They might.”
He chuckled and it vibrated my body. “Does that bother you?”
“I thought it would bother you.There will never be any feelings between us but loyalty.” I repeated his own words back to him.
His chest heaved with a deep breath. “I said that because I was afraid I was far too attracted to you and we’d just met.”
“You said it again days ago.”
He frowned and dropped his gaze. “Because I’m afraid for you. I don’t want anyone to hurt you because of me, but leaving you isn’t the answer. Am I allowed to change my mind?”
“That depends. Because I don’t know if you know how much that hurt me.”
His arms tightened ever so slightly. “I’m sorry, Aesira. I didn’t want to hurt you. It was painful for me to even say it.”
“Does this mind change have anything to do with Kace? I know you saw him kiss me.” I turned to get my mug, and he pinched my chin and turned my face back toward him. His gaze, his touch, commanded me to stay.
“Did it make me mad with jealousy? Yes. But it didn’t change anything. I already knew I wanted you more than I’ve ever wanted anything. And I know that I shouldn’t.”
I gripped his hard thighs below me. I had to hold on to something. “When he kissed me, all I could think was that I wished it wasyou.”
One beat. One breath. Then his lips collided with mine.
My stomach dipped. The rush of adrenaline pumped through me. The muscles in his thighs tensed beneath my hands. Something untamed unleashed in me; my fingers tangled in his hair, his tongue swept against mine. I moaned and he pulled meharder against him. I couldn’t get close enough. Possession and need rolled off him, making my core ache.
I pulled back for a breath; I stilled at the sight of his fangs brushing his bottom lip and the glow of his eyes. He felt dangerous, intoxicating. A crease formed between his brows. A silent question hung between us; was I afraid of him now?
I kissed him again. Temptation washed through me so thick I could taste it. He threaded his hands in the locks of my hair. I’d never felt anything like this. It was like standing at the edge of a waterfall, ready to take the plunge, but not knowing how deep the pool below was.
My heart thundered. It drummed in my ears. I felt his crashing beneath my palm, beating as fast as mine. My tongue brushed against his fang and with a low rumble in his throat he gently eased me back. “Careful, Aesira.”
He’d finally caught my fall and started to reel me in.
“Is that who I think it is?” Celine half squealed, cooling the heat between us.
He turned his face away. I pressed my cheek to his and wrapped my arms around his neck to shield him until his vampire settled.
“Celine.” I sounded breathless. “Can you come back in about five minutes?”
“I knew it!”
“What happens in The Nightcap stays at The Nightcap.”
She burst out laughing and Shadowhawk took her hand and dragged her away toward the gambling area. She raised her glass to me and wiggled her eyebrows.
I might have laughed if I wasn’t shielding a vampire from my vampire-killing friends.
“I’m alright now,” Vander whispered in my ear. “Thank you.” His eyes darted around the people at tables around us, but everyone appeared to be busy with their own conversations. Noone started screaming “vampire”. “We’ll have to be very careful in public.”
“I see that.” The fangs should have repulsed me, at the very least worried me, but I was at ease in his arms, on his lap.
