My shoulders slumped. “I try very hard to keep up appearances, you know.”
“And I melt through your defenses?” A wry smile spread across his face.
“Don’t get smug, now.” My eyes darted away. “You’re a Solheart. You’re supposed to think I’m lowly.”
“I think you’re funny, charming, and beautiful. Not to mention incredibly brave.” He ran his thumb down my cheek. “And I amnotperfect.”
Clenching my hands, I forced myself to look into his eyes. He leaned toward me, and I tensed, turning my face.
‘You are doomed to forever stand on opposite sides. Your heart will shatter, long before your blades clash.’
Even without Vaf’s price, this was a mistake. Forbidden. It would bring nothing but a headache.
“No one,” Reese breathed, turning my face back to his. “Tells Paragons what to do.”
“Really? I was under the impression we had to follow laws.”
He smiled, warm and inviting. Red waves fell over eyes that still burned with rage, giving him that wildly handsome appearance.
My heart was primed to leap from my chest, and my fingers trembled. This was agony.
“Have I told you?” Reese whispered. “That your eyes are beautiful?”
“Oh, fuck it,” I murmured, throwing myself at him.
Reese wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me against him. Our lips met in a fiery blaze, but it was a pleasant heat—not the painful touch of his magic. I tangled my fingers in his hair and felt my feet lift from the ground as he picked me up and pushed me against the tree.
Half my body screamed,no stop. The other half cheered,yes more.
His fingers knit through mine, dragging my arm above my head, pinning me in place. The dissenting voices fell silent after that.
I curled my fingers through his and traced my other hand through his hair. Heat burned through my body—like I wasaflame. And like the idiot I was, I buried myself tighter against the man who ignited me.
His grip tightened around my waist, and he swept me away from the tree. With a gentle kick, he nudged my feet out from under me.
Frigid cold gripped me as I fell back onto the soft grass, freed from his fiery touch. I had a fleeting moment to realize the mistake I was making, to break away, to beg him to stop.
Reese gripped my shoulders and pushed me down, mouth pressing onto mine, tongue parting my lips. His hands found mine, twining them in his, trapping them above my head.
A realization pooled in my core as I lay beneath his mercy.
I was perfectly happy to be dominated.
Reese tilted his head, trailing kisses down my jaw to my neck.
I gasped. “I’ve had enough of the ball. Why don’t we just leave?”
“And retire to my chambers?” He breathed against my neck.
My fingers tightened around his. Images flashed through my mind of rolling around in the sheets with him.
His lips found mine again, and I was just about ready to throw away my dignity.
A voice shattered the bliss.
“Oh my, how scandalous.”
Reese shot to his feet and drew his blade. Raild—his brother—sauntered toward us, face twisted into a satisfied sneer.
