Aria stilled underneath me.
“I'm sorry, Aria. I wish you'd believe me, but I honestly don't remember what happened.”
Tilting my head, I brought my lips a breath away from hers, our gazes locked. I could see the turmoil of her thoughts and emotions swirling within them and I knew I had mere seconds before she’d regain her composure and lash out again. So, I did the most foolish thing imaginable. I kissed her.
Aria froze beneath me, her lips pressing firmly against mine. I held my breath, expecting her to push me away or punch me—a reaction I would have deserved. But she didn't. Instead, a moment later, her body relaxed, and her mouth responded to mine. Our lips parted, and our tongues met in a desperate, hungry kiss.
I shouldn’t have done it… she shouldn’t have let me, but I couldn’t stop. These past months had been shit, and this… I needed this. Needed her. I knew it was selfish, but I couldn’t find it in me to care at the moment.
A tugging sensation, distant and faint, pulsed inside me. That same pull since we were children, the one that was always there, seemed to thrum, and I knew without a doubt what that pull was now, having felt it before.
But it didn’t matter; she had rejected it.
My hands slid from her wrists to cup her breasts, feeling the furious thump of her heart against my fingertips as her hands buried themselves in my hair, gripping tightly. She yanked with a flash of anger, and I responded by biting down on her lip, savoring the sharp gasp that escaped her. Her breath was hot against my mouth, each ragged inhale fueling my desire, and I pressed my lips to hers, harder, rougher.
My hand found her throat, possessively gripping her to hold her still, her pulse a frantic drum against my fingers. My other hand moved lower, pulling at the waistband of her pants as her back arched at my touch. She moaned into my mouth as I slipped my fingers between her thighs, parting them, feeling her heat. My head spun, and a growl ripped from my throat as I slid a finger inside her. She was already tearing at my shirt, her need as raw and unforgiving as mine.
I knew this was a mistake—a terrible, selfish mistake—but it was too late.
Her hand went into my pants, her soft fingers caressing my cock. She gripped it roughly, her hand moving up and down my shaft as I continued to plunge my fingers into her.
Our breaths came in ragged, fast gasps, and a whimper left her lips as I tore my fingers free from between her thighs. Tugging at her waistband, she lifted her hips, allowing me to pull them down. Leaning up, I quickly shoved my own pants down, the fabric bunching at my knees as I lowered myself back onto her, our mouths crashing together again in a bruising kiss.
Grabbing onto her hips, I centered myself, my cock brushing against her entrance.
With a brutal thrust, I entered her, and she cried out, the sound making me harder. A low growl filled the tent, and I lifted my palm, throwing a silencing spell around us. I slammed into her again and again as I pinned her in place. My fingers once again wrapped around her throat, and I drove into her over and over. Her back arched off the ground as her nails scraped down my back.
With a violent shove, she twisted, pinning me underneath her. My cock sank deeper inside her at the new position andshe straddled me, her hands landing on my chest as she lifted her hips, driving them at a fast pace around my length.
Our gazes locked, and she tightened around me.
My hands slid under her shirt and Aria frantically pulled it over her head and threw it somewhere I couldn't see. Her small full breasts were exposed, her pink nipples hardening further to the exposed air.
I grabbed onto them, greedily, kneading them with my palms. Aria’s hands fell onto mine and she held me there as she continued to stroke my cock with her inner walls. Her movement became unsteady and I ran my hands down her sculpted, firm body and grabbed onto her hips.
Aria let me take control and I held her in place as I lifted my hips and drove into her. I kept the same relenting pace as her inner muscles flexed and pulsed. She continued to massage her breasts, pinching her nipples as she threw her head back.
Aria’s eyes closed, and her orgasm shattered through her, a small, breathy moan filling the tent. The sight alone made me want to come undone, but I waited for her to finish before flipping her on her back once more, regaining full control.
My movements became jerky, and I found my release, coming undone inside her. My movements slowed, and my forehead touched hers, our breaths mingling in the air between us, fast and hot.
Our breathing slowed, and I watched as if in slow motion the rage flicker back into her gaze. Her eyes hardened, and she scowled, shoving me away. My cock slipped from her as she pushed me off and scrambled to her feet. I rolled onto my side and watched as she stalked across the tent, grabbing a tattered gray blanket from the cot and wrapping it around herself.
Aria turned toward me sharply, her hands clasping the blanket tight.
“Get out.”
There was no room for argument now, and the corner of my mouth tilted into a small, sad smile.
I rolled onto my back, pulled my pants back on, and secured them. Pushing off the ground, I stood, the weight of her disapproval pressing down as I looked at her downcast eyes. Too many emotions flickered there, and I pretended not to notice as I turned, grabbed the weapons I'd dropped, and stalked out of her tent.
I pushed open the flap and—BOOM.
An explosion shook the ground, and I stumbled forward, nearly running into Agatha. Her teeth were just inches from my face, and I realized she must have been waiting for me, most likely to scare me. But instead of the roar thatwouldhave startled me, she let out a whimpering growl. She turned her enormous face away from me, looking towards the western treeline, where flames were now soaring into the sky.
Panic erupted as men and women scrambled from their tents and the fires where they'd been resting, all of them running towards the raging blaze.
Aria was cursing behind me, scrambling for her clothes and weapons. A moment later, she appeared beside me, cheeks flushed, haphazardly throwing on an emerald jacket before launching herself onto Agatha's flank. She was unarmed, save for her bow strapped to her back.
