Page 21

Repeat... Maelin had always kept the steps of dances forefront in her mind at balls. It was her way of making sure she didn’t miss a move or forget what she was doing by letting her thoughts drift to other things. She’d done so more than once and embarrassed herself, so focus focus focus...

But now? She didn’t need to. Lord Drake’s touch was directing, gently controlling...it was...well, she didn’t quite know how to describe it. But it was, she admitted, pleasant.

They moved side by side, then face to face, then side by side, progressing down the ballroom followed by the other dancers who had taken to the floor.

The music was lively indeed, almost wild at times, the silverreed’s deep notes now emphasizing the rhythm in a way that stirred the blood.

At the end of the ballroom, Drake swept her into his arms, hard, treating her not as a delicate and high-ranking lady of renown, but as a woman.

And Maelin’s body responded.

Crushed against his waistcoat, her nipples hardened, making her fight to hide her gasp. “I can’t...”

“Yes, you can,” he whispered roughly. “Stay with me.”

They were glued together, it seemed, since she found it impossible to move apart from him. It took a few more moments for her to accept that she didn’t want to.

His head, his unique scent, the burning look in his eyes as she raised her chin to meet it...

And the fire she felt along her spine as his hand slid lower and lower to rest just above her curves. To her surprise, she wanted that hand to move on down. She wanted to feel that heat, to have him push her even closer. To be plastered against his body, to sink into him...

She raised her face and stared at him, her lips parting as she fought for breath.

“Drake,” she whispered, so close she could see his throat move as he swallowed.

“I know,” he murmured back. “God above, I know.”

From this point, the Velarine offered no more distance between its dancers, just a series of figures designed to drive couples into a sensual frenzy.

And for Maelin? It was working.

For the first time in her life, she felt desire rippling through her body, strange urges shortening her breath, and chills alternating with fire all over her body.

“Maelin,” he whispered, his breath on her ear making her shudder. “You and I...we have to...”

“Yes,” she whispered back, not even giving him time to finish. “Yes, we do.”

His eyes...great coggles, she could drown in those eyes and be happy to do it. Every inch of her body was aching, craving, hot and then cold, then heated all over again.

What the Hellforge was he doing to her?

A strange sound pulled her attention away from his eyes. And his movements slowed as he eased them to the edge of the dance floor.

“Fucking coggles,” he swore softly, lifting one arm and letting go of her.

A whisperseal image, she could see it, an odd symbol just above his wrist, and words she could barely hear.

“Now...yes...Rhovan...Jerrity...”

He shut it down rapidly, and turned to her. “I have to go.”

“No...” she took a breath. “I mean...of course.”

Before she could gather her thoughts to give him a polite farewell, she was in his arms again.

“You and I...there’s something here, Lady of Theryn. We’re not done, all right? We’re just beginning.”

He leaned forward, and for a moment she thought he was going to kiss her. But he didn’t. His mouth touched hers, not quite a kiss, scarcely more than a slow touch of his tongue on her lips. How she held back a moan, she had no idea.