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When had she fallen for him? What words and events laid a foundation for these... feelings? This once attraction had turned into more for her—so much more. The moment of their inception, she didn’t know—didn’t care. Eva threaded her hand through his hair as her thumb caressed the side of his cheek. She needed him to know—wanted to show him—how much he meant to her. Yet, she had never let herself be this intimate with another soul, and her inexperience caused her to tremble—to question her every move.
Mustering her courage, she dared to meet his intense, questioning stare. Is this okay?
Couldn’t he tell how much she wanted him? But if he needed her consent, then she would give it.
She licked her lips and whispered, “Kiss me.”
His eyes dilated as his mouth crashed into hers. His breath was heavy with the scent of the sweet wine as his lips moved against hers. She became lightheaded. From the wine? Or him? It didn’t matter. The only thing that was important, in this moment, was getting closer to him.
He wrapped his arms around her, the back of his hand entangling roughly in her hair. She opened for him, allowing his tongue to find hers. A shiver swept through her as her heart beat even faster in her chest. Was everyone’s first kiss this perfect?
The need to wrap around him, like the bittersweet vines that wound around the trunks of the forest trees, consumed her. To claim him as her own and never let go would be a dream she would never want to wake up from.
Over and over, his lips claimed her, and she met his desire with a fervor that should have frightened her. His tongue was soft yet demanding. Her toes curled as an ache settled deep in her belly.
She pulled back, her breaths coming fast as their eyes locked. He looked like a man come undone. “Do you know what Krieger means?” She didn’t know why, but it seemed important to tell him now.
His head tilted to the side as he regarded her. “No, but you said it was something important to you.”
“After my mom—” She swallowed hard, her throat becoming tight. “Well, I became a soldier, a survivor—to protect my people and myself. When you were injured and burning with fever, I didn’t think you were going to make it. But then you did.” She caressed his hard chest. “You have a strong will to survive—like me. So, I thought your name should reflect that. Krieger is German for warrior.”
He smoothed her hair. “Angel...” His lips were tender as they met hers, caressing her sensitive flesh.
When the cool wind kicked up and the fire crackled beside them, he broke their contact. Mother Earth, she mourned the loss of his perfect lips already.
The breeze had caused a strand of his hair to fall onto his forehead, and the sight made her breath catch in her throat. Would she ever get used to his utter beauty?
He pointed over her shoulder and said, “Look.”
She turned in his arms, her eyes locking on the glowing moon that had risen high in the sky. In this moment, she wished she could stop time, just for a little while, and be the only two people left in the world.
No apocalypse, no feud with Stone Haven, no brooding Derek—and definitely no peace treaty that required her to give up her free will and marry her enemy.
Krieger was a man she could lose herself to. One who she would be willing to, if the circumstances were different.
But she couldn’t think of that. Here and now, it was her with him—alone under a full moon by a crackling fire. She didn’t know she was capable of feeling this—of wanting someone this much—and the way he was looking at her right now told her he understood the sentiment.
As she turned back to him, she took his face in her hand. “What have you done to me?”
He smiled and gently pressed his lips on her temple, her cheek, then the tip of her nose. Slowly, he eased his thumb over her bottom lip before moving to cusp the back of her neck. “My angel. . .”
She didn’t know who moved first, but their bodies came together in a deep, passionate kiss she wished would never end. And as he laid her back onto the blanket, with the weight of his large frame hovering over her and the roughness of his callous fingers gliding along her soft skin, the answer to her question became clear.
He had irrecoverably destroyed her.
Chapter 12
“You’re sure about this?” Samuel Wolf moved around his desk and approached her.
She nodded, swallowing past the lump in her throat. Hold it together, Eva.
He laid a hand on her shoulder. “I’m proud of you, Eva. You are doing the settlements a great service by marrying the heir of Stone Haven. Do you have any counter requests?”
Outside the half-open door of her father’s office, they heard a thudding noise, and both paused. Was someone outside, about to enter?
When no one stepped inside and no further noise was made, Samuel moved to the door and closed it fully. “Now where were we?”
Her body felt numb as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Actually, yes, I would like to move to Stone Haven.”
