Page 102 of Shardless
“No poetry. Got it.” Growing serious, Skye sighed as he pressed his forehead against hers. “I don’t have every single answer for you, Tink. I wish I did, but I don’t. Just know this—I would never risk you, riskus, just toscratch some itch,asyou so eloquently put it. You’re too important to me. All I know right now is that I want you. It’s a little scary just how much I want you. How much I wantus.”
Taly swallowed past a sudden lump in her throat as she tried to process the open and raw vulnerability that Skye had just laid bare before her.
When she didn’t respond immediately, he shifted his weight, his grip on her loosening. “That’s what I want, at least. What do you want?”
That was a good question. Whatdidshe want? What was she allowed to want? She had made so many mistakes, and she still had so many secrets. The least of which being that she had been planning to leave him again in just a few short months. If she were smart, she would tell him she just wanted to be friends. If she truly cared about him, she would end this before she inevitably caused him more pain.
Taly opened her mouth to reply, but Skye shushed her. His head tilted to the side like he was listening.
“Damn,” he quietly cursed.
“What is it?”
“We have company. One floor down by the sound of it. I should’ve noticed him sooner but” —Skye shrugged and sighed wearily— “still no magic.”
His eyes found hers, and she knew her expression probably still contained the same measure of sex-addled desire she could see reflected back at her. “This conversation isn’t over,” he said as he stepped away. Taking her hands in his, he pulled her to her feet. “Just on hold until we see what this asshole wants.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles, his eyes never leaving hers, before gesturing for her to sit. With a groan, he sunk down into the seat next to her, closer than he had been before, and Taly had to suppress a chuckle when she saw him shift uncomfortably. Despite theproblemshe could plainly see tenting his trousers, he let his leg press against hers suggestively as he picked up a random book from the pile littering the table. Several of the stacks had toppled over, spilling out onto the floor.
“What do you want?” Skye said after a few moments, not bothering to hide his irritation.
Taly followed his gaze, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw a familiar face peeking around the corner. He looked far more haggard and worn than when she’d last seen him, but she’d recognize that brassy hair anywhere.
“Terribly sorry,” came the guileless response. “I’m notinterruptinganything, am I?” When Kit’s eyes caught hers, Taly found herself looking away, her cheeks feeling even warmer than they had before.
Skye scowled as he threw his book off to the side. “Would it even matter if I said that you were?”
Finding her voice, Taly said, “Good morning, Kit. I didn’t take you for an early riser.”
Kit’s eyes widened, darting to Skye and then back to Taly as his momentary surprise was replaced by something more calculating. “I think you’ll find that I’m full of surprises,Tal-ee.” The way he drew out the syllables of her name, as though he could taste them, had her raising a skeptical brow.
“None of them good,” Skye muttered under hisbreath.
“Says you,” Kit replied with a shrug. “I say we let Taly be the judge of that.”
Taly laughed lightly as she reached for her discarded book from earlier. It had been kicked underneath the desk, and she had to duck to retrieve it. “Please don’t drag me into whateverthisis. Because, Kit…” Sitting back up, she stared at him pointedly. “You seem nice and all, but you’re not going to win that fight.” Skye’s brows shot up, and he smiled. Before he had a chance to say something cocky, she jerked her head in his direction, muttering, “After all, I’ve got to live with this asshole.”
“Hey!” Skye exclaimed, his grin widening.
Kit cleared his throat, suddenly serious as some of that sly wit melted away. “Eula was looking for you, S… sire.” His tongue tripped on the last word, as though he weren’t used to saying it.
“Of course she was,” Skye replied with a sigh.
“C’mon, Skye,” Taly said as she scanned the page. “Did you really think something as insignificant as an undead army rampaging through the town and possibly ending life as we know it was going to stop Eula from getting up at six bells on the dot?”
Skye laughed lightly, his eyes still tinged with a lingering heat that set Taly’s heart racing. “I suppose that was silly of me, wasn’t it?” he said smoothly, just a hint of that usual teasing humor peeking through. “I should go see what she wants.”
“Take your time,” Kit said innocently, the look in his eyes anything but. “Taly and I can keep ourselvesentertained.”
Skye’s eyes flashed, his irritation flickering tolife as quickly as it faded. “And I’m sure Taly can handle herself, even when it comes toyou.” Skye gave the man a meaningful look before turning back to Taly. “Kit is also fluent in Faera, in case you need any help here. And if he gives you trouble, feel free to push him over the railing.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” she replied, her eyes raking over Kit appraisingly. There was something about the older fey, something about the veiled animosity she could see creep into his expression every so often that didn’t sit well with her.
Skye gave her one last longing look, sighing softly. Then, in a single fluid movement, he stood, his hands in his pockets as he sauntered past the freckled Gate Watcher leaning against the shelves. The tension was almost palpable as Kit continued to watch Skye long after he had disappeared around the corner.
“What’s his problem?” Kit asked suddenly, all hints of aggression immediately evaporating.
Turning back to her book, Taly said, “I think you know very well what his problem is.”
