Page 73 of Trapped By Clocks and Hearts

I caught her hand fast, her gasp was nearly inaudible as she met my gaze again.

Her honey-brown eyes glittered.

I had quite literally never felt this way before.

My stomach was in knots. It was as though I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt tight. I wanted to keep staring into her eyes. I wanted to bask in her smiles, touch her face, take her in my arms, and never, ever let go.

I craved her.

Swallowing hard, I turned her hand toward my face, unable to help the urge to press my lips against her palm. I felt her warmth. I brushed a soft kiss along the sensitive skin of her inner wrist.

Her breath hitching, her mouth dropped open—but not in protest. She wasn’t pushing me away. Instead, she pressed her free hand against my chest. There was a quirk in her smile. “My heart is beating so fast…”

I bent my head, my face hovering close to hers, my voice dropping to a low husk as her closeness already mesmerized me. “What are we doing?”

Leaning against me, she tilted her head up, her eyelids half-closing. “Something mad.”

Chapter 21 - The Burn

“We shouldn’t do this.” My whisper was hoarse with need even as I walked her backward into her darkened room.

“I know,” she said even as she reached for me.

My mouth met hers in the dark, my eager tongue slipping between her welcoming lips, seeking hers, melding with her heat. “You taste so sweet,” I almost growled. My fingers tangled in her thick mass of fragrant hair as I devoured her again, claiming her.

Her fingers clutched at my chest. She moaned in my mouth.

My groan rumbled in my chest at her soft sound of surrender. “I want this so badly,” I murmured against her lips. “I want you.” I broke off to gaze into her sparkling eyes. I swallowed hard, my face contorting in remorse. “I know I shouldn’t. But—” I caressed her flushed cheek, my thumb stroking her already swollen bottom lip.

She nipped my thumb between her lips. Her chest heaved, her breathing labored. Her scent filled my senses. She overflowed with desire. She couldn’t hold it back anymore either. Whether it was caused by the veil of magic or her own want, as soon as the door shut behind us, I knew there was only going to be one outcome tonight.

I was going to have her.

And once I unlocked her heart, the Queen would finally be able to take it.

With one last-ditch attempt to restrain myself, I cleared my throat. “Allie, if you give yourself to me… It’s too dangerous. We can’t let the Queen have your heart.”

Allie shook her head. “I won’t let her. My heart is yours. Only yours.”

There was that reckless, stubborn courage again. How could I possibly fight it?

My chest ached in helplessness. I couldn’t help trailing my finger down her soft cheek, that elegant neck. I traced the bare skin on the curve of her neck, the thin, jeweled strap of her gown. Before I could stop myself, I slipped my thumb beneath the beaded string to slide it off her shoulder.

With another groan, I bent my head to taste her there, running my tongue over her smooth skin as I dragged open-mouthed kisses across her shoulder, her neck, her chest.

She moaned again and instead of pushing away, she grabbed my head as if encouraging me to keep going.

My deft fingers slipped behind her to undo the laces on her dress, and with a sharp tug, the heavy fabric fell away. When my hot mouth clamped over her bare breast, the feverish moan she gasped nearly broke my control.

I lifted my head, glassy eyes meeting hers. “I-I can’t stop, Allie. I need you.”

“I know,” she whispered.

“We shouldn’t.”

She shook her head, meeting my gaze evenly. “I don’t care.”

Her response stoked my fire further. I growled and when I backed her up again, the back of her knees hit the bed. Bracing my hands on her hips, I half-threw her onto the bed. I pulled off my shirt before instantly following. I hovered over her nearly naked body. One hand braced beside her head, my other hand slid down to shift her slip up her thigh.