Page 54 of Shadowed Bond

“That explains the struggle,” she replies dryly.

A laugh leaves me before I can stop it, rough and low, and her lips curve slightly. Even like this, she’s still got a mouth on her. “Careful, Arden,” I mutter.

“Charlotte,” she corrects, voice quieter now. “I prefer it…”

My jaw tightens.

Yeah.

That.

“Charlotte,” I say, letting it roll off my tongue, then I smirk faintly. Her eyes soften, her heart skipping a beat.

Fuck me.

That look should be illegal.

I lower my head, brushing my mouth over hers, not hard this time, not because I’m trying to start anything again, but because I don’t know how else to answer that look. Her lips move softly beneath mine, and for once it doesn’t feel like a fight. It feels slower. Deeper. Like we’ve both stopped pretending there isn’t something bigger than just the pull between us.

When I move back, her thumb brushes my jaw.

“You’re not in a rush to leave,” she murmurs.

“Why the fuck would I be?” I frown.

Her expression shifts, and I realise a second too late that it isn’t just some stupid comment. She means it. She expected me to pull away, to put space between us, or maybe make some rude remark and pretend none of this got under my skin.

I slide my arm beneath her and pull her properly against me, turning us onto our sides. A small gasp of surprise escapes her, but she lets me pull her close, her body pressing against mine, her face close enough that I can still feel her breath on my mouth.

“I might not commit easily, but I’m loyal as fuck. If I’ve made the decision to accept this bond… then I’m staying. Now and every single time in the future.”

Her eyes search mine, and I hate how much she sees. “That’s… sweet. I didn’t think you would be this gentle,” she murmurs.

“I’m not gentle,” I reply gruffly.

“No?”

“No.”

Her fingers trace lazily over my chest, right where my heart is still beating too hard. “You are right now.”

I look down at her hand, then back at her. “Don’t go saying that shit out loud.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

“It better be; I have a reputation.”

She smiles, and it’s softer than usual, content, and for once she doesn’t tease me. My heart clenches, and I reach up and push her hair back from her face, my fingers catching in the strands. Her hair is all over the place, and I should probably make a comment about it looking like she lost a fight with the bedsheets, but I don’t.

Because I like it.

Fuck’s sake.

She catches my wrist gently. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Ares.”