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His grip relaxed further and the pain in her wrists vanished. “You didn’t answer my question.” Arianna’s face heated. “Why did you touch me?”
“I guess I just...wanted to.” Embarrassment flooded through her, but she couldn’t move. Not with him holding her in place. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done so without your permission.”
She could feel Rion’s eyes on her but Arianna couldn’t bring herself to meet his gaze. His body was warmer now and she could feel her own responding, a need forming in the pit of her stomach.
His scent shifted and Rion’s body relaxed, conforming to hers. He lowered his lips to her throat and Arianna scarcely risked a breath as she tilted her head, baring her neck to him.
She should have feared those fangs. She should have wanted to run screaming. Should have begged for anyone to save her. But the only thing Arianna wanted to beg for was the feel of his lips against her skin. To know whether they were rough like his hands or carried a softer texture.
Rion pressed his nose to the base of her jaw and ran it slowly down the racing pulse in her neck. His hot breath sent shivers of delight coursing through her body. His lips parted. So close now.
Arianna tugged at her bound wrists, wanting nothing more than to run her fingers through his hair. To feel the muscles in his back shift, but Rion pulled away, lifting his entire body from her own. He looked at her for a long moment then rose from the bed and left without another word. He hadn’t even bothered with a shirt or shoes.
The door slammed, leaving Arianna reeling in the silence. Her heart thundered in her chest and her breathing came so fast she wasn’t sure she’d ever get it steady again.
She sat up, ran her fingers through her hair, and—
What was she doing?
Had she just been willing to—
Guilt gnawed at her as Talon’s face appeared in the forefront of her mind. She’d been planning to escape this week, to leave Rion behind and finally return to a normal life. And she’d just almost lost herself entirely.
What am I doing?
THE WARRIORS within the vicinity scurried away as soon as he exited the door. He stalked toward the woods, sucking in the crisp air until it stung his lungs. He needed it to cool his body, for the wind to brush her scent away from his nose.
Because if it didn’t, he was going to run right back into that cabin, tilt her head back and—
Rion entered the trees and broke into a run. He ran and ran and ran, but no matter how far he went, he couldn’t get her out of his head. That female had wanted the exact same thing. He’d smelled it on her and damn it all, he could still smell it now as if it were following him. Plaguing him. Tempting him.
She was a daughter of Móirín. One touch could leave him incapacitated for the rest of his life. One touch could kill him and yet he wanted her hands all over him. He wanted to put his hands all over her.
Why? Why would she want such a thing? He was her enemy. He’d killed more Fae from Móirín than he could ever hope to count. She had another male waiting for her at home.
But that male hadn’t claimed her, the darker part of him reasoned. She didn’t carry another’s scent which told him if the humans hadn’t laid a hand on her, then no one had.
Rion pressed his forehead into the nearest tree, willing his body to calm down. A female had tricked him before, but even she hadn’t smelled likethat. She’d even bore her neck to him, offering herself like—Rion punched the tree, shattering the surrounding bark, and focused his attention on his split knuckles.
He couldn’t lose control. No matter what he wanted, there was always an ulterior motive and he’d been fooled enough times in his life to know better than to hope.
UPON HIS return that evening, she served their dinner as usual, but the atmosphere in the room had shifted. It felt as if the space was far too small for them now. As if the two bodies within could burst the walls open at any moment.
He stared at her, studying her in a different light than he usually did. His eyes had shifted from their usual hardness, instead carrying with them that wonderment she’d witnessed the night she’d healed his abdomen. Arianna struggled to meet that gaze without blushing and when it came time to blow out the candles, she couldn’t have been more thankful.
Tomorrow, she told herself. She was getting out of here tomorrow.
She padded back to her blankets, wrapped them around her shoulders, and curled up near the fireplace.
His deep voice broke the silence a second later. “What are you doing?”
Arianna glanced toward his half-naked form and her eyes followed the corded muscles down his forearms. “Sleeping?”
He stood and jerked his chin toward the bed. Heat flew through her body at the memory from that morning.
What would happen if he tried again? It wasn’t as if he’d forced himself on her, she’d been more than inviting and the knowledge made her blush further. He could probably smell it on her now and even though she knew it was wrong, Arianna wasn’t sure she’d want to push him away.
“You’ll get sick again sleeping on the floor.”
