Page 108

“Why?” I asked, unsure how to answer.

Riven’s eyes opened and cut to mine. They no longer looked violet, but almost black. His wrist twitched at the desk, but he didn’t move.

“Because the only thing I want right now—the only thing I ever want—is to kiss you. But not if you won’t enjoy it.” His expression was hard, but there was a gentleness in his eyes. Caring. The same caring that had been there the day he carried me to Rheih. Or when he had seen my scars. The same caring he had shown only hours before, when I shared the worst of me and he had called it strength.

I wanted him. There was no denying that. But I cared enough that I also wanted him to know I craved him too.

“Riven.” I took another small step toward him. His stare bore into me, dark brows casting a shadow over his face. He bit his lip, the sharp point of a fang peered out from underneath. Hunger. He was hungry for me. My stomach tightened as I took one last step. “You should kiss me,” I whispered.

His lips were on mine before the last word was out. The desk groaned when he finally released his hands, gripping my waist instead. His lips were soft and testing. Slowly tasting mine, tracing the edge of them with his tongue.

An invitation and a message. That he would only take things as far as I wanted. I was in control of this.

I wanted more.

I balled his tunic in my fists and pulled him against me. Our bodies pressed together so tightly I could feel his pulse on my chest. I lifted one hand into his dark hair and pulled. He groaned and nipped my lip before picking me up off the floor.

I wrapped my legs around him, feeling the hardness at his hip. The need between my thighs grew and I caught his bottom lip with my teeth. He responded by trailing kisses down one side of my neck and up the other. I whimpered at his touch and dug my fingers into his shoulder.

“Beautiful,” he whispered into my ear before kissing the scars along my chest. The compliment sent a shiver down my skin. I could feel it in the way he kissed me, the way his hand gripped my back, my thighs, that he meant it.

“Keera,” he whispered after several minutes of trailing kisses along my skin.

My eyes fluttered open as if waking from a dream. Riven grinned wickedly and leaned in to kiss my lips once more. “Can we take this to the bed?” he asked, caressing my cheek with his thumb.

My body froze. I wasn’t sure if I was ready.

“Not forthat.” He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I want to kiss you until you fall asleep.” His grip on my waist tightened. “And for that we need a bed.”

I tossed back my head in a laugh. I nodded, smiling at the ceiling.

When I looked back at him, he was staring. His mouth opened, eyes wide as he cupped my face in his hand. “I could spend centuries hearing that laugh.” He grinned as he leaned me back onto the mattress.

My skin prickled as I looked up at him. His legs were straddling mine and his arms framed my face. One hand was playing with a strand of my hair. He kissed my cheek and then my forehead, fingers tracing along the side of my neck.

“I could kiss you everywhere,” he said, looking at me in awe.

“You should do that, then,” I said, raising a brow. Riven gave me another wicked grin before descending upon me.

His kisses were no longer soft, but hungry, as he tasted every inch of my skin. He started at one shoulder and kissed down the length of my arms. When he reached my hand, he pulled it to his face so I could touch his cheek before he kissed each finger slowly. The look he gave me while he did so made my thighs press together.

He kissed my chest, following the waves of scars until his lips met unmarked skin. He didn’t try to move the nightgown, but instead kissed over it. It was so thin that I felt every brush just the same. He licked my breast and my back arched up into him as I let out a soft moan.

Riven kissed my body with even more heat, palming my breast through the gown as he did so. My chest rose quickly as the need inside me grew. He kissed down my legs, his hands trailing upward to my hips, balling the fabric in his fists so he could nip at the top of my thigh.

His hand dipped below the hem of the gown for the quickest moment, but it was enough for him to feel the wetness there.

“I can take care of that for you,” he growled into my ear. “If you want me to.”

I quivered as his breath warmed my neck. “I don’t think I’m ready for...” I trailed off, too shy to say it.

Riven pulled himself back to my lips, his thumb caressing my face, as his hand settled along my jaw.

“Then I’ll wait for when you are,” he whispered before bringing his lips back to mine, pulling my body into his. I tangled my fingers in his hair and hitched my leg over his hip, deepening the kiss. It felt like we spent hours in the fervor of each other’s bodies before our passions tempered and we lay holding each other.

I don’t know how long we lay there, entangled in each other’s limbs. We were entirely content with breathing in the same air and saying nothing. Eventually, a thought crossed my mind that I couldn’t shake.

“Was I such a terrible kisser that you kissed me not once, but twice, and were still convinced I couldn’t fancy you?”