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Thane easily stepped free of the ones wound around his legs and put his arm around her waist and tugged her flush against his chest. His fingertips slid over her mouth as if he was fascinated by them. He didn’t look at Ronan when he said, “We’re going to take a break from sparring.”

Chapter36

The door to the room clicked shut. Layala’s heart thudded like a drum. Thane turned around and took her face between his palms, then kissed her. The intensity of it made her pull him in. His rough stubble lightly rubbed her skin. She grabbed and tore one of the buckles holding on Thane’s armor, thankful he only had one on each side. Her body throbbed for him. She couldn’t wait any longer to have him. They bumped into the dresser, lips trailing over exposed skin. Thane growled low and snapped the buckles on her top armor, Layala raised her arms up and he jerked it over her head in one swift motion. It fell to the floor with a thud. And the other pieces and clothes came off, dropping to the floor with clanks of metal on stone.

Thane’s big hands clamped around her rump and lifted her up. “I’m supposed to be taking this slowly, kissing your thighs.”

But she didn’t want slow torture. Her body demanded all of him right then. She slid onto the dresser top and pulled him in with her legs. “Not slowly,” she said and dragged him to her mouth. “Don’t make me wait.”

Layala’s backside bumped into the clutter on the dresser. Without looking, she reached back to clear it away, but her hand dipped into something sticky and warm. She looked down to see it covered in chocolate. A bowl of it with a tray of fruit waited beside her.

“Mmm,” he murmured and took hold of her wrist and sucked the chocolate off her middle finger. “Tastier on you.” Hot kisses pressed over her throat, and she shivered with pleasure. “Listen, my love, you must wait. I said I’d kiss your thighs first.” He grinned knowing the torture he caused her. He pressed his lips to her outer thigh then drug his tongue over the top where chocolate dripped. His hands slid up to her hips and dug into the soft flesh. “And then here.” He kissed the inside of her knee.

“Thane,” she pleaded, sliding her chocolate-covered palm over his shoulder and across his chest.

“I’m not finished.” He kissed higher, his breath whisking across her sensitive area. “I want to know how you taste.”

Layala leaned back into the wall, closing her eyes. She didn’t know if the moaning came from her or the wind outside. She was lost, transported until he lifted and kissed his way up to her lips.

“Better than chocolate,” he said and jerked her to the edge of the dresser where he stood between her thighs.

“I want you,” Layala said, gliding her tongue over his chest, tasting the salt of his skin and the sweetness of chocolate.

“Yes, Lady.” A slow serpentine smile spread. “Anything you command.”

* * *

In between training,they spent the allotted two days in that bedroom, drowning in pleasure, aching for the need to be touched and caressed. It was as if the more they made love, the stronger she felt, invigorating her with an unseen power. Thane even commented on her skin having a golden luster it didn’t before. And if it was possible his green eyes were even brighter. She wanted him more and more with every look he gave her, every kiss he stole. Since their violent separation, they hadn’t had the time to spend alone like this— to just be.

Light fingers trailed along the curve of Layala’s waist and over her hip, waking her from her sleep. Layala rubbed her eyes and combed stray hair off of her face. The window was left open to let in a cool, night breeze that smelled of lilac and lavender. Thane lay next to her; the silky blanket covered him from the waist down, but he was naked underneath. She had the urge to slide her leg over his hips, but he looked troubled as he stared at the wall behind her. She wasn’t sure he even realized he had woken her up. “What’s wrong?”

He pulled his gaze to hers. “Huh?”

“You seem… lost.”

“Oh.” He was quiet and resumed sliding his fingers along her hip. “I had a dream that woke me.”

“What about?”

“My father… Again.” They both waited in silence for several beats before he went on. “Like before but worse. His corpse tells me I am like him.” He swallowed hard. “And sometimes I wonder, what if I am?”

Layala’s cheeks warmed at the absolute fury she felt that he could believe he was anything like Tenebris. “You’re nothing like him. Not even a little. You do bad things for the good of other people. You are good in here.” She pressed her hand over his heart. “And the only good thing Tenebris ever did was bind us together as mates.”

The corner of his mouth turned up slightly. “For that I am thankful.”

She hated that he harbored any guilt or conflict at all when it came to Tenebris. The wicked king didn’t deserve to occupy even a piece of Thane’s precious heart. “I want you to know and remember that I love you more than I hate him.”

His eyebrows rose. That seemed to surprise him.

“Does only a magic spell make us mates? Or can I call you that without it? Because I feel like we were destined to be together. As if the fates would see to it no matter what happened. Do you feel that way?” She took a lock of his dark-brown hair between her fingers. Couldn’t they be more? Magic may have brought them together, but it didn’t make them fall in love.

“Maybe your soul is mated to mine. A soul mate.” He inhaled deeply. “I’ve felt like I’ve known you for as long as I can remember. And maybe it was because of our mate bond but sometimes I feel—more. I would find you in every life, in every realm. I will be drawn to you for eternity. So yes, call me your mate. I will always call you mine.”

* * *

Piper’s bootsclacked lightly on the marble floor. Layala watched her fire-haired friend in the mirror’s reflection. The other three Ravens waited outside in the hallway while Layala got ready. Thane sat on the bed tossing a small white ball up over and over again, dressed in bronze dragon-scale armor and prepared for the fight that would take place in an hour. Layala held a hairpin between her teeth and fought with the tangles that matted the back overnight. Where was Tifapine when she needed her?

“Let me do it,” Piper demanded, snatching the brush right out of Layala’s hand. “And we need something to make you look fierce, edgy.” She jerked the comb through Layala’s hair.