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I watched him as he unbuttoned his pants, anticipation thrilling through me.But when his eyes were on me again, I felt warmth flooding my cheeks.He looked at me like I was the only thing that existed in his world, like I was all that mattered.And as his gaze dropped from my lips to my breasts, roving over my curves, he looked as though he couldn’t decide where he wanted to start.

‘I’ve thought about this so many times,’ he said, almost as if he was speaking to himself.

‘Me too.’The admission fell from my lips before I could catch it, but I didn’t regret it once it was out.

His eyes were heated as they caught mine, and the crooked smile on his lips told me he’d made his decision.He placed his hands on my knees, slowly sliding them up my thighs as he leaned in, taking my lips, and this time the kiss was languid and slow, full of promise.He stopped far too soon, dropping to his knees, and anticipation tightened my every muscle as my breath sped up, fanning the hungry flames of need to an unbearable level.

He gripped my thighs and pulled me forward, then pushed my legs apart.My breath caught as he moved closer, dropping a kiss to my stomach, then to the crease where my leg met my hip, then to the soft skin of my inner thigh.When his tongue touched me where I wanted him most, my head fell back as pleasure darted along my nerves, making my toes curl.I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white.It felt like that grip was all that was keeping me from splitting at the seams.My voice filled the room as he licked at me, as his finger slid inside me, and my body began to tremble at the effort to stay present, not to lose myself in the pleasure of it.

Just as I felt like I couldn’t take anymore, he stopped.

My eyes blinked open, my breaths coming out in panting gasps.‘Why did you stop?’I asked.

He smiled in response, the smile of a man who had me right where he wanted me.‘Because I want to make you squirm a little longer.’I barely had time to wonder what he planned next before his lips were on mine.In one swift motion, he’d lifted me from the table and taken my place, straddling me over his lap.I could feel his firm erection pressing against my core and I lowered myself slowly down, feeling every inch of him, enjoying the groan that came from his throat, knowing that it was for me and me alone.

His hands gripped my hips and as I started to rock them, feeling him moving inside me, his lips returned to my neck, teeth grazing my nape, trailing down my chest.He sucked a taut nipple into his mouth and I cried out as pleasure rocked through me again.My fingers tangled in his hair, holding him to me, silently begging for more as my hips moved faster, chasing that promised release.Our breaths tangled together, panting and hot, as he released my nipple, and he brought his hand to the back of my head, bringing my lips to his, taking them hard enough to bruise, as if he was claiming them.

‘Come for me,’ he ordered.

It was as if something in me snapped and pleasure crashed through me, consuming me in a throbbing zenith as I cried out, unable to stop myself.My muscles clenched around him as the climax hit, bringing him with me as he let out a guttural groan, his fingers digging into my hips as he held me tight against him.

When we both grew still, foreheads resting together, time seemed to stretch out.The only sound was our panting breaths but soon the distant sound of revelry began to seep into our stolen moment.Reality was prying open that door.I knew it wouldn’t be kept at bay forever.

I climbed off him and quickly began pulling my clothes back on, cursing my damn dress and all the ridiculous buttons it had.I was never going to get them all done up, I’d have to hope no one saw me as I snuck back to my room.

‘Imogen?’Tarian said, and I could hear the hurt in his voice, though he tried to hide it.

‘I just...’I began, not really knowing what I was going to say.‘We shouldn’t have done that,’ I said instead, which didn’t feel right, either.‘We were supposed to talk.’

‘We can still talk,’ he said, sliding off the table to move towards me.

‘Don’t,’ I said quickly, holding out a hand, as if that would be enough to stop him if he really wanted to get to me.I should have known better.Sex always muddied things, and things were already plenty muddy where Tarian and I were concerned.I just needed to step away, I needed time to think where he couldn’t cloud my mind.

‘Imogen, don’t push me away now,’ he said.

I took a step back, trying to keep some distance between us.‘I don’t trust myself around you.’

Before either of us could say anything more, a bell sounded and as I looked down at the mask in my hand, I could feel the magic beginning to fade.

‘The feast is ending,’ Tarian explained.

So now there was nothing keeping me hidden on the way back to my room.Shit.That’s just what I needed.Bloody fae magic.‘I need to get back before someone sees me,’ I said.

Tarian’s jaw tightened and that openness I’d seen in his face tonight closed off.I felt sad to see his guard up again, but I couldn’t exactly demand that he lower it when I was running away.Again.He looked as if he was struggling with something and the silence that had felt so heated before now felt loaded with something else.I didn’t want to end this night arguing with him, so I took the coward’s way out and turned for the door.

He gripped my wrist, stopping me in my tracks.‘You’re running again.’

I looked up at him, feeling an ache in my heart that I wondered if he felt, too.‘I just need some time to think,’ I said.I knew better than to think we’d be able to talk now with the smell of sex still hanging heavily in the air.God knew that the desire I felt when we’d first entered the room hadn’t exactly dissipated.I wasn’t sure it ever would.‘I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.’

‘What do you want to do?’

‘Probably something I shouldn’t,’ I said before I could stop myself.What I wanted to do was stay.But we still hadn’t resolved anything, and I wasn’t sure we would tonight.Besides, with the feast ended, it wouldn’t be long before someone came looking for me, and I wasn’t sure what would happen if I was found with Tarian half-naked and my dress hanging off me, held in place by my hands.‘I have to go.’

‘Fine,’ he said grudgingly, then he pulled me to him and claimed my lips in a kiss that was all-consuming, making my knees go weak.‘But I’ll be coming for you.’

Maybe I should have argued, told him not to.But I wanted him to.I didn’t trust my voice, so I nodded instead.It seemed to be enough to satisfy him.For now.He released me and I slid the mask back on my face before hurrying out of the room.

Chapter 16