Page 88 of A Fate in Flames

I panted, my eyes fluttering closed.“Dalkhan…”

His name was a plea, falling from my lips like a prayer.

“Say it like that again,” he purred, “and I’ll make you beg me to keep going.”

He pulled back, his eyes devouring me with a knee-weakening hunger.

I wanted—needed—him to close the distance between us.

“Aren’t you going to claim your prize?”I whispered, daring to touch his chest.His heart hammered beneath my palm.

“Do you want me to?”His hand covered mine, pressing it hard against him before dragging it down the ridged muscles of his abdomen.

I managed only the slightest nod.

He groaned.In one swift motion he lifted me, gripping the backs of my thighs.

I wrapped my legs around his hips, my skirt riding up, legs parting to accept him.I was desperate for more contact—for friction.

Dalkhan cupped my face.“Such a needy little thing,” he murmured, savouring every second of my surrender.His breath fanning against my lips.“Tell me you want this.”

Yes.Please.

“I want this,” I breathed.

He finally claimed my mouth, his lips crashing against mine.The intensity silenced my every thought.

A low groan rumbled in his chest as he pressed me harder against the tree.One hand tangled in my hair, angling my head to deepen the kiss while the other gripped my thigh.

A broken moan escaped me as his tongue swept inside, meeting mine.He kissed me like he meant to consume me.To devour every sound, every shuddering breath.His teeth caught my lower lip, biting down hard enough to sting.

He lifted me higher, fingers digging into the soft flesh of my thigh.A reminder of how easily he could break me.

Heat flared everywhere he touched, every nerve in my body screaming for more.I ground myself against him, shameless in my need for relief from the ache building between my legs.The wetness of my arousal soaked through the thin fabric separating our bodies.

“Fuck, you’re making a mess on me,” he growled against my swollen lips.

He adjusted his hold, slamming me back against the tree with renewed force.Pressing into me with deliberate slowness, showing me just how much I was affecting him too.His hard length pressed against my sensitive core.

I moaned at the contact, at the sheer size of him against my throbbing centre.My head fell back, pleasure coursing through me.

His lips trailed lower, blazing a path of fire down my jaw.My throat.

“I want to ruin you, little flame.”The words dragged over my skin like silk and sin.

I shuddered.

“I want to leave my mark on every inch of you—make you scream my name until your voice breaks.”His teeth captured my collarbone, biting down hard.

I arched against him.

Yes.Yes.Yes.

Then, just as suddenly, he pulled away.

No.

The silent scream almost tore its way past my lips.