Page 65 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury (House of Embers #1)

“Everything.” He stalked forward and backed me against the wall.

“It was never a lie, Selena. I’ve known since Umara claimed you that the two of us could change the country for the better.

I want you by my side. Not because of my plans.

Not because I want to use you, but because I fucking need you like I need air.

You’re my salvation, my light in the shadows. ”

Heat pulsed under my skin. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to flee or grab his shirt and pull him closer. “What happened to just scratching an itch?”

He smirked. “We can do that. If that’s all you want, I’ll take it. I know you want me. I’ve seen you staring. You’re not subtle. You feel this too.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “I don’t.”

He cupped my cheek and tilted my chin up to meet his gaze. “Your pulse says otherwise.”

I went to grab his hand and tug it away, but the moment our hands touched, he tightened his grip. Heat pooled between my legs, and I froze. “You’re a cocky, arrogant bastard.”

“You’ve always known that.” He leaned closer.

“I hated you when I first saw you.”

“I felt the same.”

“I can’t stop thinking about you.”

He pressed our foreheads together. He thumbed my jawline. “Neither can I.”

I closed the gap between us and pressed my lips against his and I took.

Now was my turn to explore his mouth, to let my desire take control.

I groaned when he reached up, grabbed my braids, and tugged.

Pleasure thrummed through me, creating a fog in my mind.

I wanted to melt, but I wasn’t ready to give up control of the kiss.

Gods, this felt right. This was how it was supposed to be. Us. Together. The rightness of it shook me down to my bones. It was like a final puzzle piece slotting in place. I’m complete now.

I moaned as he squeezed my waist, and he took that invitation to plunder my mouth, regaining control of the kiss.

Damn. The man knew how to kiss, how to make my knees tremble, and to make my lust consume my thoughts.

He kissed with a frenzied desperation, like the inside of my mouth was the air he needed to survive.

I slipped my hand under his shirt, feeling his hard chest. Gods, I longed to pull off his top and lick every inch of his skin.

Just like I wanted to throw off my pants, grab his hand, and lead it right to the center of my heat.

I pulled back, gasping for breath, my head spinning.

“How the fuck did we get here? What changed?”

“I didn’t want to like you. You never listen. You have a rebellious streak a mile wide. You’re selfish.” Despite the harshness of his words, his hands lovingly stroked my nape.

“You really know how to flatter a woman, don’t you?”

Kieran’s eyes darkened. “You care fiercely. You love with your whole heart. You’re rebellious. You’re smart. You see beyond what others tell you. You’re your own guiding light, and you’ll never let anyone dim it.”

I swallowed, unable to look away from his piercing gaze that seemed to etch into my very being. “What are you trying to say?”

“When we’re on the same side, we’re unstoppable. I want you. I want to share mornings with you. I want to go to bed with you. I want to travel the country with you. But most of all, I want to give you my heart and to have yours in return. I want to make you mine.”

My heart thundered. It took everything I had not to melt, but I wanted to.

I wanted to sink into his vows and declare my own.

But this wasn’t a world where you could love blindly.

My mother could’ve attested to that. “Then why have you been such a jerk?” No matter how nice he was now, I couldn’t move past that.

“You know how Luther is. If he sees you as a threat, he’ll make your life a living hell. When we fought before, it wasn’t just because you irritated me—and you did that a lot. It was better for your safety and your sister’s safety if I was cruel and kept my distance.”

A cord wrapped around my heart and squeezed. “Would Luther change Clara’s guard if he—if he thinks we’re together?”

“Possibly. He knows I don’t get along with Wes, so he might leave it alone, but it depends on how much of a threat he sees you as.”

I exhaled. “I’m not a threat. Not really.”

“Then you’re blind. You’re incredibly powerful, Selena.

This was one of the highest attendances we’ve had for a dragonsguard festival, second only to Luther’s.

Your Gift, whatever it may be, will be one of the strongest we’ve seen.

Not only that, but so many commoners look up to you.

The truth is, they outnumber the nobles, and Luther’s aware of that.

That’s why he’s trying so hard to control you. ”

I searched his gaze. “Why are you telling me this?”

Kieran lowered his hands. “Because if we’re to do this, you need to know.

Daeva and the wellbeing of the continent are my true goals.

I don’t want an endless war. The two of us, if we work together, could have the power to force Luther’s hands and enact real change.

I want the war to end during my lifetime.

I want that to be my legacy. We’ve talked about working together, but cards on the table, this is what I want. ”

That said nothing about us being together, but this was just as important, so I let it slide.

And while I hated the thought of being a pawn, I liked the sound of that.

“I’m not going anywhere so… I’ll join you.

But that’s only as long as my sister is okay and being treated right.

” I never thought I’d be Team Patriotic, but it affected Clara so I would be.

“Of course,” he murmured. “What about—”

“But I have some demands.” As much as I wanted him to finish his sentence and keep whispering sweet nothings, I couldn’t let him. I needed to be smart about this. My future and my sister’s future depended on it.

“Name them.”

I pulled back and folded my arms. “Clara’s my top priority. If I learn you did something to hurt her directly or indirectly, I’m done, and I’ll burn everything to the ground. ”

“Understood.”

“No more secrets. I can’t trust someone who lies to me.”

Kieran’s eyes burned. “Fine. I’ll tell you everything when the need arises.”

“No, you’ll tell me sooner than that.” I narrowed my eyes. “How do you plan to end the war? You’re all talk, but besides Daeva, I haven’t seen you do anything.”

“Hurtful.” But the humor in his tone belied his words. “We need to gain the public’s trust. The gryphon hunts have helped with that immensely. There’s also the matter of the dragon eggs. Luther hasn’t given me too many details, but he plans on having them retrieved within a month.”

My heart hammered. “And once he gets the eggs…”

“Our side is as good as won. There will still be a war, but there’s a slim chance we could settle things with minimal bloodshed. I thought that was obvious.”

I let out a ragged breath. “You’re so frustrating.”

His lips quirked into a smile. “You’re no picnic either. You never listen to any of my plans, and I'm constantly having to stop you from going rogue. It's like herding a feral cat.”

“This doesn’t resolve anything.” My chest ached. “I can’t risk Clara getting punished because of me.” I’d been selfish long enough. It was time I grew up and thought about the consequences.

“We don’t have to shout it from the rooftops. We can be discreet.” He looked down at my lips .

Gods, I wanted him. Why did Wes have to be related to Kieran? Why was it that the first time I wanted someone this badly, I couldn’t have them? “I can’t.”

“Don’t give this up,” he breathed. He stood so close that our lips brushed. “Why deny yourself happiness? You’ve been selfless for so long.”

I huffed a laugh. Selfless? I could hardly be called that. “Life isn’t a fairytale, and you’re not prince charming. The people call you the Shadow King for gods’ sake.”

He cupped my cheek. “You don’t want prince charming. You don’t believe in it. Neither do I. There’s no light without darkness. There’s no peace without chaos.”

I expelled a breath. “Everything you said—I want that. But it’s a risk that I can’t take.” I needed to prioritize Clara. “But…” One hand brushed my lower lip, and I resisted the urge to chase it. “This is so fucking reckless. It’s a stupid move on my part.”

“Be reckless with me, Selena.”

I laughed. “I never thought you of all people would say that.”

“Only because it’s you.” Kieran knew what he was doing, being this close and driving my senses wild. “Why did you confront me if not to finish what we started?”

I looked into his heated eyes. “I can’t commit to what either of us want.” My heart clenched in my chest. Maybe… maybe there was a compromise to this. “We can have right now, but then after that—we can’t do it ag ain.”

Kieran sucked my pulse point between my neck and shoulder.

Every lick, every nuzzle flooded my body with heat.

Energy crackled under my skin. I wanted to grab his hand and shove it between my folds.

Take care of the mess you made. But all I did was whimper, clutching at his hair to press him deeper against me. “I’ll take it,” he murmured.

“Nothing more. Only right now so they don’t— ah —suspect anything.” Another press of his lips sent a bolt of desire deep within my core.

“Okay.”

Gods, I fucking hated that tone of his. I pulled him from my neck and crashed our lips together. I put my all into the kiss. My anger, my frustration, my want, my desire, my love. Our tongues chased each other, and I moaned when he tugged at my braids. “Only one time,” I said between kisses.

“Then I’ll make it memorable.” He waved his hand lazily, and we reappeared in an empty room. “No one will find us here.”

I clenched my jaw. “Have you taken women here?”

His lips quirked in a smile. “You’re beautiful when you’re jealous.”

“Answer the fucking question.”

He strode forward to cup my face, his eyes burning. “Never. Now, do you want to keep arguing or do you want to enjoy this?”