Page 64 of Kiss of Seduction

She pressed her lips against Evie’s brow, tasting salty sweat.

“Are you here, darling?”

“I’m…” Evie was breathing too heavily to finish the sentence. She had to wait to catch her breath before she could continue. “I’m going to need a minute.”

“You can have hours.” Natalya ran her fingertips over Evie’s chest. As she did, she willed calm into Evie’s body. It made her muscles relax, and she sighed with satisfaction.

“What the hell, Natalya?” The question was followed by a laugh. Evie covered her face with her hands. “How did you do all that?”

“Let me have my secrets.” Natalya kissed the back of Evie’s hands. “But I must say… That was quite the private dance.”

Evie peeked over her fingers and laughed, and the sound started a wave of warmth in Natalya’s chest. It sounded so honest. So happy.

She’d heard Evie laugh like that before, with Blake and Lily. A noise of joy and relaxation. Not the trembling, nervous kind most people adopted around Natalya. She wasn’t a creature who invited anything but passion and yearning. She didn’t invite ease.

But Evie was leaning against her, smiling, and her green eyes were so trusting it made Natalya’s black heart ache strangely. It was a feeling unfamiliar to her.

Natalya kissed her again. Deeply and with demand. It was a kiss that had killed hundreds. The pleasurable bane of mortals. A death sentence.

Evie leaned into it, sighing happily.

“You’re incredible.” Natalya held Evie closer, astounded that she didn’t need to let go of her.

For a moment, Evie’s face was filled with joy. Then she paled, and her eyes widened. Before Natalya could interpret the expression, Evie covered her mouth with her hand and giggled.

“Oh no.” She looked at the still-open door. “I completely forgot. I hope no one heard us.”

Natalya would be able to hear if someone was approaching, but Evie didn’t know that.

“Us?” Natalya smiled innocently. “I was quiet as a mouse.”

Natalya’s ability to read the emotions of others was innate. When they were right in front of her, she couldn’t help but read their basic emotional state. She saw it too easily.

This was different. When she smiled at Evie, the wave of happiness flowing through her was so strong it echoed in Natalya’s own body.

If Natalya focused, she could feel what Evie did. But she didn’t have to focus. Evie’s joy was that heightened. It stole Natalya’s ability to speak.

Evie put her hand over Natalya’s. “I wasn’t expecting any of that. Where did it come from?”

The question was made in jest. It was a hypothetical, not meant to be taken seriously. Yet it was like an icy dagger in Natalya’s chest.

She hadn’t been thinking. Wherehadit come from? Why had she done this?

“I don’t know.” Natalya turned her face away. Evie’s eyes were filling with worry. Natalya couldn’t look at it. Couldn’t bear to see the change in her.

The reason this had happened was because Natalya wanted it to. Because she’d desired it. But Evie wasn’t someone to desire. She was a victim of countless horrors. Of violence and assault. And Natalya hadseducedher.

The realization made her feel sick.

Evie put a hand on her shoulder. “Natalya, what’s the matter?”

She sounded concerned. She assumed it was her who had done something wrong. She didn’t even realize what Natalya had done to her. That made it so much worse.

Evie leaned forward, and her fingers slipped under the strap of Natalya’s dress. The act might have been accidental, but it made Natalya flinch regardless.

Evie wanted to touch her. To undress her and marvel at her. Possess her. It was something Evie couldn’t help but feel. It was what Natalya instilled in others. She was powerful and desirable. And she was something people wanted to own.

Her touch made others want to be owned in turn. And she had her arms wrapped around Evie.