Page 98 of Quicksilver

He let out a wordless, animalistic growl in response that sent a thrill of anticipation chasing all the way down my spine. Waves of heat crashed over me, settling in my stomach. I was swept away by it on a burning tide. I had no clue when I'd started grinding myself against his cock. Only that he tensed every time I did it, his fingers digging into my skin, his mouth becoming more insistent at my neck.

“Fuck! Fisher, I want...I want you...” I panted.

And, as if I'd just dowsed him with a bucket of cold water, Fisher tore his mouth from my skin and pulled back. A split second later, my feet were back on solid ground, and Fisher was on the other side of the tent, dragging his hands through his hair. I felt his absence like a physical blow.

Oh,fuck.

A million thoughts slammed into me at once.

That was a terrible idea.

I shouldnothave let him do that.

I shouldnothave kissed him back.

I shouldn't have rubbed myself against his cock like that.

I shouldn't have moaned.

I definitely shouldn't have told him that I wanted him.

For the love of all the gods in all the heavens, why had Isaidthat?

I was going to throw up.

Fisher pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes, groaning. He looked up, looked atme, and my stomach dropped. “Fisher—”

He crossed the tent so fast. Cupping my face in his hands, he kissed me again. Hard. Fast. His lips were on mine again, though they didn't part. It only lasted a second, but it caused complete and utter fucking chaos inside my head. “Fisher—”

He shook his head emphatically, his eyesbeggingme not to speak. Quickly, he took hold of my hand and placed it onto his chest, right in the center.

Thum, thum, thum, thum, thum, thum....

His heart was racing, the space between beats barely negligible. Nothing like the slow, steady beat he’d shown me back in the forge at the palace. I tried to pull my hand away, startled by the thundering rhythm, but Fisher held me there tight.

He didn't say a word. He held my gaze, unblinking, and for once, the quicksilver that marked his eye was still. There was no arrogance in his features. No bravado. No smug smirk. The look he was giving me was deadly serious. Like it meant something. He swallowed, his chest rising and falling too fast, and then he nodded.

“I can't trustanything,” he whispered breathlessly. Andthatwas when he let me go. When I needed him not to. Right when I needed him to stay and explain what the last one hundred and twenty seconds meant. He gathered up his cloak, swung it around his shoulders, and headed out into the waning light.

Fisher hadn't asked me to stay in his tent. He hadn't compelled me to wait there, either, and so I did what any sane woman would do: I bolted. The light was fading fast as I ran through the war camp. Everywhere I looked, Fae warriors clad in armor were streaming toward the center of the camp. All of them were armed. Only half of them bothered to look twice at me. A frenetic, agitated energy filled the air. The smell of smoke and cooking meat assaulted my senses, but nothing could replace the scent of mint and midnight forest in my nose.

He'd kissed me.

He'd done a hell of a lot more than that, actually. I could still feel his hands on my waist. My nipple still throbbed with the ache he had put there. My pulse became a frantic tattoo as I slipped through the crowd, trying to find...

Gods, where was I even going? I had no clue. I just had to get away from Fisher's tent. Inadvertently, I allowed myself to be swept along in the tide of warriors. It had stopped snowing at some point, and now the sky was a purple bruise, the clouds angry and foreboding as I ran. Eventually, I couldn't run any further. The mountains speared up ahead, punching toward the sky, and to the south, the Darn wrapped around the camp, trapping me within its boundary. I was forced to follow the warriors down to the large tent in the clearing ahead, where a massive fire roared and leaped up to meet the dusk.

It was luck that I found Ren. The crowd of warriors parted for him as he made his way among them, headed for the tent, and by some miracle, I was left standing in the general's path.His dark eyes were stormy, but they softened when they landed on me. “Saeris? Where's Fisher?” he asked, placing a hand on my shoulder, urging me alongside him as he walked.

“I'm not sure.” It was the truth.

A tense, knowing look formed on his face as he took me in, his nostrils flaring, and he smelled... Ah,shit.“Are you okay?” he asked carefully.

“Yes! Yes, of course. He hasn't...” My cheeks flared red hot. “He didn't do anything wrong.”

“Of course not. I know him. Fisher would never...” He tiptoed around what he wanted to say, ushering me inside the tent. Delicately, he said, “I can smellyouas well as him, Saeris. I wasn't worried that he'd hurt you. I was asking if you were okay. There's a difference.”

I pushed back against a second round of embarrassment, refusing to give it power. Was this what I had to look forward to? Every single member of the Fae giving me sideways glances every time I was the least bit turned on? Urgh! “I'm fine,” I said, speaking with more confidence this time. “I promise, I'm totally fine. I just had no idea where anyone was, that's all.”