Page 55 of Temptation Unleashed (Talaenian Fae #3)

T he world beneath her feet quaked. She swore it moved, sending a tremor up through her legs and rocking the foundation on which she stood.

Her belly did a strange, erotic flip, one that stirred awake a feral hunger and voracious pulse at the apex of her thighs.

That pulse spread up through her sternum, her throat, making it difficult to swallow, harder to breathe, and that longstanding ache in her chest blossom behind an explosion of golden light.

Their bond. It might not be sealed with blood, but it reminded her how alive, well, and virile it was on its own. How much she had missed him, wanted him, needed him to feel complete.

His eyes glowed a deeper blue, his pupils swelling.

His nostrils flared a touch, casting his calm expression beneath a carnal shadow.

That look, the sensation of being pinned by a predator she desperately wanted to succumb to, kept her glued where she stood when every molecule screamed for her to run, jump, climb the heart-melting Fae.

“You had me worried.” She knotted her fingers at her waist, drawing his attention like a scorching blade from her eyes, along her throat, lingering at the crest of her breasts, down, down, down to where she stayed her hands.

He took his first step toward her. The air downright shook.

“No one would tell me how you were fairing.”

“As not to have me take up precious space in that beautiful head of yours.”

Somehow, she swallowed past the knot that bobbed back up to the back of her throat.

His voice, a deep, richly thick husk, played over her skin and conquered her mind.

His voice alone was a caress her soul craved, foreplay of an elevated nature.

Every nerve within her sang beneath those few words, a melody that caused her to sway.

Another step closer. The weight of his presence pressed into her body.

God, was this the effect of being soul mates?

Was this the full power of having a single person destined to be hers?

For days, she’d held walls, barriers, restraints up against Thaddeus.

Trying to keep him at arm’s length, even if her arms often buckled, her will chipped and crumbled.

She abandoned them the night Rich came to her and never bothered replacing them.

“If I want you to take up space in my head, who’s to tell me you can’t?”

Another step, bringing him within reach. Her heart drummed hard in her chest. The bodice of the dress suddenly felt too tight, too constricting. Suspended in limbo, her entire body taut, burning, aching, itching, the only way out would be at the mercy of this man.

“ Mo ghrá álainn ,” he murmured, reaching for her chest. His words touched a space in her heart, despite not understanding their meaning.

Only when his fingers folded around her fist did she realize she had unlocked her fingers and pressed her fist hard over her heart.

His grip, tender, gentle, melted her muscles as he slipped his thumb against the heel of her palm and opened her hand.

His gaze never faltered from hers, soaking in every tiny nuance, every teeny reaction.

He lifted her palm to his mouth, brushing those cruelly seductive lips across her skin, and all she could think about was his wicked mouth consuming hers.

“I don’t deserve you. I’ve never deserved you. ”

His hand slipped to her cheek, molding to the curve of her face.

She leaned into his touch, his caress. The press of his strong fingers after their absence for so many days filled her with warmth.

A homecoming after being alone for so long.

Here, now. This was the very place her heart ached to be, and she was through fighting what she could no longer fight. What she no longer cared to fight.

“I beg to differ.” Slipping a hand to his waist, fingers curling around the silky sash, she stepped into him and pressed to her toes. “We deserve each other, Thaddeus.”

Thaddeus wrapped his arm around her waist, pinning her flush to him.

Despite the layers of fabric, his arousal was evident, digging shamelessly into her belly.

The sexiest flush touched his cheeks as his pupils yawned.

His breaths remained controlled, but when she curled her free hand around his neck, his pulse raced against her palm.

Oh, the feel of him, solid, warm, and alive , sent her soaring.

Her eyelids grew heavy as he tilted her head, his fingers combing up into her hair.

She melted in his embrace, her body languid and weak, moving according to his direction.

The sweetest heat spread over her lips, his breath like butterfly wings before his mouth pressed down upon her.

She moaned as his tongue swept between her lips.

A single, tentative dip, teasing the tip of her tongue before drawing back.

Only Rori caught him and kept him close, unleashing the famished predator he tried to hold at bay.

His mouth became her sanctuary, his kiss her salvation.

She whimpered, feeding into his starved kisses, his demanding plunders, an intoxicating mixture of desperation and desire.

Yet never once did he allow their kisses to become frenzied and wild.

She tasted his strength in his control, that hissing resistance, a last string screaming to be severed.

To be free of any and all binds, to simply be how they were meant to be.

Together.

Her hip bumped into the balustrade. Thaddeus tore his mouth from her, his arm loosening from her waist and his hand dropping to her hip. “Are you all right?”

“I barely felt it.” Rori stole the moment to curl her fingers in his soft hair, the cool strands running over her hand like satin.

She traced the curve of his ear, following the firm shell to its point.

Thaddeus’s smoldering gaze cut to hers, his tender touch at her hip splaying over her ass in a possessive squeeze.

She sucked in a sharp breath, arching into him. “That, on the other hand…”

“You appear to enjoy.” A shadowed grin began to curl the corners of his mouth.

“This dress on you…Goddess help me, I’ve no control around you.

’Tis not a good thing, storín , for I can be selfish in my wants and desires, feeding into your cravings, knowing how this will end…

” He dipped his head, gently leaning his forehead to hers with a despondent sigh.

“Rori, you need to know the truth about me. ’Tis what you deserve.

I won’t lead you down this path without removing the blindfold.

You must make your decisions with utter clarity and understanding. ”

The unnerving flip of her stomach squandered any warm desire he’d built.

A chill slithered up her body, dousing the heat, smothering the flames, and making her suddenly ill.

She leaned back, breaking free of the euphoria the moment she caught the turmoil so clearly playing across his face.

The Fae who could send Death itself running with one of his icy glances observed her with undisputable sadness streaked with pain.

He cupped her face once more, his touch tender, like she would break beneath his fingers. “I wish with all my heart I could change my past. To give you all you deserve.”

She inhaled and forced herself to steady the breath as it began to tremble. This was not the reunion she’d imagined.

He believes he is fated to die.

“You can.” She covered his hand with hers, trying to find strength in his touch that she lacked in her voice. “You will.”

“How sweet your words are to my heart. How soothing to my soul.”

He drew his lips across hers, a closed-mouth kiss.

The simplicity of the touch belied something far more dreadful.

As his lips left hers, she received a nauseating sensation of some unseen link being cut.

When he stepped back, her soul fractured.

The energy was off, unsettling. God, to rewind time a few minutes to when he’d kissed her like he’d die without her, and never let him end that kiss.

This is inevitable. You knew this would come. You wanted answers. You’re going to get them.

He didn’t relinquish her hand, thankfully, his fingers folding between hers. He motioned down the corridor, away from the stairwell. “Walk with me.”

She nodded, though she wanted to refuse.

Her feet weighed like stone, but somehow she fell in step beside him, his gait leisurely, slow.

He adjusted their hands, pulling them apart to wrap her arm around his.

The motion drew her closer, and before long, she found herself hugging his arm, resting her face on his biceps.

“I’ve learned much with you, storín . I’ve learned that with soul mates, one doesn’t necessarily need to know trivial nuances—a favorite food or scent—to know their fated mate.

’Tis far deeper, on a spiritual level we can’t achieve consciously, or even subconsciously.

’Tis similar to mortals casting casual banter about the weather.

’Tis meaningless chatter that brings forth no connection.

The bond between anam caras , though, is predestined and merely awaiting activation.

’Tis woven into the fabric of our souls, without any chance of being removed.

’Tis a wick, awaiting its flame. Our souls know each other beyond our conscious minds.

Does not matter how hard we fight it, the bond is stronger, and will prevail. ”

His voice cocooned her in its deep, rich warmth, soft-spoken words like a soothing lullaby. A deceitful lullaby.

“I’ve come to understand that we act on the primitive connection without complete comprehension because things happen quickly and without warning between those fated to be together.

The emotions hit too strong, too quick, consuming anything and everything within its path and power.

Alas, we trust these emotions and somehow understand that we’re safe with our other half.

Matters not the dangers we cross, the challenges we face, one shall not let the other suffer alone.

’Tis why finding our anam cara is the most precious gift a Fae could ever dream to receive.

For a man, ’tis the knowledge that he’ll have a woman to protect and cherish, provide for and love eternally. ”

Rori paused, drawing Thaddeus’s curious gaze. One of his brows lifted slightly, but his lips remained flat, the corners tense.

“Speak your question, storín .”

Rori fumbled with her thoughts, her question playing on the tip of her tongue. But in the last moment, her words changed. “Did you think the princess was your soul mate? ”

Shadows crossed over his face. The light in his eyes dulled. He pressed his lips together and he looked away.

“Nay,” he murmured. With a deep inhalation, he resumed their walk.

Rori loosened her grip on his arm, choosing to read his expression instead of nuzzle his biceps.

Ignorance was not bliss in this case. They walked a proverbial precipice, one she trusted him to lead her across but the whispers in her head warned her of the dangers surrounding him. “I knew she wasn’t my anam cara .”

“But you loved her.”

“Foolish thoughts. ’Twas obsession, mayhap. Twisted sense of familiarity and false security. Aye, I fancied myself in love with her, but have you not believed yourself in love before?” He cast her a side glance, his question sincere, lacking any malice. “Your ex?”

When she drew to a stop once more, Thaddeus turned to her, gathered her hands in his, and dipped his head to catch her gaze. God, she hated how easily she conceded to his silent commands.

“Most mortals and Fae go a lifetime without understanding what love truly is. We walk through the years, finding company in others without ever understanding or experiencing a true, soul-bound connection. I can’t fault you for your past relationships, in this lifetime or previous lifetimes.”

“Your princess was recent. She’s still fresh.”

The corner of Thaddeus’s mouth quirked. “I believe yours was as well. Alas, both are dead.”

“You don’t miss her? Even a little? She was a princess, and from what I’ve heard, a stunner. I’m a mortal with flaws.”

The quirk melted into a scowl, and soon dropped away completely. “Fae have more flaws than we care to admit, as you’ve shown me time and again.”

He cupped her face between his hands, drawing her close enough to feel his gentle breaths against her lips and catch the dim flecks of gold in his eyes masked by dismal clouds.

“Nay, I don’t miss her. I can’t pull her memory to the front of my mind, nor do I care to.

I can’t recall the details of what she looked like because ’tis you who occupies my head every second of every day.

I want for no princess, for I have a queen who owns my soul and stole my heart.

A goddess who I will die to protect and cherish until I am no longer. ”

Love. Thaddeus confessed his love. To her .

Her heart soared, but dread tethered it down. She wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around his neck and kiss him until she couldn’t breathe.

And yet…

“Why do I feel you aren’t happy about this?”

“Goddess.” His thumbs slipped beneath her eyes, catching the drops of moisture before they had a chance to fall. “Hold tight to your tears, a mhuirnín . For when you need them most.”

He feathered a kiss to each eye. Each tender gesture made her want to insist he keep his secrets to himself. She feared what he would reveal, and how it would ultimately affect her.

“Come. Here is not the place to discuss these things.”