Page 37

Chapter

Twenty-Four

TESSA

Arlon’s words settle in the silence between us.

Don’t go.

He doesn’t say anything else—doesn’t offer false comfort or try to excuse what I told him. He just waits me out, his hand on my wrist, firm but not constricting.

My breath hitches in my throat.

He’s not sending me away. Despite everything I told him, he still wants me to stay.

“You’re mad,” I whisper as I take a step closer. “You’ve been tricked by the Fates to think you need me.”

He shakes his head slowly and tugs my hand, a small movement, but enough to shorten the distance between us by another inch.

“No tricks. My mind’s never been clearer.” He stares up at me, determined. “I’ve made my decision, Tessa. Have you?”

“Damn you.” My voice comes out as a broken gasp.

“For what?” he demands, his eyebrows snapping together. “What did I do, love? Tell me so I can fix it.”

My gaze drops to his lips, then jerks back up. “You’re making me want things.”

“You want me?” He releases my hand and straightens, shoulders drawn back, chin high. “I’m right here.”

I move for him at the same time he reaches for my waist, and then I’m in his lap, his hands warm on my back. We share a breath, eyes wide open. Then I kiss him, and the world melts away.

Arlon’s lips are firm as he moves them under mine. His hand finds the back of my neck, tilting my head back, guiding me where he wants me. I part my lips for him, desperate for a taste.

The first touch of his tongue against mine sends heat pooling in my belly.

I dig my fingers into his long hair, because I don’t want him to move, ever.

He lets out a groan, shifting his hips just enough for me to feel the hard length of him pressing against my thigh.

I kiss him back with everything I have, and he takes it, then sucks on my lower lip, his sharp teeth nicking the sensitive flesh.

He soothes the sting with a lick of his tongue, then pulls back, his heated gaze raking over me.

This is when we make bad decisions, I know it. I want Arlon, and he wants me too. Even if his hard cock wasn’t pressing into my thigh, I’d feel the proof in the way his fingers twitch on my waist, in his quickened breaths, in the strain of his big muscles.

But he drags in a shuddering breath, groans, and shifts me an inch back, just far enough that I’m no longer touching the part of him that’s sending wicked, dangerous thoughts through my mind.

“I don’t want you to leave,” he murmurs, leaning in to touch his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry for judging you. I don’t know what it’s like to be alone in the world. I’ve always had my family, my friends, and my clan to fall back on.”

I sigh and climb from his lap. “And I’m sorry for taking it all out on you. You’re not at fault here, I am. You didn’t steal or lie or cheat. That’s on me. I just wanted you to know that I’m not…”

“Perfect,” he supplies. “Aye, I know. I’m not either. I only want us both to give this a try. Can you do that for me?”

I bite my lip, considering his proposal.

It’s simple enough, and if it were just the two of us, I wouldn’t hesitate at all.

Arlon might have a point about us being fated mates, because it’s the only thing that would explain how quickly I’ve come to trust him.

How everything about him appeals to me on the deepest, most instinctual level.

But I bring too much trouble. I’ve angered an entire gang of possibly murderous criminals. I’ve got no real home, no money—what little I do have was illegally obtained—and no connections. Like I told him, I’m not the kind of woman he could easily bring home to meet his family.

I can’t give him up, though. A better person would let him go, push him away once and for all, so he could continue living his honest, honorable life, helping people and serving his king. But I never claimed I was good.

So I nod and tell him, “I can try. For now. We’ve only just met, Arlon, and I…”

The smile he gives me lights up a hidden, forgotten part of me. Something painful blooms in my chest, a realization that it will hurt so badly when this thing between us eventually shrivels and dies.

“All right,” he says, tugging at my jacket. “I can work with that. Now, let’s get some rest.”

“Tessa?” Arlon’s whisper pierces the complete darkness surrounding us. “Are you sleeping?”

“Mmhh,” I groan into the pillow. “I was, but now I’m not. What’s wrong?”

I’m lying. I wasn’t asleep, and by the chuckle coming from my left, Arlon knows it.

It’s been torture trying to sleep on this narrow cot, in this tiny attic room.

I was worried about the straw roof earlier, thinking it would let rain through, but that’s not the issue at all.

The fact is, the sheaves of straw above us act as perfect insulation, and because our room has no windows, there’s no air flowing through it, either.

“I’m boiling,” Arlon murmurs. “I can’t sleep. I thought our Hill was warm, but this is awful.”

I wiggle onto my side to face him. “It’s all your fault. You’re a furnace.”

“I’m not used to sleeping in my riding pants and shirt,” he protests. “Besides, I suspect that wall over there is actually the chimney, straight from the taproom.”

He moves, which I only know because I hear him.

I can’t see a thing. Someone must’ve blown out the lantern in the hall, because there’s no light coming from under the door.

I’m at a disadvantage, too, because I’m almost certain Arlon can see, even in complete darkness.

Despite his bulk, he hasn’t jabbed me with his elbows once, and now I feel his warm gaze on me.

“You’re staring, aren’t you?” I grumble. “It’s not fair.”

“Aye, I’m staring. You can’t blame a man for staring at a beautiful woman.”

Hopefully, the darkness hides my blush, at least. His eyesight can’t be that good. I duck my head, trying to think of what to do.

“Are you wearing underwear?” I ask finally, pushing through my embarrassment.

“I am,” he replies, his voice dropping low. “Why? Do you want to see it?”

“No!” I smack the back of my hand on his chest. “I was about to allow you to take your pants off, but if you’re going to tease me about it, I’ll rescind my offer.”

He catches my hand and runs his thumb over my knuckles, then kisses them lightly. “Forgive me. Please let me take off my pants.”

I smother a giggle against the pillow. “Fine. But only because I’m boiling too, and I want to take off mine.”

Mistress Maeve must be burning up a week’s supply of wood in that big fireplace downstairs, judging by how hot it is up here.

“What do I have to do to earn taking my shirt off, too?” Arlon asks.

We’re lying so close together, his breath skims over my heated skin, and I shiver, goosebumps erupting all over my body despite the warmth of the room.

“Come on, Tessa,” he pleads, pressing my hand against his chest. “Feel this. I’m sweating.”

My palm touches warm skin under his collarbone, where he must’ve pulled his shirt aside, and my thoughts go quiet.

I kissed Arlon earlier, but this…this feels more intimate.

Perhaps it’s because we’re lying down, or because I can’t see anything, but my heart kicks against my ribs, and I suck in a breath, which only makes it worse.

His scent swirls around me, potent, undiluted.

“Ah, love.” Arlon touches my cheek and brushes my hair back from my face. “What on earth are you thinking now?”

“You,” I blurt out before thinking better of it. “You smell nice.”

His grip on my hand tightens. “So do you.” He pauses for a moment, then adds, “I know what you’re feeling.”

“Of course you do.” I groan, tipping my head back. “Why is this so hard?”

Arlon snorts. “I’ve been asking that since I first scented you.”

“Oh, gods.”

I try to pull my hand away from him, laughing, but he won’t let me. Instead, he rolls me closer, until our knees are touching. With my hand still on his chest, his presence is undeniable.

“We need sleep, Tessa,” he says, his words serious. “We should end this torture. I’ll make you come, you make me come, and we’ll both feel a lot better.”

I gasp in mock outrage, even as heat pools between my legs. “Are you really propositioning me to chase off your sleeplessness?”

Arlon’s voice is a low growl as he replies, “I’m propositioning you because I can’t fucking think when you’re near me, let alone sleep.”

Oh .

I wish I could tell him I don’t feel the same. But for some reason, the thought of lying to him is too uncomfortable to contemplate right now.

“All right.”

The words are out of my mouth before I can stop myself, yet I don’t try to take them back. Arlon freezes beside me, as if trying to judge whether he heard me correctly.

So I pluck at his shirt. “Well, you wanted to take this off.”

He moves so fast, I’m disoriented for a moment, but he’s only taking off his shirt. He shoves his pants off next, judging by the sounds coming from his side of the cot. I unlace the waistband of my riding pants and hook my thumbs in the fabric, but Arlon bats my hands away.

“No, I’ll do that.” His fingers are warm against the skin of my legs as he draws down my pants in one slow movement. “I’ve been wanting to for days, Tessa. Don’t deprive me of this pleasure.”

With a sigh, I lean back on my elbows and lift my ass for him.

“Thank you,” he murmurs. “Now help me with your shirt.”

I push into a seated position and raise my arms for him. I’m still blinded by the darkness, and I wish I’d gotten up to light a lantern, because I want to see Arlon. I want to watch him watch me.

If I can’t do that, I’ll have to rely on my other senses.

Reaching out, I put my hand on his arm and slide my palm up to the bulging muscles of his shoulder. “You were lying,” I protest. “You’re not sweating at all.”

He chuckles. “I will be in a moment, I promise.”

I pause with my hand on his chest. “We can’t fuck tonight. I-I haven’t taken the tea.”