Chapter 34
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Aaron had never shivered at a woman’s words. Ever.
It must have been the cold night air.
The words she had spoken were a dangerous dare. There was no denying the fact that she wanted him to claim her. She had said those words in the softest tone, and his ear still tingled from the brush of her breath.
Damn me.
His gaze dropped to her mouth before lifting again, locking onto hers.
“Is it nae?” he asked.
Edith’s lips parted slightly, though she did not respond. She did not need to.
He released her wrist, his hand moving slowly to her jaw as his breathing slowed, giving her enough time to move away if this was not what she wanted.
She did not move. Not even an inch.
Her eyes closed for the briefest second as his touch lingered on her skin, and she rose on her tiptoes, waiting. Tempting him.
His grip tightened on her jaw. He wanted this as much as she did. Probably even more.
He leaned in until his lips crashed against hers, and she kissed him back instantly. Her fingers curled into the front of his tunic, pulling him closer as though the space between them caused her discomfort.
There was nothing careful about this kiss. Nothing restrained or withheld.
Edith moaned into his mouth, the sound carrying into the night around them. The cold air no longer mattered. Her skin was hot against his, his body hard against hers.
His free hand found her waist, drawing her in until she melted against him, and her tongue found its way into his mouth, undoing whatever remained of his composure.
He broke away only long enough to glance toward the carriage door standing open behind her, the dark interior offering the only privacy the empty road allowed.
She clawed at him as he helped her into the tiny space, too cramped to accommodate both of them.
The urge to claim her was primal.
He knelt between her legs as she raised her hips, pulling off her undergarments beneath the layers of her gown. His breath caught at the fairness of her skin, even in the dark, and his fingers slowly trailed up her thighs.
Perhaps it was the bouquet resting beside her on the carriage seat. The scent of wild lavender consumed him, and he leaned forward, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh.
Edith’s breath caught. Her lips parted as though she had no control over them, and she moaned, before biting her lower lip to stifle the sound.
“Daenae fash,” Aaron murmured, looking up at her through his eyelashes. “Nay one will hear.”
With that, he moved his hand up, stopping only once his fingers had found the heat between her legs.
It was as though he had broken something within her. Her hips moved against his touch, her wetness coating his fingers. He teased her entrance and then stopped, his breathing heavy.
His gaze met hers as she opened her eyes, her breathing ragged.
“Please.” The word was barely a whisper past her lips.
Aaron pulled back. He could not take her like this. Not in this manner, and especially not for her first time. He held her gaze for a moment longer before leaning down, pressing his lips to her inner thigh.
Edith’s hand came to his head, her fingers tangling in his long, black hair.
It was incredibly difficult to even try to hold back. It was as though her very essence fought a battle with his grip on control. He allowed himself to let go, tasting her sweetness with the tip of his tongue.
“Aaron,” she moaned, and he had never been more pleased to hear his name.
He groaned against her, and her hips jerked against his face.
The carriage creaked loudly. The horse whinnied. And yet none of it mattered. Edith climaxed against his mouth, and he stroked her through it, wringing every last tremor from her.
Eventually, after several long breaths, she went limp. Her feet were braced against the seat behind him, and her dress was bunched around her waist.
Gently, Aaron helped her up, rising from between her legs. Only now did he realize how small the carriage truly was. He adjusted her skirt, smoothing the fabric back into place. Then he bent to retrieve the discarded undergarment from the floor of the carriage.
He held the thin material in his hand for a moment, unsure what to do with it.
“Shall I…” he trailed off, turning toward her.
Edith burst into awkward laughter, her face flushing a deep red.
Aaron smiled—a real smile, unguarded in a way he never allowed anyone to witness—and tucked the garment into his coat pocket instead of returning it, coaxing another startled laugh from her.
He settled back across from her, watching as she gathered herself, her fingers working uselessly at strands of hair that refused to behave. She gave up after a moment, leaning her head back against the seat with a soft sigh.
The carriage lurched forward again, the horse finding its steady pace along the dark road, and within minutes, her breathing had evened out.
By the time they reached the outskirts of Hallow, Edith had fallen asleep, her head resting against his shoulder, her hair loose and tangled across his arm.
Aaron did not wake her. He sat with her like that for the remainder of the journey, watching the rise and fall of her chest, the medallion at her throat catching the faint moonlight through the carriage window.
She was peaceful. Far more peaceful than he’d ever expected to see her.
When they arrived at the castle, he lifted her carefully into his arms, her weight settling easily against his chest as he carried her inside.
Caelan was waiting outside. He said nothing as Aaron passed, only gave a slight nod of his head.
Aaron climbed the narrow stairs to the east wing with care, worked her chamber door open without waking her, and laid her down gently on the bed.
He drew the blanket over her.
She will leave.
The thought settled in his chest as he straightened, and for a long moment, he simply stood there, watching her.
The harvest festival was less than a week away. Afterward, their arrangement would be over.
The certainty of the situation made it all the more unbearable, and irritation flared in his chest.
It doesnae matter, he tried to tell himself, but this time, he could hardly finish the thought.
How would it not matter, when every restraint he had gathered had come crashing down in one night? When he had let himself go so carelessly at the sound of his name on her lips?
Aaron turned toward the door, pausing at the threshold to look back at her. Then, he pulled it shut behind him and crossed the corridor to his chambers, the distance between their doors feeling too far for the first time.
It doesnae matter.