Chapter 37
Evie
Evie should have known they’d end up kissing.
And, deep down, she had to admit that perhaps she had known.
It’s why she went to the corner away from prying eyes, away from the heavy torture chamber door.
Trystan’s lips slanted over hers in a near frantic pace that made her breathless and desperate.
She grabbed for his shoulders, pushing herself closer until his arms went around her, lifting her and pushing her against the wall.
Then he was lightly tugging on her hair, using his new vantage to place fervent kisses against her neck.
“You can’t do this every time we argue,” she breathed.
Even though she really wanted him to.
“Very well.” He lifted his head, his dark eyes untamed, his normal composure completely surrendered to her. “We can stop arguing and go right to this.”
She giggled. It was hard to believe that moments ago she’d wanted to strangle him and now she was straddling him, holding on to his neck for dear life. “I’m not used to you being the pushy one. What’s gotten into you, Evil Overlord? What happened to the no office fraternization policy?”
“I burned it.”
His lip curled in that secret smile he reserved only for her, dimple appearing to attack her nervous system and pummel her heart. “Because I fell in love with the most infuriating woman I’ve ever met.” Another kiss against her lips, her cheeks, each of her eyelids.
“She sounds awful.” Evie huffed another breathless laugh, warmth spreading through her when his lips found the tops of her breasts, propelled upward by the boning in her bodice.
He lifted his head to look into her eyes with a gleam of wonder. “She’s my favorite person.”
Her brows pinched along with her chest. “You’re mine.”
And as if they couldn’t bear another moment not being connected, his lips found hers again, his hand sliding up her leg, slipping beneath her skirts, moving closer until he brushed against her and she gasped, panting.
“I didn’t think it was possible,” he whispered in disbelief. “I didn’t know I could burn like this.” He lowered her gently to her feet, and Evie felt disappointment at the moment coming to an end.
Except then it didn’t.
As he went to his knees.
“What are you doing?” Evie hissed, scanning the hallway to be sure no one was about. This part of the dungeons was only ever occupied by Trystan and his respective prisoners, but there was no barrier, just the wall jutting out to hide them.
Trystan smirked, quirking a brow. “Chapter six.”
She closed a hand over her mouth to contain her manic giggle, heat rushing through her when she felt her skirt lift until it was at her waist, his hands grabbing hold of her thigh, draping her leg gently over his shoulder. “You don’t have to—”
But then his mouth was on her, causing such overwhelming feeling to cascade through her that she cried out, her fingers coming to tangle in his hair, and he rewarded her with more, awakening parts of her that burned brighter and brighter, until she clapped a hand over her mouth, crying out.
She allowed the sensations to carry her away for a moment of pure, mind-numbing bliss before she drifted back down to reality.
Trystan gently re-placed her skirts, pulling her down so that her back was against his chest, laying worshipful kisses to the top of her head. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful than what I just witnessed.”
She could feel the wanting in his own body, hard against her back. She turned with a look of questioning. “I’m sorry, do you want me to—”
“I want you to stay in my arms. Just let me hold you.” He chuckled against her head. “You’d be horrified to know how often I imagined doing that to you.”
She angled her head up with a sardonic glance. “You did not.”
“The first time you sat atop my desk, I had to run laps around my chambers until I could shake the image from my mind.”
“You’re joking.” She gasped, feeling giddy amusement, euphoria flooding through her, pushing away everything else.
He deadpanned, “I don’t do that.”
She laughed, and he swallowed the sound with another firm kiss against her lips. “It’s funny,” she murmured.
“What is, little tornado?”
“I always assumed you’d be the little spoon.”
“You’re joking.”
She lowered her voice several dramatic octaves. “I don’t do that.” And then she remembered: “So, you read chapter six.”
He cleared his throat, looking as near to sheepish as a man as stoic as he could be. “I was curious—and for good reason.”
“What on earth compelled you to read The Cunning Corset Society in the first place?” She smiled quizzically at the lovely bizarreness of it.
“Edwin said it was your favorite.”
She turned around to face him. “When you were in your study library thing…”
He ran a hand through his hair, appearing uncomfortable with her warmth toward him at the gesture. “I was looking for Edwin’s copy. Yes. I’m not exactly adept at romance, and I thought it might help me…win you, so to speak.”
Her eyes burned, and she rewarded his true goodness with the softest brush of her lips against his, savoring it, like it was the last time.
A few comfortable beats passed between them, the moment feeling just right. “I know there’s so much uncertainty,” Trystan said. “I know that you’re still adjusting, but will you give me the chance to prove to you that we can be happy together…without the world imploding?”
She felt vulnerable and raw when she nodded, hugging her arms around his neck. “I would like that.”
He was correct; there was still so much uncertainty.
But right now, they were merely Evie and Trystan.
For as long as Fate allowed.