33. Clash of Stone and Steel #3
She inhaled sharply and grabbed his biceps as his hand slipped around her waist to splay across the small of her back. She felt every one of his long fingers as he pulled her against his body, and she tried not to think about the wall of muscle now pressed against her.
She turned her face away from his, but his other hand came up to turn her head back. He tilted her face up and then ran his thumb along her jawline before tracing it back lightly over her lips. Prickles of anticipation skittered across her skin as she waited to see what he’d do next.
Samhail lowered his head toward hers. Something in her mind screamed for her to port away from him, but something more insistent kept her in place. His lips just barely brushed hers, and her mouth instinctively lifted to meet his, chasing the promised kiss.
Samhail lifted his head and smiled down at her, and she realized she’d done exactly what he expected her to.
He’d been testing her reaction to see if she’d pull away from his lips or lean toward them, and damn her if her traitorous body hadn’t just told him everything he needed to know about why she’d done what she’d done the other day.
Talyn was about to step back when Samhail pulled her more firmly against him, and his mouth descended to claim hers.
His fingers threaded through her hair, holding her prisoner to his onslaught.
Not that she had any intention whatsoever of pulling away.
Heat shot through her body, and she reached up to grip the steely bands of his biceps again, her fingers digging into his arms. Her legs turned liquid, and she was grateful now for the hand anchored at her back keeping her upright.
Their mouths parted an inch or two, just enough to take in several ragged breaths, and then they were crushed against each other again, each second only building the hunger between them rather than sating it.
When they parted again, Talyn realized her feet were dangling off the ground while Samhail held her up against his body.
She hadn’t even felt him lift her, and the abandon with which she’d given in to him caused a wave of panic to surge.
There was a growing ache between her legs, but she wasn’t ready to admit yet that he was the only one who could ease it.
Talyn ported without thinking and then stumbled as she fell against the wall on the opposite side of the room with Samhail no longer supporting her body. She heard a frustrated growl behind her and turned to face him. He stood where she’d left him, breathing heavily.
“You made your point,” Talyn said, still trying to catch her breath. “I admit it. I enjoyed teasing you before, but it won’t happen again.”
“It was more than that,” he said.
“No,” she said, shaking her head, “it wasn’t, and it can’t ever be more. Especially not when you’re in love with another woman.”
He blinked. “You think I’m in love with Cyra?”
“I know you are.”
“No, I’m not,” he said emphatically. “First of all, gargoyles don’t really fall in love. It’s not in our nature. Second, wanting someone and being in love with them are very different things.”
Talyn paused at that first bit of information. “But you admit you want her?” she went on, and her stomach knotted, as it seemed to do every time she thought of Cyra and Samhail together.
“Wanted her,” he said, emphasizing the past tense. “I won’t deny Cyra is a beautiful woman, and I desired her in the past, but all that’s over now.”
“What exactly is over?” she asked. “Your desire for her, or just your ability to have her?”
His back went rigid before he answered. “Both.”
Talyn closed her eyes. Somehow it was and wasn’t the answer she’d wanted to hear.
“Talyn,” he said, and she opened her eyes again.
He took a step toward her, and she pressed against the wall, holding out an arm to ward him off. “Don’t come any closer.”
He stopped dead. “Talyn,” he said again, his tone firmer.
She wasn’t sure if she’d ever heard him use her name before now, but she didn’t appreciate the sternness in his voice, as if he was trying to reason with a child.
She steeled her expression, and his jaw tightened. Finally, he nodded and moved to put out all the lamps in the room but the one by the bed.
Her sigh was one of both resignation and relief, but it was short-lived as he peeled off his clothes and got into bed naked.
“Nemesis take you,” she said as her breath hitched at the sight of his well-muscled thighs and that impressive manhood between his legs. “What the hell are you doing?”
Samhail pulled the covers up over himself and shrugged his broad shoulders. He threaded his hands behind his head on the pillow. “My clothes are covered in blood, and my spare pants and shirt are in my saddle bags. I’ll get them tomorrow.”
“You can’t sleep like that.”
“Actually, I can. I rather enjoy sleeping naked.”
“You know what I mean. You’re not allowed to sleep like that if I’m going to share a bed with you.”
Samhail quirked a brow at her. “I’m not allowed?”
“Please put some clothes on,” she tried. “I’ll get them from your saddlebags for you.”
“I’m too comfortable to get up and put them on now.”
Talyn growled. “You’re an infuriating man.”
He shrugged again. “You don’t have to come to bed,” he said, “but I’m turning out that last lamp. If you don’t want to stumble around in the dark, I suggest you find where you’re going to sleep.”
Talyn glowered at him and stalked over to the bed, but she realized as she got closer to the light that her own clothing was still covered in blood.
It wasn’t nearly as bad as his had been, but it still wasn’t something she wanted to sleep in.
She’d have to take both her shirt and her pants off and sleep in her undergarments.
She looked up to find Samhail eyeing her with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
He’d realized the same thing and was waiting for her to undress.
Well, if he thought he was going to see anything, he’d be waiting a while.
She turned off the last lamp so the room went dark, then hurriedly pulled off her shirt and pants so she wore only her lower undergarment and a wrap of cloth she’d wound around her chest to bind her breasts.
She felt her way to the bed and carefully climbed in under the covers as far from Samhail as she could.
Talyn sighed inwardly. A few days ago, she’d been ready to practically impale herself on him. Now she was afraid to be in the same bed with him to do nothing but sleep.
What did his relationship to Cyra matter after all?
If Talyn was being honest with herself, she still wanted him.
It wouldn’t be the first or likely the last time she’d take a lover just for a night or two of pleasure.
It would certainly make the rest of the journey more tolerable if she was able to enjoy his body along the way.
Something wouldn’t let her take that step, though.
Talyn listened to hear if Samhail’s breathing was regular with sleep yet, but she couldn’t tell.
She closed her eyes. She was reasonably certain he wouldn’t touch her now, and the day’s events were starting to catch up with her.
Soon her own breathing slowed, and she fell asleep with the warmth of Samhail’s body drifting across the bed under the covers.