15. Evanee #3
He pressed against me, the boards biting into my back—I didn’t care.
His tongue speared into my mouth, and I moaned against him, matching his intensity.
I wrapped my arms around his neck as he pushed one hand into my hair, grabbing a fistful and pulling tight enough to sting.
The other pulled me flush against him. Every nerve woke as fire surged within me.
A hunger that only he could satiate.
He deepened the kiss, fangs scraping my lip. Teasing. And I instantly wanted him to do that in other places. Needed him to as the area between my legs throbbed with need.
My body felt like it might shatter under the heat radiating through every inch of me. I wanted to be in his arms. It was as if I’d been aching for this without ever knowing it. I had no idea if this was my first kiss or my hundredth—but at that moment, it was the best.
He stopped abruptly, leaving a cold ache in me instead.
“I think it worked,” he said, his breath ragged as he glanced back at the shop.
I didn’t care if Freesia still watched. What would this change between us now that this line had been crossed? Our gazes burned into one another as he straightened. My body screamed for more—but we were in public. And this was a mistake.
The heat faded. The cold returned, and a pit formed in my stomach. I couldn’t do this. Not with him. Then why are you already imagining yourself in his arms again?
He swallowed audibly, eyes bright as he opened his mouth to say something.
“We need to get back,” I blurted, sidestepping him to get away from the cage of his scent and warmth as I scooped up my discarded coat.
My pulse pounded in my ears as I waited for him to move.
A muscle feathered in his jaw, but he nodded, and we walked back to Marigold’s in silence with a good couple of feet between us.
The Inn was empty of patrons when we returned. I wordlessly followed him up the stairs with anxious steps. I'd barely even acknowledged Marigold as we passed her cleaning tables. She cast a hopeful glance beyond us, looking for Dimitri, I’d assume.
Aiden unlocked the door and stepped aside for me to enter first. I hesitated before entering, only to realize he didn’t follow.
“Are—are you coming in?”
He smiled tightly, his entire frame filling the doorway as he braced his hands on either side.
“I think I need to… go for a walk,” he said, his breath uneven—though his gaze said the opposite. Desire was written on his face, as I knew it was mine. I inhaled slowly, knowing stopping whatever could happen was the smart choice—though a small traitorous part of me protested.
“Sure,” I responded hoarsely. “Don’t go too far, though. Not really in the mood for excruciating pain.” I forced a laugh, but his brows only furrowed.
“I won’t go far.” He pushed away from the door and pulled it closed.
I plopped down on the edge of the bed, listening to his boots echo on the wood all the way down the stairs.
I threw myself back and stared at the dark sky through the skylight.
No stars tonight with the thick coverage.
Little flurries fell against the window.
Time dragged on long enough that the snowflakes turned bigger and stuck to the edges of the skylight, but Aiden still hadn’t returned.
My palms grew sweaty, anxiety spreading like a slow-moving poison as I observed the white above me, chewing on my bottom lip.
I shot off the bed, pacing the small space a moment before deciding to take a bath.
I tore the door open. Malachai poked his head out of his room, eyeing me as I clicked our door shut.
I muttered I was going to bathe, not meeting the gold depths of judgment.
He slammed his door shut in response. Asshole.
As the tub filled with water, I put my tunic over the mirror, not caring to see the stranger that stared back.
I shut my eyes, savoring the heat seeping into my tired muscles.
Drip. Drip. Drip.
My fingers brushed against my lips.
Aiden’s had been firm but soft. Inviting while claiming. Everything about him drew me in. He made it too easy to forget who he was—what I was. It’d be easier if he were cruel. Still, I liked feeling wanted.
With a sigh, I laid my head back. What if he'd come into the room?
I swirled my finger lazily on top of the water.
Would he have kissed me harder? Touched me? The peaks of my breasts poked out of the water, and I eyed them a moment before I dragged my nail teasingly across the sensitive flesh, already tightened and aching. My back arched as I bit back a moan.
Although I’d never done anything like this before, I squeezed my eyes tighter as I dove into the fantasy further, envisioning that it was his hand that dragged at a tortuously slow pace between my breasts, over my navel, and even lower, following the heated path of my yearning, until I reached the apex between my thighs.
I hesitated.
This is better than acting on my desire with him.
I pushed my finger lower, stroking the sensitive bundle of nerves.
My bottom lip stung as my teeth clamped down, holding in a gasp as I imagined it was his fingers that dipped inside of me while still pressing my palm against that sweet spot.
I was in that kiss again, but it was deeper, hungrier.
His control would have slipped, bringing out a primal need from him that only I could satiate.
The sound of the water sloshing was muffled against the sound of my own blood pumping in my ears.
Would he have picked me up and pinned me against the wall?
Or taken me in that chair? My heart sped as I imagined him lying me down, settling between my legs.
Wondering what it would be like to have his weight pressing me down, his skin on mine, have him inside me—I clamped my lips together, keeping my cry from escaping as release found me.
Shockwaves left me breathless and trembling. A shaky laugh scraped from my throat as every muscle relaxed, easing me further into the water. Maybe this was where Lyra’s obsession stemmed from. If this is what touching myself did. What would it be like to have him—
My markings tingled as the proximity spell flared to life.
I tensed, water splashing over the tub’s edge as I gripped the sides, tattoos glistening.
Within seconds, it faded, allowing me to relax once more.
Yet I wasn’t relaxed. Finding release from thoughts of him only made things worse as degradation cut deep.
I threw my dirty clothes back on, unwilling to wear one of the exquisite gowns from Thaddeus. I padded back to our room, softly opening the door so I wouldn’t have to face Malachai.
Aiden was still gone.
Which relieved me after my… imagination got carried away.
I draped my new coat on the end of the bed and took the extra blanket, setting it on the armchair along with a pillow for Aiden to make it clear that the illusion of us stopped at the door.
Not that I thought he’d climb into bed. I was trying not to think about that.
Need already burned again, but I refused to give in to it.
With a growl slipping free, I lay down, pulling the covers up to my chin, and fixated on the snow-covered skylight until sleep finally dragged me under.