35. Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter thirty-five
My eyelids flutter closed when Zenn dips his head and nuzzles his nose up the column of my neck, groaning.
"You always smell so fucking good, Aly. It drives me crazy.
Whenever you're close, I can't focus on anything but needing to know what you taste like.
" At that, his open mouth meets the sensitive curve at the base of my neck, and he sucks lightly, making me shiver at the contact and the scratch of his stubble when he presses soft kisses up to my ear and along my jaw.
I moan at the delicious sensation and in frustration when he pulls back slightly until all I can feel is his hot breath on my lips.
Just as I'm about to open my eyes, he gently traces the tip of one finger around the outside of my mouth again and again.
It's impossible not to chase the movement, seeking more.
He surprises me by dropping featherlight kisses to each corner of my mouth, making my lips fall open slightly in anticipation of him finally kissing me properly.
But he doesn't. Instead, he cups my face, lips brushing the tip of my nose, my fluttering eyelids, my cheeks, the corners of my mouth again, before his hands slip up to tangle in my hair.
He tilts my head back further so he can lick and suck at the pulse point in my neck.
I'm panting, trying and failing to take a proper breath as he drives me wild with his hands and lips.
The man hasn't even really kissed me yet, and I already know I'm his.
At least my body is anyway. I've never felt so deliciously desperate, never ached to be touched with such intensity, it feels like I'm about to go up in flames.
Finally, his soft lips are on mine, but only for a heartbeat, with tender, maddingly chaste kisses, never lingering more than a second.
As soon as he feels my lips open to him, his are gone.
Back to my temple, my jawline, that spot behind my ear.
I'd be worried he didn't really want to kiss me if he wasn't pinning me in place with his hips, letting me feel his hardening length against my stomach.
The contrast of soft kisses, rough tree bark at my back, and every inch of his hard body over mine is fucking with my head in the most all-consuming way.
My eyes fly open when his thumb suddenly presses down hard on my bottom lip, his fingers hooking under my chin.
I whimper at the haze of lust glazing his eyes.
My pulse races as he holds me in place, dark gaze locked on my mouth like he wants to devour me.
The intoxicating sharp flash of pain when his thumb presses harder has me clenching my thighs, my sole thought is how much I want his lips on mine, his tongue in my mouth.
Just as I think he's actually going to give me what we both clearly want, he pulls back, and I growl in frustration. "I swear on the twenty-seven ancients, Zenn, if you pull this almost kiss bullshit and walk away again–"
With a gravelly laugh, he steals the rest of my sentence, gripping my wrists in one hand and making me gasp when he pulls them above my head, pressing them firmly into the coarse trunk. "No chance of that, Aly. I'm so fucking done playing by the rules."
His lips crush mine in a ravenous kiss. His tongue immediately sweeps into my mouth, claiming me entirely, and I melt.
With all that exquisite build up, I expected the teasing pace to continue, but this kiss is anything but slow and sensual.
It's carnal, demanding, consuming every thought and sending sparks of lust to every cell in my body.
He seduced me thoroughly, and now, he's devouring me in much the same way.
My knees go weak, and I don't think I'd be able to stand if he didn't have me pinned.
Reading my body like a fucking master, he releases my straining wrists and grips my ass, lifting me higher so I can wrap my legs around his waist, moaning as I feel his hard cock against my center through our leathers as he crushes me back to the tree.
Arching into him, I sink my teeth into his full bottom lip, and he groans, the sound going straight to my core in a warm rush of pleasure. I weave my hands into his thick hair so I can pull him closer, hungry to learn the taste of his mouth the way he's learning mine.
I've never been kissed like this. Years of wanting pour into the kiss as my tongue explores his with a feverish need for more. More skin, more friction, more time, more him.
He pulls back an inch, dragging his teeth along my swollen lower lip as I moan.
He wastes no time taking full advantage of my parted lips, capturing every sound and taking control of the kiss again as I struggle to kiss him back completely.
The grind of his hips matches the rhythm of his tongue in my mouth until I'm a panting mess of desire.
"Zenn," I whisper against his lips, unable to hide the raw need in my breathless plea.
He seals his lips back to mine in a rough kiss, gripping my ass just as hard before he rips his mouth free, panting harshly.
"If we don't stop right now, I'm going to spin you around and fuck you against this tree.
" He unhooks my legs, lowering them to the ground and ensuring I’m steady before turning away, leaving me hopelessly confused at the abrupt shift.
"Please, don't stop on my account," a furious voice drawls.
My head whips toward it at the same time Zenn's does, and I have no doubt the conflicted, guilty look that crosses his face is mirrored on mine.
Felix stands a few feet away, hands balled into fists as he glares at me.
"I knew something was weird when you two paired up. Guess it makes sense now."
His voice is a mix of anger and hurt. "What is this, Aly? What are you doing with him?" He spits the last word at his brother, stalking over to confront me as he leans down to grip my shoulders. "It isn’t like you to do something like this."
My mind stutters, trying to catch up. Seconds ago, I was in Zenn's arms, kissing him, then he doused us in ice water. Now, I’m supposed to be able to explain what it all means. "Like what? Kiss someone?" I bite back.
"Oh, come on. It was a lot more than that. I know you, or at least I thought I did. Letting him take you against a tree where anyone could see is pretty fucking out of character. Don't you think?”
Zenn hasn't said a word, but a low growl emits from the back of his throat at that, and he yanks Felix's hands off me. "What's it to you?"
They stare at each other until Felix shocks me by shoving Zenn in the chest. "Not. Her."
"Stop. What are you doing?" I yell, and Felix spins back to me, eyes accusing.
"You're supposed to be mine—my friend." The words are quieter now as his shoulders slump. "I don't want to lose you, especially not to him."
His voice trails off, and a wave of guilt smacks into me. "I am your friend, of course I am. You know how important you are to me."
“I left Raviaz, came out here for you. You know that, right? Do you even care?”
“I don’t understand. What do you mean?” I whisper.
He only scoffs, turning back to Zenn. "Couldn't help yourself, could you, Commander? Everyone knows she’s off-limits, and yet, here you are.
Did you get bored of fucking Jeska? Or is it Aly's sister you've tired of most recently?
And then there's the princess, of course. I can't keep them all straight."
Wait, Zenn and Jeska? It would make sense, both beautiful, strong, powerful Shields who spend an inordinate amount of time together. She was very protective when she told me stay away too. Is that why? As for him and Drea, that, I don’t believe. She would've told me.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Zenn snarls, taking a step toward Felix in obvious challenge.
“I know I failed you after Mother died, and yeah, you get to hate me for it, that's your prerogative.
But don't claim to care about Aly then put that kind of bullshit in her head because you don't like what you just saw.
Don't think to put her in competition with other women, with her own gods damn sister, based on meaningless gossip. "
Shame clouds Felix’s face, and he glances at me apologetically. Was it even gossip he heard, or did he make that shit up to get me away from his brother? I’m struggling to understand his anger, but surely, he wouldn’t be that cruel.
"I don't hate you. Not yet, anyway," he mutters, staring at the ground.
"I wouldn’t blame you if you did,” Zenn sighs, anger abating. “I’ll go, let you two talk this out." He runs a hand through his dark hair, still tousled from my hands.
"No." The panicked word slips from my mouth without thought, and both men snap their heads to me with very different expressions.
Absolutely the wrong response for Felix, who rolls his eyes in disgust, walking backward as he watches us. "You know what? Fuck this."
"Felix, wait, don’t go," I call, more confused than ever.
He ignores me, tossing sharp words over his shoulder as he storms off, "Don't bother. I get the message, loud and clear." Then, he breaks into a run despite the hilly terrain, like he can't bear to breathe the same air as us for another minute. Well, fuck.
"Give him time—" Zenn starts at the same time as I say, "What just—"
His voice is soft but compelling. "Aly, I need you to know, I've never so much as touched your sister, and there's never been anything between me and Jeska. We kissed once, a decade ago, and it was awkward as fuck."
I hate the rush of relief flooding me. "You don't owe me anything. It's none of my business."
He raises a sardonic brow, closing the distance so we're a few feet apart, and I'm forced to tip my head up to meet his challenging stare.
"Isn't it? So you don't care? That sharp mind of yours isn't currently spinning all kinds of stories about why I stopped earlier?
About why I didn't strip you naked and claim you properly? "
I try to protest, but I gasp when he grabs my hand and yanks me flush against his body, as if the last fifteen minutes never happened.
Then, he leans down, slides a hand into my hair, and crushes his lips to mine in a bruising kiss.
His tongue demanding entrance to my mouth and the feel of his hard muscles as I clutch at his leathers leave me breathless.
I can't get enough. He's reigniting the fire, greedily taking anything and everything I'm willing to give. And all I can hear over the thunder of my pulse is the echo of his low voice. Claim you properly.
He doesn't take it further than this all-consuming kiss, and this time, when he eventually drags his mouth from mine, he does it slowly, nipping at my swollen lips, tracing them with his thumb, resting his forehead against mine while we both strain to catch our breath.
"I had to do that one more time," he says with a long, ragged exhale, ducking his head for one last light kiss before stepping back and allowing the icy air to rush in.
"One?" I ask, stupidly, heart sinking again.
"For now. In case you needed proof I didn't stop because I wanted to.
" Looking up at him, I feel a blush creep across my cheeks.
"And I needed a little more to keep me going until next time.
" The arrogant smirk reappears, and I curse myself for the way it sends a flood of tingling warmth through my bloodstream.
"Next time?" I manage to get out with a laugh that sounds far too breathy.
"Unless that was enough for you?"
"Not sure I know the meaning of the word when it comes to you."
"Good. Then let me make this clear. Whatever this is between us, I have no intention of rushing anything. Right now, we have something less fun to deal with."
"Felix," I sigh morosely, not looking forward to this one bit.
"Well, yes, at some stage." He frowns. "I was actually referring to the fact that all your earlier efforts collecting that cursed plant were wasted.
" He gestures to the open boxes and shriveled coils of the salixa vine scattered across the forest floor, clearly discarded when Zenn and I got tangled up in each other.
Scooping up the boxes and my gloves, I try not to enjoy the feeling of his large hands wrapping around my waist to lift me back into the damn tree.
It's only when I pull myself up to stand and reach for the next branch that I realize I forgot to be self-conscious about any part of my body for the entire time he was touching me.
I didn't even know it was possible to get lost like that, but the thought has me swallowing a lump in my throat and hurrying to be done with this.
It's excellent motivation to replace our ruined supplies as quickly as possible.
Like last time, when I make it back down, I have no choice but to jump and let him catch me.
Before he can set me on my feet, an anguished, terrified scream rips through the peace of the woods, and my soul fractures along with it when I realize it's Willa.