Page 125 of Journey to the Elderoak
A hand grasped her wrist and yanked her into a dark alcove, a hard body pinning her against a wall.
“What are you doing?” she whispered harshly, now face to face with the general.
“This,” he said as he leaned in and kissed her with vigor, grasping her face with his hands. She grabbed his jacket and pulled him closer, sighing into his mouth before breaking the kiss.
“Someone will see us,” she said as he kissed his way down her neck. The faint sound of music drifted from the ballroom as she reveled in his touch.
His lips found hers again. “So?”
He didn’t stop, hands roving along her body, palming herass. “You…in that dress…have me distracted.” He moved to her neck again as he lifted a hand and grasped her breast. She moaned, arching her back. “I want to rip it off and take you right here.”
“Yes,” she whimpered.
He continued, trailing heated lips along her shoulder, nibbling and licking, as his hands moved lower and gripped her hips.
He groaned into her neck and inhaled. “You smell so damn good.”
Ava sunk her fingers in his hair and pulled his lips to hers, kissing him deeply as her breathing sped up. Someone cleared their throat in the hallway right next to them and they froze.
Ava glanced over to find Astrid standing there grinning. “I’m sorry to interrupt but your brother is looking for you, Your Highness.”
“Oh,” she said, the heat of embarrassment creeping up her neck.
Casimir backed away, straightening his jacket, and smoothing his hair. Ava attempted to fix her own as they both emerged from the alcove and faced Astrid awkwardly.
“You go back first,” Astrid said to Casimir. “I’ll walk Ava in. Tell Thorne she and I were getting some fresh air.”
He nodded and kissed Ava on the forehead before starting to walk off, when Astrid called after him, “Casimir.” He paused and turned around. “I’m happy for you,” she said. He smiled and turned away, leaving the two of them alone.
“I need to fix your makeup,” said Astrid, pulling out a small pot of rouge she had hidden in her dress. She dabbed it on Ava’s cheeks and lips while she spoke. “I’ve known Casimir for a long time. I’ve never seen him shirk his duties for a woman before. You must be something special to him.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re soulbonds, yes?” Astrid asked as she fixed Ava’s hair.
“How did you know?”
“We can usually recognize each other.”
“Right. Jorrar said you and Soren were soulbonds,” Ava said.
“Yes. I had guessed the two of you were when you visited us.” Astrid backed away. “Okay, I think it isn’t too obvious you were just ravaged by the general. Ready to go back?”
“Yes.”
She stayed beside Astrid as they headed to the ballroom, the sound of the music and voices growing louder as they approached.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” she said. “Soren and I sneak away at these things all the time. Something about getting caught is exciting. I didn’t want to interrupt, but I knew someone else would end up finding you and it wouldn’t go as pleasantly.”
“How did you know where I was?” she asked.
“He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since the moment I arrived. When I overheard Thorne ask where you were and noticed you were both gone, I figured it out quickly.”
“I’m glad you found us instead of my brother,” she replied. “That would have been awkward.”
“Indeed.”
They walked through the crowd and found Thorne speaking with Soren, Thalia and Aelerion—the latter’s boisterous laugh booming across the ballroom.
