Page 49 of Stranger's Choice
Sebin shoved the ring at her again, stepping closer. “Then you won’t go into convulsions, and you’ll be safe!”
Auraelie ignored the ring and pushed at Sebin’s chest. “And the Emperor will know that I either have protection or he’ll assume another person is immune to my power. And you know what he’ll do if he thinks someone is immune. So there is no charm, Sebin. You have immunity, do you hear me?”
He had to understand. He wanted to help, but so long as she was still the treaty-bound imperial oracle his charm was a danger to her. She would lie to the Emperor at this point. She had to if she wanted to help the rebellion, but some risks weren’t worth taking.
She didn’t need the ability to touch anyone. Not if Sebin wore the charm.
He shoved the ringer back on his finger. “Fine, but it still means that I am not your only chance. Once we end the treaty and you are free, not only can you go home, but I am also giving you my charms. You’ll be able to touch whomever you wish, oracle or not.”
“You haven’t been listening, Sebin. I choose you. This isn’t about your immunity. This isn’t even about not wanting to wait. I wantyou.You are smart, funny, considerate, and the most attractive man I’ve ever met. I don’t want anyone, just you.” If Auraelie wasn’t certain Sebin was saying no because he was too honorable for his own good, she’d have felt foolish at this point. As it was, it was a little embarrassing to have to beg him to let her seduce him. If his kiss was any indication, however, the reward would be worth the embarrassment.
“Auraelie, are you—”
She threw her hands up in the air. “If you ask if I’m certain, I’m going to hit you, Sebin. I’ve made myself clear at this point. All that’s left is for you to decide if you want me.”
“Of course I want you.”
The absolute conviction in Sebin’s voice, the way he answered without any hesitation, went a long way toward reassuring the doubts trying to gain a hold in Auraelie’s mind. Then Sebin continued talking and those doubts evaporated.
“You are brave, resourceful, and intelligent. Not to mention, seeing you in this dance costume is driving me wild. I didn’t even know I had this much self-control.”
Auraelie stepped closer, eliminating the space that had grown between their bodies. “So let go.”
Sebin did.
He kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her lips. Then his mouth moved down her neck and he began walking backward, pulling her along. One hand was at the back of her neck, tangling in her hair, holding her close. The other slid down her arm to her hand, steering her as they moved. When they hit the curtain separating the inner and outer chambers, Sebin paused, the strings of beads parting around his left shoulder.
For a second, Auraelie thought he was going to ask again if she was certain. He didn’t. He spun her around without warning and swept her hair over her shoulder. Then his fingers returned to her neck, and she realized he had been trying to remove the collar holding her veils in place this whole time.
She looked back at him. “They slip out easily enough.”
“I am not leaving a damn collar on you,” he growled.
He finally found the clasp holding the gold closed. He removed the collar and tossed it on the floor, where it landed with a heavy clunk.
Auraelie, meanwhile, had unhooked the matching belt, which she let drop, along with the veils. Then she turned and pushed through the curtain to the bedroom. She heard Sebin exhale, his shoulder still the only part of him in the inner chamber.
She smiled and climbed onto the bed cushions. By the time Sebin followed her into the room, she was lying on her stomach, facing the door, with her chin resting on her hands. Sebin looked directly into her eyes, then removed his vest. He folded it carefully and placed it on top of a trunk. His hands went to the hem of his shirt.
“Hurry up,” Auraelie groaned.
“What’s my incentive?”
“The sooner you get naked, the sooner you get to join me.”
Sebin smiled and released the hem of his shirt. He prowled over to where she lay. “But I don’t have to be naked to join you.”
Sebin went around behind her and straddled her hips. Then he began kissing his way down Auraelie’s spine. Each press of his lips against her back made her shiver. She couldn’t hold still, and as he got lower, she twisted to try to see him. He lunged forward and captured her lips with his own.
Auraelie turned onto her back and ran her hands under Sebin’s shirt, across the muscles of his abdomen, and up to his chest. Touching so much skin was as exhilarating for Auraelie as Sebin’s kiss. She could not get enough of the sensation. His chest was smooth and hard, yet the skin was soft. She trailed her hands back down to his abdomen, where the ridges of his muscles added another layer to the sensation. Then she slipped her hands lower, her fingertips halting at the waistband of his trousers.
Sebin paused in his kisses. “And here I was, thinking you didn’t have a shy bone in your body. Don’t prove me wrong now.”
Auraelie licked her lips and Sebin’s eyes darkened. She plunged her hand below his waistband and wrapped her fingers around him. Satin over steel. She ran her fist up and down his length and Sebin’s hips flexed. Once. Twice. Then he darted away, her fingers closing over empty air.
Auraelie looked over to where Sebin stood next to the bed, ripping off his clothes. Before she had a chance to admire him, he climbed back over her, this time catching her wrists and locking them against the cushions above her head. He held them with one hand and kissed her again. His tongue moved against hers in a frenzy. His free hand drifted across her stomach, then up to cup her breast.
Auraelie arched into him. It was almost too much, but she wanted more.
