Page 84 of Reap & Sow

Then his lips were on hers.

Surprise made her gasp at first. The eager press of his mouth quickly dissolved into a hot, slow slide. It was inexplicable—rare and delicious and overwhelmingly lovely. He was so close. Not close enough. The angle felt slightly awkward, but it barely crossed her mind before she was being hauled into his lap proper. Eda straddled him and twined her arms about his neck. He rumbled his pleasure.

Fangs nipped her bottom lip. She nipped back. He growled. The vibration had her humming in delight. Claws wound themselves into her curls while his other hand clung to the small of her back, keeping her close. As though she might come to her senses and pull away.

Eda had no intention of leaving. Her skin burned everywhere he touched her, and still she wanted more. The glide of his lips over hers was so painfully arousing she thought she might expire on the spot. She abandoned his searching mouth to kiss the point of his ear. Kit shuddered in response. She did it again, grazing with teeth. He bit her jaw in reprimand before soothing it with his tongue. Eda gasped. He nosed her chin aside to press hot, wet kisses along her throat.

“This—” She scrambled to gather her thoughts. “This is the longest you’ve ever been quiet.”

“Would you rather me keep talking?” He dragged his fangs over her collarbone, not quite hard enough to hurt.

“Depends what you say.”

“Mm. Where was I, then?” Kit’s hand found her backside. He pulled her against the distinct, hard length of him. “Do you want to hear about all the ways I’ve imagined you undressed?” He kissed his way up to her ear. “How I’ve lain awake, unable to sleep, because I’m rock hard thinking about something as inane as the shape of your waist?”

“Pervert,” she whispered.

“Apparently,” he whispered back. Kissed her again.

Eda’s brain was quite removed from her body. She couldn’t help but roll her hips into his, desperate for more friction. He made a delicious noise. Kit’s hand shot under her shirt, roving up her spine. The sensation of his palm on her bare skin was like nothing she remembered. How could such a simple touch bring the very stars closer than before?

It was never like this with Wymond.

Trembling hands fisted in his jerkin. More, Eda begged with every kiss, and Kit obliged vigorously. He slanted his mouth against hers, again and again, loath to be apart. Eventually he reclined backward, lips never leaving hers as he pulled her down with him. Claws prickled at her hips.

When they finally broke apart he was flat upon the stone, staring up at her with dangerously dark eyes. As though she were the powerful one.

Eda very nearly kissed him again, but an owl hooted loudly through the dark. Suddenly she saw the swaying branches and the glow of the bonfires, remembered where they were.

What are we doing? She hesitated, hands braced on his chest.

Kit sat up at once. His mortal form shimmered into place, as though he thought that would please her better. “What’s wrong?” His husky voice induced shivers. He must have felt it; he brushed an imploring kiss against her cheek. Stay, the touch whispered. Stay, stay, stay.

“I need to know,” she murmured. “Do you mean to help me, after we get the mirror? Until the bishop is gone? Will you…”

Stay?

She dared not ask for more. What future could possibly await the two of them? She had a few years left at most. And he the one responsible.

You always did like making terrible mistakes, that tar-black voice sneered. This may be the most ruinous of all.

Something shadowed passed over Kit’s face, drawing his brow downward. His lips and cheeks were flushed. She thought he meant to dismiss her, to tell her that he’d only wanted a brief dalliance until their Pact was done and he took his leave. But then his arms tightened. He kissed her cheek again. “I’ll remain if you wish, darling. You are far too diverting.”

Her being diverting could not be the sole reason, Eda thought, but stifled a sigh of relief nonetheless. “More diverting than a convent of the Sacred Sisters? You did mention exploring their knickers once…”

“Cheeky tart.” He nipped her chin. “I should throw you off this oversize boulder.”

“Like you threw me in the river.”

“Now that you mention it, your clothes did cling to you in a rather delicious—”

She pressed her fingers to his mouth. He nibbled at them. “We should go back before my brothers come looking.”

Kit helped her up with visible reluctance, doing a rather poor job of smothering a pout. When they reached the riverbank, just beyond the glow of the Oriana’s portholes, Eda decided to kiss it away.

He clung to her. She pushed him back, smiling. “Now comes the part where you very gallantly allow me to return to my bedchamber.”

“I thought this was the part where you allow me to ravish you on the riverbank.”