Page 29 of A Touch of Poison
I blamed the softness in his voice and his eyes for me dropping the bow and placing my hands on his chest in the same instant his found the notch of my waist.
“Bastard,” I whispered.
A soft sound caught in his throat, humming under my palms as he pulled me against him. His gaze was locked on my mouth, and I found my fingers tangling in the soft fabric of his shirt.
Gods, he felt good. Hot and strong and vital. So many things I was not. We fit together too well for this to be wrong, didn’t we?
We could pretend. It was easier to pretend than have the conversation. It was easier to do this than live as I had the past week.
He bowed his head, and I tiptoed up in answer.
Chatter and laughter burst into my ears, into reality, into the practice yard.
Bastian’s hands dropped as he backed away, attention shooting up to the terrace where we’d entered. A group of recruits swaggered across it, lit by the sun I hadn’t even noticed rising.
“I’ll beat the shit out of you today.”
“I don’t think you could even beat my shit!”
More laughter as they bounded down the stairs. One leapt but landed heavily, a bit like my heart crashing into the pit of my belly right now.
Bastian raked his fingers through his hair. “We should go.”
He grabbed my sleeve and marched me inside.
11
Kat
Ididn’t have the breath or brainpower to argue. Also… maybe he was right.
We’d been about to kiss, and although I was a fool, I still understood that was a terrible, terrible idea. Even if it had felt right for those few fleeting moments.
I needed to control myself. However tempting, Bastian was off limits.
He hadn’t even apologised. At least I’d tried to. Getting involved would only lead to more hurt, and I hurt enough.
I needed to get away from him. Not just now but forever. Home was safer.
Eventually, his heaving chest calmed and he dropped my sleeve. After several turns and a flight of stairs, we reached the corridor that housed his office. Coming the opposite direction, almost blocking the hall, was a huge man. His dark grey hair matched his dark glower.
It took me a moment to realise there was someone else at his side—a woman with strawberry-blond hair. Her freckled face broke into a broad smile when she spotted us.
Bastian sighed, shoulders sinking. When we reached them, he turned, but didn’t look directly at me. “This is Faolán.” He gestured at the giant. “I’m the queen’s right hand, and he’s mine. And this is Rose. Meet Katherine—or Kat.”
Somehow, Rose’s smile grew broader. “Katherine.”
Faolán’s eyes widened a touch as he looked down at me, and I realised his lowered eyebrows were more a sign of curiosity than irritation. “Kat.” He nodded. “She’s so small,” he muttered out the side of his mouth.
I couldn’t help chuckling.
Bastian arched one eyebrow at him. “And yet she still has ears.” He clapped the giant on the shoulder. “Rose works for me and for some reason agreed to marry him.”
“Her lifewasin danger,” Faolán muttered.
Rose swatted him. “But I chose to stay married to you, didn’t I? No danger involved. And as for you…” She pointed at Bastian and narrowed her eyes. Shaking her head, she turned to me. “Anyway, ignore these two. I am so pleased to finally meet you properly.”
I threw a questioning glance at Bastian, but he was still studiously avoiding my gaze. “And I—”
