Page 49 of Lake of Sorrow

Vlerion sighed and looked at the torn fabric again. “I can’t ensure that, but that you care enough to try to lift my curse… means much. I never would have expected someone I so recently met to be that invested in me.” He gazed into her eyes. “And to stand fearlessly in front of me right after I…” He waved vaguely in the direction of the lake and the ruins.

She almost said she’d been far from fearless—she’d been terrified—but if he knew that, it would distress him further. Besides, she didn’t want him to think he needed to stay away from her. Maybe it was what they both should have wanted, but the idea was so unappealing that she caught herself stepping closer to him. Drawn to him, as always.

Attempting a bright smile, Kaylina held her finger to his mouth, the honey on the tip. “Taste?”

With his gaze still locked onto hers, she didn’t miss the spark of interest in his eyes. Only when he opened his lips and sucked gently on her finger, a tingle of pleasure delighting her nerves, did she realize it might be sexual interest instead of a desire for honey.

His tongue did slide over the honey, tasting it as he watched her for her reaction. She didn’t consciously move or notice she had shifted closer until her chest brushed his.

“Fearless,” he whispered, lifting his lips from her finger and gazing at her with appreciation.

The look heated her body almost as much as his lips had.

“Unwisely so,” she whispered.

“Undoubtedly.”

Resisting the urge to grip his shoulders and kiss him, Kaylina stepped back and turned around. She knelt to tuck the honeycomb away.

“You probably didn’t hear me before, but I want to apologize for…” She poked in the pack, struggling to voice the words that had come more easily when he’d been the beast and couldn’t understand. “I’m sorry I kept trying to make you change when you didn’t want… when you told me not to.” She flushed at the memory of running her lips over his bare abdomen, of letting her hand drift lower to stroke him. In another situation, they both would have enjoyed it, but it had been a move of desperation. An ill thought out one.

“It’s disheartening to know I can be so easily manipulated by a woman—by anyone—but I understand why you did it. And it did work.”

“I should have thought of something less…”

“Arousing?” He’d stepped closer, and he brushed the back of her head, fingers pushing through her hair, rubbing her scalp.

“Maybe.” Kaylina leaned back into his touch, relieved he wasn’t angry with her. The taybarri had moved away, sniffing at the grass and flowers as they explored the valley. For the moment, there didn’t seem to be any danger around. “I could have picked an argument with you and called you a pirate over and over until you were so irked that the beast came out.”

“For future reference, I’d much rather have you kiss me than curse me.” His fingers drifted lower, massaging the back of her neck, and she slumped back against him before remembering he wasn’t wearing any clothes. A glance to the side made her aware that he was aroused again.

Her heart pounded. She’d been foolish to think there was no danger about, when he was with her.

Afraid the beast would return, she lurched to her feet. She started to step away, but Vlerion caught her and pulled her back against him. Her mind told her to spring away while her body wanted nothing more than to bask in his embrace, to turn toward him and wrap her arms around him.

“At the time, I might not have appreciated it,” he murmured softly, lips brushing her ear, “but the memory will come to me often in my dreams.”

Physical pleasure shot through her even as she delighted in knowing she affected him that much, that he found her desirable.

His lips lowered to her neck, and he kissed her.

A tremble went through her. Fear? Desire? Both?

“Vlerion,” she whispered, hardly believing he was willing to flirt with this danger.

“I’ve never changed into the beast again a short time after a turning,” he said as if he could guess her thoughts.

Her breath caught. She remembered him saying that before. He’d also said he wasn’t certain it couldn’t happen, only that it hadn’t.

“There’s no reason you should have any loyalty to me.” His lips traced her throat as he inhaled her scent, one hand wrapped around her waist, the other drifting, stroking her. “We are not of the same class, and I arrested you when we met.”

“I remember.” Kaylina caught herself tilting her head so he could reach more of her neck, so he could touch whatever he wished. He smiled against her skin, then gave her a soft nip that made her ache with need. “You were an ass,” she added.

He laughed softly, his breath warm against her skin. “Yes.”

One of his hands slid under her shirt, fingers trailing over the bare skin of her abdomen, and another tremble went through her. It drifted higher, cupping her breast and sliding her bra down so his thumb could brush her taut nipple. She arched into him, the touch so arousing she instantly craved more.

“Loyalty should be rewarded,” he murmured, watching her avidly. Enjoying her reactions to him?