Page 75 of To Kill a King

His fingers paused in her hair, tense.

Aliya’s stomach hardened as her thoughts skidded to a halt. She’d done something wrong or misread the situation somehow. Her heartbeat thrashed past her ears as the heat he’d stoked in her blood cooled.

His eyes remained shut, and he seemed to be holding back.

She moved her lips against his. “Don’t stop, El, please?”

In answer, he pulled her closer, skimming his left hand down to her lower back. Pulling her blouse up so his fingers rested on skin, he caressed her. Her muscles tightened as he worked back and forth, coaxing the small fire inside her to roaring flames.

She pressed herself against him, breathing hard. Her heart hammered in her ribcage. Sliding her arms under his shirt, she dragged her nails lightly up his spine. His skin was so soft.

He arched his back, breaking their kiss with a groan as his head tilted back. With a jerk, he yanked his tunic over his head and dropped it to the floor. A heartbeat later, he was back, kissing the tender region beneath her jaw. He worked his way over to her ear. She shuddered and froze as he kissed the sensitive area behind it.

Her blood chilled. She was married, even if it was involuntary and non-consummated. The penalty for adultery would be death, for both her and Elessan.

“Don’t stop, Aliya,” he said, his voice deep with something that may have been amusement.

If Malkov caught her, she’d be dead, anyway. He wouldn’t bother going through with something as high profile as a trial.

Flinging the king from her mind, she ran her nails over the lean muscles of Elessan’s back, as she’d wanted to do ever since the night of the full moon in the clearing several weeks ago. The ridges and valleys rippled and twitched beneath her fingertips.

Elessan sucked hard on her earlobe, running his teeth over it.

Pleasure stabbed straight from her core to where his mouth met her skin. She bucked in his arms and gasped.

His lips moved against her jaw. “You like that?”

She nodded. He did it again. Gods. Her fingers dug into his biceps.

He tugged the neck of her blouse down to expose one shoulder, tracing her collarbone with his tongue. She moaned. Heat bloomed and her skin pulsed in time to her racing heartbeat.

Elessan pulled back, tilting her head forward. She opened her eyes. “Before we go any further, I need to ask. Have you ever done this?”

She bit her bottom lip, still swollen from his kiss. His gaze zeroed in on her mouth for several heartbeats before tearing away to meet her eyes.

“No,” she said, “but—” She dragged her nails lightly down his chest, mapping his muscles. His abs twitched as she strayed lower, pausing at the waistline of his pants.

With a groan, he caught both hands, placing them over his heart. He held them until she met his eyes again.

“Are you sure you want to do this? Now, with me?”

She licked her lips and nodded. “Yes, El. More than anything. I’ve wanted you since…” She swallowed. “Well, the night of the full moon.”

He exhaled and gave her a soft smile. “Then come with me.” Pulling her to her feet, he led her to the bedroom.

Drawing the curtain across the doorway behind them, he coaxed her to a stop. “Can you light the candle on the nightstand?”

She turned away from him to face the taper. “Sure.” Calling the tiniest wisp of magic, Aliya snapped her fingers. A warm flickering glow lit the room.

She took a deep breath as pride burst through her. Perhaps she could learn to control it, after all.

She tried to turn, but he pressed against her, sliding one arm over her abdomen to hold her in place.

“Not yet,” he whispered in her ear. His breath tickled the fine hairs on her neck, making her heart skip a beat. “We only go as fast, and as far as you want. Okay?”

Aliya nodded, but she had no intention of stopping him—she wanted it all.

His hand slid under her tunic. His finger traced lazy circles around her belly button.