Page 19 of A Kiss of Flame

He tried to look fierce, really he did. ‘Do I need to stop that mouth of yours with something?’

So this was his game?

‘Yes,’ she gasped, as his questing fingers found her underclothes and slid beneath them as well. ‘Please, Finn, yes.’

He kissed her again, silencing her as promised, stealing her breath until her head was spinning. Her body rocked against his, stretched out alongside her, all hard muscle and warmth, implacable as he pinned her down with no effort at all.

And, for the first time since she had arrived in Pelias, she knew she was safe.

She only had to say a word or give a signal and he’d stop. But Finn held her close and gave her pleasure, cherished her and desired her. He groaned softly as his fingers found her wet and waiting. He paused only for a moment, teasing her there, and then slid deep inside. The pad of his thumb found her clitoris and circled it slowly, almost lazily, until she couldn’t stand it anymore.

She broke like a cresting wave, her cries swallowed up in his kiss, her body shivering against his, closing on him, needing him.

When she came back to herself he was still holding her wrists, and his forehead was pressed against hers, his eyes closed, his face a picture of torment.

‘Finn?’ she whispered. She tried to wriggle free but he didn’t release her. His other hand, now resting on her thigh, pressed down, stopping her.

‘Just give me a moment, love. Just a…’

‘But what about you?’

‘I’ll be fine. There isn’t time. But I couldn’t help myself. I needed… I needed to see that. To see you, your face, that moment. Do you understand?’

She went to shake her head, but… Perhaps she did. He looked both desperate and strangely sated. As if her pleasure had given him pleasure. That she could understand.

‘But I want you,’ she said.

‘I know. And I you. And if you command it I’ll do whatever you want, though it would get us both caught and your father?—’

Wren gave a groan of frustration and the spell of pleasure snapped. ‘My father,’ she growled.

‘He won’t wait much longer. He’s already been waiting all morning.’

‘Then why?’ she asked. ‘Why waste time with?—’

He kissed her again, silencing her and taking his time. When he finally drew back they were both breathless again. ‘Any moment with you is never wasted, Wren. I crave you like water, or air, don’t you know that? It’s so strong, it… it scares me.’

She wondered what it took to make him admit that. She couldn’t imagine Finn being scared of anything.

‘You’ve been avoiding me.’

He smiled, such a sad smile that her heart gave a little lurch. ‘I’ve been trying to regain some mastery of myself. I failed, obviously. How I thought I could keep away, I will never know. You’re an addiction, Wren. And anyway, you shouldn’t be associating with me here. Not as anything other than your father’s sworn knight.’

Now he did release her. She propped herself up on her elbows, studying him solemnly. ‘And why is that, exactly?’

Finn rolled back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling overhead. ‘Remember who I am? Line of Sidon, sworn enemies of Asteroth, treacherous servants of the very dark power?—’

She brought her hand up to his mouth before he could say it. Finn relented beneath her touch and his lips closed on her fingers instead. He sucked her index finger gently into his warm mouth and she felt those shivers start all over again. Reluctantly she pulled back.

‘You don’t get out of this conversation that easily,’ she warned him. ‘You’ve been avoiding me because you’re Alessander of Ilanthus’s son?’

‘Yes.’

‘I see, for my sake or yours?’

‘Both.’ He gave a bitter laugh and moved to sit up but her hand on his chest stopped him. Two could play those games, she thought. She curled her feet under herself and moved to loom over him. As much as she could loom.

‘Finn, answer the question.’