Page 15 of Deadly Little Games
The crystal thunked into my palm. “He kissedme.” Just the thought of the whole situation made me cranky. Mistral couldn’t just go around kissing me, doingmorewith me, then pushing me to kiss other people.
I gripped the crystal and sat up in bed. “I’m going to find Mistral.”
Ringo buried his face into the pillow, not giving me a reply.
I stood with a huff, leaving the crystal on the bed as I went for the door. I went out into the hall, looking both ways, but I didn’t see anyone. Not even any tiny goblins loitering on the stone ledges of the walls.
I strode toward Mistral’s chamber, preparing to knock, but on second thought I simply threw the door open… and was met with an empty room.
I heard footsteps and turned to see Gabriel heading my way.
I put my hands on my hips. “Where is he?”
He stopped several paces back, giving me my space. “Resting. He must not be disturbed.”
My anger flared, and I took a step toward him. “What’s going on? You guys knoweverythingabout me. This isn’t fair.”
He narrowed his dark eyes at me as he closed the space between us. “Your quarrel is not with me. And it is not for me to share someone else’s situation.”
I had to crane my neck awkwardly to look up at him. Once upon a time him looming over me with that dark look would have made me flinch away, but not now. “But you both would rather guard your secrets than help me with Crispin tomorrow.”
He leaned down toward my face. “We aretryingto help you Eva. But you would rather run in blind than lower yourself to kiss me.”
My jaw fell open and my breath whooshed out of me like I had been punched. He had obviously gotten the wrong idea. “It’s not about notwantingto kiss you.”
“It is not an issue,” he muttered. “You will do as you choose. But do not say we are not trying to help you.”
“And I wouldn’t beloweringmyself to kiss you,” I continued. “I would obviously be raising myself, because you’re so gods damned tall.”
His eyebrow twitched at my ridiculous attempt to lighten the situation. I was still pissed, but now felt a little bad because I was pretty sure I had hurt his feelings.
“And what if it works?” I pressed. “What if we kiss and awaken new magic in both of us? Are you going to expect more from me?”
He lowered his chin. “I would never do that.”
I realized I had once again offended him. “You can’t blame me for thinking it with the position I’m currently in.”
He took a step back and let out a heavy sigh. “I suppose not. Now, I will escort you back to your room. You will not see Mistral until morning. Please do not ask me about it again.” He turned and started walking back toward my room.
I hurried after him. “Just like that, you’ll let the issue of the kiss drop?”
“It is not an issue. If you do not wish to do it, that is your choice.” He reached my door, turning to open it.
Wanting to see his face as he spoke, I stopped him with a hand on his arm. Where our bare skin touched, a slight glow emanated.
Gabriel stiffened, looking down at his arm, then at me.
With my heart suddenly thundering, I used my grip on his arm to balance as I stood on tiptoe. The moment our lips met, power flared between us.
I expected a chaste kiss, nothing more, but then he lowered his hands to cradle my face, pulling me closer. His tongue dove into my mouth, and I twined my arms around his neck, lifting myself to better accommodate his height. His large hands moved to my waist, making me feel tiny with the way they engulfed me.
The magic increased, pounding against my skull as arousal tightened my body. It wasn’t the same as with Sebastian—there was no thrill of darkness to it—but there was another sort of thrill, like the deep, resonant heartbeat of the earth, echoing in my bones.
His hands moved lower, cupping my butt to lift me before he turned us so my back was pressed against the wall. He drank me down, like a steady tower against the crashing waves of wild magic.
There was so much inside of me. So much that I never realized was there.
He broke the kiss, looking down at me with heat and maybe a touch of confusion. “Eva,” he whispered.