Page 67 of His Darkest Desire
Kinsley shook her head, lifted her skirt, and walked down the steps. “I really don’t know what the hurry—”
She froze, eyes widening, when she glanced up to see Vex before her. He stood tall, his long black hair hanging loose around his shoulders. Gone was the pallor from yesterday, the sunken cheeks, the dark flesh around his eyes. He looked healthier today. Stronger.
And the heat in his crimson gaze was fiercer than ever.
Kinsley’s heart quickened as her attention settled upon his mouth. The memory of his kiss, of its ferocity and voraciousness, made her lips tingle and her sex clench. If that had only been a taste of the passion he kept locked away, what would it be like when he broke his restraints?
“Good morrow, Kinsley,” he said, mouth slanting into a smirk. “Has the dawn found you well?”
She couldn’t help but grin as she forced her gaze up to his. “It has. A hot, relaxing bath was exactly what I needed for a good night’s sleep. How was your night?”
His eyes boldly raked over her body. “Not quite so relaxing as yours, I imagine.”
Kinsley’s nipples hardened, and it felt like a thousand butterflies had taken flight in her belly as he perused her. The thought of him locked away in his lab, yearning for her and bristling with unfulfilled desire, stirred the eroticism she’d first felt in the bath last night.
She stepped closer to him. “I see you’re not hiding from me this morning.” Tipping her head back, Kinsley traced the silver ivy embroidery on his tunic with a finger. “Were you eager to see me, Vex?”
He covered her hand with his, pressing it flat against his chest. She could feel the beating of his heart beneath her palm. His long fingers were warm, strong, and rough, but his hold was gentle.
He lowered his face toward hers, coming near enough that she could feel his breath tease her skin. “Yes.”
“Oh.”
Was that her heart pounding a million times a second?
Why yes. Yes, it was.
Releasing her hand, he stepped back. “I’ve a gift for you.”
Kinsley almost followed him. Blushing, she lowered her arms to her sides and released a soft, shuddering breath. “A gift?”
Vex gestured to the dining room. “Come sit, Kinsley.”
She turned her head toward the table, where all three of the wisps hovered above an array of food. There were bowls of mushrooms, beans, porridge, fruit, clotted cream, and jams, as well as plates piled with thick cut bacon, eggs, and the scones she’d been craving so much. The best part? There wasn’t a burnt spot to be seen on the pastries.
Chuckling, Kinsley stepped to one of the chairs. “Is it okay to say how much I missed magic food? Because I really did.”
As she sat down, Vex strode up behind her chair and grasped its back. “I was told you’ve encountered some difficulty.”
Kinsley glanced up to see him smiling down at her. “It was just the one time.”
“Ah.” He slid her chair in as easily as though it were unoccupied before seating himself next to her.
“Why do you even have a kitchen and a stocked pantry when you can just create magic food?”
“Because contrary to appearances, I typically prepare my meals without the aid of magic.”
Kinsley ran a skeptical eye over him. “You cook?”
Vex leaned back in his chair and tilted his head. “You’ve difficulty believing that?”
“Well, yes.” She waved at him. “Look at you. You’re like…a goblin king in all your finery. I just can’t picture you with your sleeves rolled up, covered in flour.”
The quiet, tinkling sound of laughter drifted over from the wisps.
“Come now, Kinsley. I know you’ve more imagination than that. But if it would help…” With slow, deliberate movements, he folded his sleeve up, revealing his dark, toned forearm. He repeated the process with the other, and she watched the play of muscle and tendons beneath his skin, her fingers bunching the fabric of her dress in her lap.
How could arms and hands be so sexy?