Page 203 of Forcing Fate

This was dangerous.

“Aye. I came to talk,” I said, voice cracking.

His touch moved to the nape of my neck, tugging on my braid. “About?” he urged.

He let go of my wrist and wrapped his arm around me, pulling me flush against him. I closed my eyes as pleasure simmered beneath my skin. He was hard everywhere I was soft. I was so close to him that I could feel his heart beating against my chest.

This was what I craved.

I clutched at his vest, needing to hold on to something—to ground myself.

“Rafe, I–” I gasped as his hand traveled from my shoulders down my back to rest on the curve of my hip.

“Yes?”

“I don’t know!” I said, frantically looking up at him.

He chuckled and slid his hand to my thighs. When he lifted me, I moved without thinking, wrapping my legs around his waist. A soft moan pulled from my throat, and he grunted when my core pressed against his belly. The point of no return was fast approaching, and I was helpless against it.

“Vy–”

“Hush,” I scolded.

I threaded my fingers behind his neck, bringing my face to his. He turned away at the last moment, refusing to let our lips meet. I let out a frustrated growl and nipped at his ear. He hissed and spun, pressing my back against the stone.

“Vy, don’t–” he started, but this time I caught him.

My eyes fluttered closed, and I pressed my lips against his. He froze. I pulled back, just enough to feel his quick breaths tickle my skin, to see his dark eye alight and burning with need. That was what I had seen in him, that desire that I hadn’t understood. It’s what I felt now.

Need.

I needed him.

He let out a fierce growl and ducked his face to my neck, cursing.

“We can’t,” he rasped against my throat, teeth nipping at my skin.

“I know.”

I tightened my hold, bringing him closer. I tilted my chin, facing the sky, full of want and desire. His lips explored my skin, biting first, then kissing the sting away. A Shadow could show up, and I couldn’t care less. I needed Rafe, consequences be cursed.

He snarled and drew back, resting the top of his head against my chest, heaving for breath. It put the smallest amount of distance between us, and I hated it. I slipped my hands under his tunic and down his back, dragging my nails against his skin as I pulled up.

“Rafe,” I pleaded.

“What do you want?”

His head shot up with sudden menace. I tried to kiss him again, but he jerked away.

“What do you want?” he growled again, his hands gripping my thighs in a bruising hold.

“You. I want you.”

My words sounded breathless and strange. I was on fire. There was so much need roaring through my veins. I was blind to the anger in his eye.

“No.”

A crack of reasoning shed light on my poor passion-induced haze. “I—what?”

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