Page 90 of The Heir's Bargain

She shook her head as if she still didn't believe me. "But you said that some people didn't believe we were telling the truth."

A breeze entered through the window, wrapping around us and sending goosebumps crawling across Dani's bare arm.

"That was a lie."

"I don't understand." Dani took a small step back.

She was preparing to run—I could see it in her eyes. But I wasn't done talking about this.

I took a step forward, matching her. "Would you believe me if I said I wanted to kiss you right now?"

"Why would you—" Her head tilted to the side as she sucked on her bottom lip. Dani shook her head, releasing her lip, which was now plump and red. When she spoke again, her voice was quiet. "There's no one here."

"Does there have to be?" I asked.

"I—" Her gaze dropped to my lips. There may have been fear in her eyes, but there was also desire.

And desire looked good on Dani.

"Do you mean to tell me you're not replaying that kiss in your head right now?" I leaned closer, my lips brushing lightly across her ear. Her chest rose as she inhaled sharply, and a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. "Do you mean to tell me you're not thinking about my hands on your back? My hand gripping your thigh? That you're not at all curious about what would have happened if I didn't stop kissing you?" I leaned back and tipped her chin up, my fingers coarse against her soft skin. "Because I am."

Her cheeks reddened, and her fingers curled around the hem of her slip, bunching the silk fabric in her palms. "What about rule number three?" she mumbled.

"I've never been a big fan of rules," I said, my thumb brushing across her chin, "especially rule number three."

She swallowed, her throat dipping. Her eyes flicked to my lips again as I licked them.

"Dani, tell me the truth," I said, noting every freckle on her face and every twitch of muscle. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to. If you tell me no right now, I will walk away. I will sleep in Terin's room and throw Riley out of his room. I will take his wrath if that's what?—"

Dani cut my words off, pressing her lips against mine.

Her hand gripped the back of my neck as she pulled my head down with a fervor I wanted to drink up and never run out of. I wrapped my hand around her waist, pulling her tighter to me.

I smiled against her soft lips. I was right. The silk was just as smooth as the sea, leaving little to the imagination.

She peeled herself away from me, her chest rising hard and fast, but her fingers were still woven into my hair, locking me into place.

"This is a mistake," she said, her lip swollen.

We had crossed the line.

I knew it.

She knew it.

But with Dani, I was beginning to realize that I wanted to cross all the lines.

I wanted to throw the godsforsaken rule book out the window.

For at least one night.

We could blame it on the summer solstice, the stars, the sun, the pull of the moon. I didn't care. All I wanted was her lips on mine, her body atop mine.

"Then let's make the greatest mistake we can, Ferrios."

A smile split her face, and without hesitating any longer, I picked her up. Her thighs wrapped around me tightly as I gripped her thighs and pressed her back against the wall.

Then, I devoured her.

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