Page 70 of An Empress of Fire & Steel

More. She needed more. She couldn't think of anything else. She clawed at his neck, silently begging for more.

He gave in to her demands, parting her lips further with his own. The kiss was scorching hot against her lips, and as he breathed into her, moving her head with his large hand, he ran his fingers through her wet hair. He moved slowly, gliding them through the water until he found a place to stand, but he didn’t stop kissing her, as if stopping would be tantamount to death. She grabbed frantically at his tunic, as if she could get her body any closer to his. Her lips entwined with his so exquisitely, melded against his so perfectly, she wasn’t sure she had taken a breath that wasn’t Torin’s too.

It was fiery need and want, desire untouched until now. She had never been kissed like this; the burning feeling in her core tensed, ready to explode at any moment. Pounding water splashed over her head, crashing against her shoulders. Torin sheltered her from the hard weight of the waterfall, taking the brunt of it. He had pushed them into a small cavern behind the curtain of water, allowing them to continue unseen.

He grabbed the curve of her ass with one hand, urging her to wrap her legs around his hips with the other. She obeyed him for once, linking her ankles behind his back as he walked them to the pool’s edge, still kissing her like his life depended on it. The water level fell around them, letting her know that they were no longer submerged in the pool, but she hadn’t opened her eyes to check. She was more concerned about slamming her lips against his, her nails digging into his massive biceps as she held onto him.

He walked quickly, now on solid ground, but he didn’t put her down.

Not yet.

He angled her head to the side to intensify the burning kiss and, suddenly, her back was against cold stone. She gasped at the intense difference between her heated skin and the cool rock, and he took the opportunity to drag his teeth down her lip.

The dual pleasure and pain sparked an all-consuming fire in her core.

Torin let her slip down him, lowering her legs to the floor, her toes reaching sand. He claimed her lips again with his own and pleasure exploded from her mouth, dripping like molten lava down her spine. She tipped her head back, their height difference never more obvious than in this moment, as her hips moved towards his of their own accord. He lowered his head, panting against her neck, and whispered, “I never thought you would say those fucking words.”

She ignored him, seeking out his lips again. She gave him one desperately long kiss, willing him to shut up and take what she was giving him. Changing the pace, he caressed his hands down her arms, sending torturous shivers over her body. Slowly, she felt him guide her backwards until her back touched the cool rock of the cavern wall.

She let out a breath at the sensation and he stole a kiss behind her ear.

Her mouth ached for him, her hands longed to search him, her core wanted him against her—in her. Giving in to her desires, she pulled him in again by the shoulders, silently begging him to keep going. A sensual chuckle escaped his lips and Emara could feel his warm breath brush her face. She so desperately wanted to feel his lips on her again, anywhere. She drove her hips against his, encouraging him closer.

He let out a breathy moan when her core brushed the bulge tenting his leathers. “You are going to be my end, Emara Clearwater,” he declared.

“Somehow, I doubt that,” she panted.

“Now you are the one underestimating yourself.”

Her lips were consumed by his before she could respond, fast and sharp, until he pulled away again. He was doing this on purpose, teasing her, leaving her wanting more. She knew full well what wicked smile graced his lips without opening her eyes. Her feet dug into the sand, her toes curling in sweet frustration.

“Now that I have finally kissed your pretty little mouth.” He trailed a finger over her upper thigh, distracting her as he spoke. “I want to keep exploring you. You have no idea how many times I’ve dreamed about this,” he whispered as his lips tickled her ear. “I don’t want it to be over.”

Her spine arched, pressing her breasts against his chest. “Then shut up and do it,” she demanded, her heart jumping against her chest. “Kiss me.”

“Do you want to keep exploring, angel?”

She could feel the sinful smile on his lips.

“Yes. Just kiss me.”

“So bossy.” He laughed quietly as he placed a hand on her face. He scattered kisses down her jawline and onto her neck. His kisses turned deeper and more passionate as he worked his way down her neck, licking and sucking at a maddening pace. He drew circles on her thigh with the tips of his fingers as he kissed into the apex of her collarbone. She threw her back against the coldness of the rock, struggling against every instinct not to pull his lips back to hers. She wanted to feel everything he wanted to do to her, no distractions.

He kissed down the front of her night garment, biting against the wet satin. Gods, how she wished it were her bare skin. He lowered himself to his knees, and Emara’s breath caught in her throat. “Look at me,” he commanded. She brought her head from against the stone to look at him through hooded eyes. The light was dim, but she could still see him. “I want you to look at me as I kiss you,” his honeyed, deep voice commanded, sending shockwaves straight to her core.

Her stomach flipped and her head buzzed with the melody of her heartbeat.

A warrior, on his knees before her.

He didn’t move his eyes from hers until he leaned over and pressed his lips against her inner thigh.

She shuddered.

A tingling sensation worked its way up from her toes, spreading across her thigh into the most intimate part of her. He kissed up her skin, almost like he was chasing the thrill with his mouth. Her head flew back against the soft rock and a harsh breath escaped her, her hips arching into his touch.

A small moan broke free from her lips, and he smiled into her thigh. “Are you disobeying me already? I want you to look at me.”

“I will always disobey you.” She laughed as her eyes met his again, gleaming with a mischief that should be frowned upon by the Gods.

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