Page 65 of A Shattered Kingdom of Steel

Mates.

I swallow. The thought has electricity brimming on my skin, the thrill of what could be lingering on my body.

Confidence surges through me, lifting the corners of my mouth with something akin to defiance. “But what if I need reminding?”

Asheros parts his lips, a blue fire burning in his gaze. “You live to torture me, don’t you, Bladesinger?”

Eager to see how far I can go with this, I tilt my head up to his. “Perhaps.”

His breath catches, and then his grip on me tightens. “Then I’ll remind you that once I have you, and I mean truly have you, you are mine.”

“Fuck,” I breathe.

His.

“All. Mine.” His voice is low and primal, staking its claim over me. He leans his head back, eyes roaming my body. “Besides, it would be a shame to destroy your pretty little pussy where no one can hear you scream in pleasure.”

“I’m sure it would survive,” I quip, challenging him with my gaze. Daring him to try and see what happens. Perhaps I’m too sexually frustrated for my own good, but gods above, I couldn’t care less.

Asheros’s crystalline eyes flare, and he brings his face down to mine, so close our noses nearly touch. “There is nothing that will survive what I’m going to do to you.”

“Oh, fuck me,” I grind out. Heat flushes my senses, and I feel as though the desire thrumming through me will burst. How can this male rile me up this way with only his words?

“Mm-hmm, in time, Bladesinger.” Stepping out of the waterfall, he winks, backing away from me. “I’ll fuck you so thoroughly you won’t be able to walk straight.”

Gods-damn me.

This male has me wrapped around his finger. And what’s even worse is, I like it. More than anything, I want to be his.

“I’ll leave you to your bath,” Asheros says, though the look in his eyes tells me he wants nothing more than to pin me to the wall and have his way with me. “Wouldn’t want to get you distracted, now, would we?”

“Tease,” I say, trying to catch my breath.

My reply brings a smirk to his mouth. “You’ll make me pay for it later.”

I meet his stare. “Damn right, I will.”

Dragging a hand across his mouth, Asheros wades out of the pool and bends down to pick up his shirt. He tugs the garment over his head, then disappears through the mouth of the cave.

Closing my eyes, I force my breathing to slow. My heartbeat calms, but I can’t banish the feeling of Asheros’s touch from my skin.

Nor do I want to.

I lean back into the waterfall and soak my hair again. The cold water runs over my skin, and I work through what little remains of the dirt and sweat. When I’m finished washing myself, I wade to the edge of the pool. After drying off the best I can, I slip back into my clothes, wring my hair, and emerge from the cave to rejoin the others.

My steps slow as I approach camp. I let my gaze wander to Asheros. His silky hair is still slicked to his skin, those diamond-like eyes alight with familiarity. Catching my eye, he flashes me a rich smile that nearly takes the air from my lungs. He’s so gods-damned beautiful.

The feel of his hands on me, of the way he touched me moments before, lingers on my skin, and with it, something else.

Something more.

I can’t seem to rid myself of his effect on me. My body craves more of him.

But beyond that…

My soul does, too.

Something’s shifted between us. That much is undeniable. And damn it all, but Kheldryn’s words swirl in my mind again, striking true within me.

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