Page 98 of Song of the Dark Wood

“I want you to take some of my blood. You’ve kept me safe, and I trust you. I want you to bond with me?—”

“How do you even know about bonds?” he asked.

“The Red Maiden journals,” she lied. “Evelyn wanted you to do it with her, but you didn’t like her enough.”

“What makes you think I like you?” Conor challenged.

She laughed. “Your song.”

“I suppose you have me there,” he sighed. “You need to understand what it will mean. I’ll be able to feel what you feel. I’ll be able to sense when you’re in danger. But, my tempting little Red, it will be very hard to hide anything from me.” Conor studied her carefully. “Are you sure you want that?”

Aching desperation pulsed through her body. “Only if you’ll take me to bed. Only if you’ll finish what you started in the greenhouse. I don’t care about what anyone else thinks. I only care about us. I’m tired of dancing around this. I want something that I choose. Something that’s mine,” she rasped.

“And you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Rowan,Idon’t even trust me.” He looked pained as his hands drew the hem of her dress higher.

His mouth said one thing, but it was clear from the way he looked at her that he wanted her. He was trying to talk himself out of it, but she could see his resolve sliding away. She had him. She couldn’t believe it. The feeling of holding sway over someone so strong was a heady rush. For the first time in her life, she felt truly powerful. She wanted more.

“Do you trust me?” Rowan asked.

He laughed. “Against my better judgment—yes.”

She leaned closer so that her cheek brushed against his, and they both shuddered. Her lips brushed the shell of his ear as she whispered, “Then take me to that bed right now.”

Conor growled as his hands came to her bottom, and he lifted her. She reflexively wrapped her legs around his waist as he began to kiss her in a maddening, harried way. She kept her grip on the dagger in her hand, careful not to cut either of them as he carried her to the bed, where he laid her down as if she was the most delicate thing he’d ever touched.

He kissed down her jaw to her neck as he unbuttoned the front of her dress. His mouth followed his fingers, greeting every new bit of skin with soft kisses. She brought her free hand to the back of his head and moaned.

“Mother slay me, you taste so good, it’s like your skin is dusted in sugar,” he whispered into the space between her breasts.

“Don’t stop,” she begged.

His restraint broke all at once, and he ripped the front of her dress open. She was startled by the display of strength, but it was more out of surprise than fear.

Rowan reached for him, and it wasn’t until she saw her hand on the hem of his tunic that she realized she’d dropped her only weapon. She didn’t dare look at it for fear of him noticing.

Focus, Rowan. He’s not your friend. He can’t be, she reminded herself.

Conor dragged what remained of the dress down her body and froze. His eyes raked over her, and she held perfectly still as he took in the delicate lace underthings. He unstrapped the dagger’s sheath from her right thigh, his gaze slowly wandering back up her body.

“What on earth are those?” he asked. Although he’d seen her undergarments before, she hadn’t worn anything quite so elaborate.

She giggled nervously at the ravenous look on his face. “I was apprehensive about being completely nude under my dresses, so the seamstress made them for me. Do you like them?”

He bent down and kissed along the edge of the lace at her hips, alternating between soft kisses and nips with his teeth. The competing sensations of pleasure and pain sent her heartbeat into a frenzy. She fought to hold on to her sanity as he kissed his way up her stomach, pausing at the lace that covered her breasts. He dragged his teeth over one nipple through the material before darting his tongue under the edge of the fabric.

She felt like a puppet, helpless to the ministrations of her puppet master. Her breathing was shallow and her skin buzzed everywhere his hands and mouth drifted.

It’s just magic, Rowan. It’s not real. It’s just the bargain trying to ensure that it’s completed.

Still, the chaos in her body was incredibly compelling.

“This lace is very pretty, but I’ve been dying to see you naked,” he murmured.

She blushed as he deftly peeled away the lace underthings. His fingers brushed over her delicate flesh, and she shivered.

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