Page 52 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

He was trailing the fingertips of his other hand up and down her side, along her ribs to her hip and back up. The robe tugged a little looser with every pass he made. His lips moved from her neck along her bare skin, the silk fabric slipping down her shoulder.

“Tell me,” he murmured.

She shook her head, and he nipped at her shoulder, making her gasp. “I told you I would never say it.”

“You also said there would never be a next time,” he replied, his fingers dragging along her torso again, but this time his hand slid around her hip and tugged her back into him.

“This means nothing,” she said on a breathy moan as she felt him pressing against her. The bond was frantic and so was hermagic, and she wasn’t strong enough to resist any of it. Giving in was easier than fighting the inevitable anyway.

Twisting in his hold, his brows raised in surprise. He was still shirtless. One of her hands slid up his chest, while the other dropped to the band of his loose pants. She dragged a nail along it, his stomach tensing at her touch.

“This means nothing,” she repeated. “It’s a distraction.”

“A distraction. Of course. Nothing more.”

“Don’t do that. Don’t placate me.”

Another gasp slipped from her as his hands landed on her hips, lifting her onto the vanity.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, beautiful,” he replied, tugging on the sash of the robe.

“Tell me,” she demanded.

He smirked, pulling the tie free. The robe remained in place without it, but barely. “Now who is making demands?”

“You want me to lie to you,” she scoffed. “I want you to tell me you understand exactly what you are to me.”

A hand slid into her wet hair, tipping her head back as he leaned into her. “I am your distraction from a life you never wanted.” A kiss to the corner of her mouth. “I am everything you hate about this world.” A kiss to the other corner. “I am your villain that has taken everything from you.” A nip to her jaw. “So take from me, Tessa. Take what you need. That’s what you want, right? That’s all you want from me, so take it.”

He pulled back, once again holding her stare as he released her hair and slowly slid the robe down one arm, then the other. Somehow, his eyes darkened even more, full of carnal lust at her bare breasts and naked flesh.

Was she doing this again? She’d told him it wouldn’t happen, but fuck, the distraction was already working. Her only thoughts had been on him and his touch and his lips since he’d walkedinto the bathroom. A reprieve from her life, exactly what she wanted him to be.

Not giving herself another second to think about it, she surged forward, fingers curling into ebony strands as her mouth crashed into his. His answering rumbled groan told her he’d been using every shred of control he had, and this was her permission to let it go.

The kiss was hot and searing and full of the need they’d denied each other for days. The licks of tongues and nips of teeth spoke to every time they’d teased and edged each other since their first time, of all the ways they’d tried to satisfy the need themselves and failed.

Because only this, only them, would ever be enough.

Fury burned through her at the thought, and she yanked on his hair, eliciting a grunt from him.

“Tell me, little storm,” he murmured against her skin, “what did you think about when you were touching yourself minutes ago?”

“Not you,” she spat.

“More lies,” he hummed as he made his way down her chest. “I’m beginning to crave your lies as much as I crave your mouth.”

“I’m not lying,” she gasped, his mouth closing around a nipple and his tongue flicking against the hard tip.

“I’m told you’re an excellent liar,” he said, moving to her other breast while his fingertips skated up her leg, starting at her calf and gliding to her inner thigh. Her legs fell wider by themselves, and his thumb slid against her center. It was the barest of touches, but it had her jolting, and a dark chuckle came from him. That thumb came to his mouth, his tongue darting out to lick the pad. “I suppose next you’re going to tell me I’m not the reason you’re dripping?”

Sitting up straighter, she leaned towards him, a sneer on her lips as she taunted, “Maybe I’m thinking about Luka since he’s to be my Match and all.”

“Careful, Tessa,” Theon said sharply.

A satisfied smirk formed. “Maybe I was thinking about how much I’m going to enjoy having him naked in a bed with me while we’re here. Maybe I was thinking about what it would be like to feel his hot skin against mine, his tongue between my legs?—”

“If that’s what you want, beautiful, you only need to ask,” Theon interrupted, and her mouth fell open as he dropped to his knees.

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