Page 103 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

Returning his kiss eagerly, I suck his tongue into my mouth, thrilled by his needy groan. His lips brush against my jaw before they trail down the side of my throat. He presses a feather-light kiss to the juncture between my neck and shoulder before biting down. The sharp pain pulls a whine from me. He soothes the sting with his tongue, and I moan, the unexpected show of possessiveness turning my body molten.

Thorne continues his sensual exploration, nipping and sucking his way to the sensitive spot just above my collarbone. Liquid heat pools in my core as he grips my hips and pulls me toward him so that there’s no space between us. It’s still not close enough.

Like a damn mind reader, he palms my ass and rocks his hips. The hard length of his arousal presses against the spot where I need him most, triggering an intense burst of pleasure with every strike.

Oh gods.“I need…” I squeeze my eyes shut.

“Tell me, Duchess. Tell me what you need.” He punctuates each word with a kiss at the corner of my mouth.

“You.” I gasp when he nips at my lip. “I need…you.”

Thorne cups the nape of my neck, and my eyes flutter open. “Are you certain?”

I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. “Yes.”

His answering groan is guttural. Primal. “Then let me take care of you.”

My desire for this man far outweighs the niggling sense of doubt at the edges of my mind. If we get caught, the consequences will be disastrous.

Damn the consequences.

For these stolen moments, he’smine.

Our mouths collide once more as he slides a hand between us. He snags the front of my pants, undoing the top button with deft fingers and kissing me like we’ll only ever have this brief time together.

And maybe that’s true.

But I can’t think about that right now. About what will happen tomorrow or next week or next month. About…anything. Right now, I only want tofeel.

“I tried to do the right thing.” He flicks another button open. “Tried to stay away.” A third button. “Tried not to get sucked in by those beautiful eyes and that fierce spirit. I did my best to push you away, but you kept coming back and tearing down my defenses like they were made of parchment.”

The final button bursts open, and anticipation coils low in my belly as his hand eases beneath the top edge of my undergarment and slides south. Dips lower and lower, until I stop breathing. Stop moving. Until every nerve in my body feels as taut as a guitar string dying to be plucked.

I’m wound so tight that when his fingers brush that bundle of nerves, I jerk as if struck by lightning.

His hand stills. “Is this okay?”

I nod. More than okay. Perfect. But my brain’s too hazy to communicate any of those thoughts.

Thorne presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “Going to need to hear you say the words, Duchess.”

He leans his head back, and in a haze, I stare into his eyes. “I…” What was the question?

Concern clouds his gaze. His hand starts to ease away.

I clasp his wrist. “Don’t stop…please.”

The concerned expression morphs into a wicked one. “Since you asked so nicely…”

His hand slides back down. Grinding his palm against my clit, he plunges a finger inside me.

White-hot-pleasure courses through me, making me pant. I arch my back, and through our clothing, the sensitive peaks of my breasts brush against his hard, warm body.

“Fuck.” The word is a low growl. “You’re so wet.”

His words—hells, hisactions—should embarrass me, but the rightness of this moment crowds out all room for shame. A connection too strong to resist.

Another finger slips inside me. My body is on fire as he teases me with light touches. My hands slide to his shoulders, curling into the soft material of his shirt as my hips rock on his fingers.

---