Page 9 of Bound By Dance and Desire

“An almost Fae name. Lovely.”

The purr of his voice wrapped around me, and my heart rate skyrocketed, my thighs pressing together. Was this instalust? I wasn't a virgin, but I'd never enjoyed sex.

Not when it always ended in pain for me, in disappointment and resentment for me and my partner. Endometriosis didn’t care about anyone’s feelings, least of all mine, and in the end, the men never cared either.

This one will be no different,I reminded myself.Don’t let his eyes tell tales.

He inhaled, taking a tiny quarter step forward when the man at his side placed a hand on his shoulder and glanced at him once, a warning slash of gray eyes as he murmured a few words.

The dark-haired man stilled again, then retreated, saying nothing else.

I couldn't dance for much longer after that, not with him watching me. I finished, satisfied at what I'd earned for the evening because it was enough for two days' worth of groceries, and picked the bag up, shouldering it.

“It's late,” the dark man murmured, looking at me from underneath thick lashes. “You shouldn’t be out unescorted at this time of night.” His mouth, thin upper lip and full bottom, flattened before he caught himself and smoothed his expression.

I almost laughed. Did he think I was a Lord with a retinue? “I don't have much choice. Anyway. . .goodbye.” It never hurt to be polite.

But his eyes cut into me, pulsing with light, and I froze, understanding the deer in headlights feeling.

He prowled forward, any warmth in the expression obliterated by the heat in his eyes.

Heat too blatant, too possessive, to be in the gaze of a man I met only minutes ago. The blond tensed a little, but didn’t halt his principal again.

He lowered his mouth, not quite brushing the rim of my ear, and breathed a gentle wash of warm, lust laced breath. I almost whimpered, my body igniting, the strange intense tug trying to lure me into him.

“Allow me to escort you home,” he whispered, his voice a beguiling croon thattriedto sound nonthreatening. “You’ve caught my interest, little mortal.”

He inhaled, his chest and shoulders rising, almost brushing against me. His voice roughened.

“I want you. Take me to your bed and before I have my fill, you’ll scream my name on my tongue, my fingers, and only then on my cock. I won’t allow you to sleep until you break from pleasure. And in the morning I’ll break you again.”

Gi?i oi. He almost had me with a few words despite the arrogance of conquest that leaked out of him. He expected to have me. He probably thought he could walk me into the nearest alley, and then leave me in a puddle of his come with a pretty smile.

What terrified me was that while he spoke I saw it all in my mind. And I wanted it.

But reality slapped me in the face. Even when my libido was sufficient, there were other issues. There would never be quick, hard, spontaneous romance novel sex for me. He didn’t seem like the type who’d listen if I told him to go gently, to wait, to adjust the angle, to to to. All the “tos” I needed to get through the act without hurting.

I wanted something more than to bebrokenon a Fae warrior’s desire.

“No.” I stepped back.

Chapter

Four

His eyes widened, his expression sharpening to reveal a bit more of the truth beneath the lie of sweetness. The hand that had been about to cup my face froze, then lowered. “I beg your pardon?”

I would have laughed at the shock in his voice, at how it slid from a low croon to crisp and commanding, the Cassanian accent thickened. But there was nothing funny about the expression on his face.

I glanced quickly over his shoulder. The blond gave me wide eyes and shook his head slowly, as if in amazement. Then smirked, his chest beginning to shake silently.

Glad one of us thought this was entertaining.

I shook my head, taking another step back and a deep breath, then cleared my throat.

“I’m. . .appreciative of the offer, but no, thank you. Good night.”

His lip curled up over his teeth as I turned away from him and walked fast enough to make a point, but not fast enough to invitehim to chase. We'd also been told the Fae considered running an invitation to play.

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