Page 30 of Secrets & Curses of Crimson

I liked Crimson’s lands. Not that I would ever say that out loud. My men had gone to sleep a long time ago, besides the dozen who kept guard. I had been sitting by the fire when a sudden urge to look around the woods overtook me.

“I’m going to look around,” I told the guard closest to me.

“Do you want me to follow?”

“No. I won’t be long.”

I made sure my viper-handled dagger was in my boot before heading to the woods. My eyes darted around when I felt as if I was being watched. Maybe monsters lurked out here. Adrenaline pumped through me, and I liked the feeling of this unknown danger. I glanced over my shoulder at the camp, disappearing into the darkness as I walked farther into the forest. When I turned forward, I ran into Cassius’ hard chest.

I grabbed my dagger and pointed it at him, but he was one step ahead of me. He grabbed my wrists and slammed them above my head into the tree behind me.

“Miss me, little viper?” His handsome face instantly sent lust through me. Damn him. He plucked the dagger from my hand. “You don’t need this right now.” He tossed it to the forest floor.

“What are you doing?” I breathed as he held me in place with his own body.

“Watching you.” His black eyes stared at me like he could see every dirty thing I had ever thought about him in the last week. This position we were in was going to haunt my fucking fantasies.

“You disappeared.”

My eyes flickered down to his mouth when he smirked.

“So, you did miss me.”

“No,” I scoffed. “It’s just a very cowardly way to fight a war.” I lied.

His smile grew. Gods be damned, I was not doing myself any favors by being out here with this handsome monster.

“Have you thought of me, Thea?”

“I’ve thought of stabbing you.” I smiled wickedly at him. His smile reflected mine, and it made lust shoot through me again. Cassius shifted as something made his body soften against me.

“You came into the woods; why?”

“I felt like I should. I didn’t know you were lurking like a creep.”

He laughed at my insult. My eyes took in the sight of his happiness, and it made me feel good to see it. Confusion flooded me.

“What’s the matter?” His brows knitted together.

“Why are you flirting with me? We’re in a war, and you seem to not give a damn.”

His black eyes traced over me slowly. The grip on my wrist lessened, and his hand grabbed my jaw gently.

“Why do you like me flirting with you, is the real question?”

Mytraitorous body leaned closer to him. Cassius’ jaw tensed as he watched me. He was struggling with something.

“I don’t like you flirting.” I tried to sound confident, but it came out breathless and exactly the opposite of what I tried to convince him of.

“I think we both know how much you’re lying, my little liar. If I reached my hand into your trousers, I know you would be fucking dripping wet for me.”

Oh shit.

I lost all ability to function. A war raged inside of me. I wanted to tell him to reach into my trousers and find out for himself, but then I also wanted to shove him away from me. I was lying to myself; there was no way I would shove him away from me. I was a mess the past few days when he hid away from me.

“You are a cocky prick, aren’t you?” I smirked.

“And you’re a very bad liar.” He leaned forward so his mouth was an inch from mine and stopped. His eyes bounced between mine. Cassius smelled like Crimson, rain, and forest. Fuck. I wanted him to kiss me.

---