Page 42 of Aria's Desire

Laying across his palm was an absolutely stunning dagger about the length of her forearm, the sheathed blade curved like a talon. The base of the hilt was encrusted with a ring of small, pale green gems that caught the light of the two suns, glinting and sparkling.

“Sin,” she breathed, reaching out to run her fingertips along the beautifully handcrafted leather sheath, tracing the intricate designs burned into it. Her fingers all but itched with the urge to pick it up and test its weight. “It’s beautiful.”

“For you,” he rumbled, his voice gruff.

Jerking her head up, she gave him wide eyes. “You’re serious?”

He looked taken aback at that before he caught the greedy glint in her eyes, then he smirked and started to pull his hand away. “If you do not want it… ”

He and Rellik both broke into low, masculine laughter when she snatched it out of his hand before he could pull it out of reach.

Unsheathing it, she oohed over the stunning craftsmanship of the blade, turning it to catch the light then testing the sharpness against the pad of her thumb. Tucking it safely back into the leather, she reached for Sin, sliding her fingertips over his bicep, bared by his vest.

Aria bowed her head to escape the hunger that brightened his eyes at her touch under the pretense of undoing her belt so she could slide the sheath onto it. She’d only managed to undo the latch when the heat of a big body warmed her back, stilling her movements.

“Allow me,” came Rellik’s low, purring voice in her ear.

He closed the distance between them so his chest and stomach were pressed lightly against her back, making her breath catch, then slid his hands around her hips. Sin closed in on her front, standing close, then slid the dagger out of her loose grip.

Instead of feeling suffocated, she was left wishing they were closer still, that they’d press against her harder instead of teasing her with their nearness. Her body swayed forward then back, like a magnet being pulled in two directions at once.

Heart beating fast, she dropped her gaze to watch what they were doing. Rellik held a new belt, one that matched the dagger’s sheath, around her, pressing one end low on her stomach, the other end pointed out so Sin could slide the sheath onto it.

Trying to keep her breaths even, she watched, rapt as they worked together to buckle and arrange it to their satisfaction. A whispered thought had her nipples hardening and sent a pulse of need to her clit.

Would they work together like this in bed?

Finished, Rellik stepped around her to stand next to Sin.

Sin rumbled, “Beautiful.”

Rellik made a low sound of agreement. “Perfect.”

Raising her head, her heart leapt into her throat when, instead of looking at the belt, they were staring directly at her.

Chapter 23

Kix stood perfectly still, invisible, pressed tightly to the stone wall on the far side of the large kitchen, to avoid being bumped into by one of the people working there.

He’d gone there to pilfer some food, but stayed to eavesdrop, searching their minds for any hint of ill will toward his mate so he could circumvent yet another poisoning attempt. He and Tirox had stopped three others, aside from the one during the banquet, and he was still livid. They’d all known, expected even, they would face opposition, but poison?

Cowardly rock fuckers.

Kix felt his bioluminescence pulse rapidly with his anger beneath the invisibility and had to clench his teeth to hold back a hiss.

Sensing nothing nefarious in the minds around him, he’d been about to dip into the pantry then leave when a young male entered, catching his attention.

His mind was centered on Aria. Worried, at first, the male was a threat to her, he relaxed when he realized it was quite the opposite.

The male was utterly smitten with her.

Kix had to bite his lip to hold back a chuckle when he stopped what he was doing to stare blankly ahead for the third time in as many minutes, mooning over her.

Ah, my aessa, bewitching males wherever you go.

Kix closed his eyes, slipping deeper into the male’s mind, soaking up his thoughts of Aria like an addict hungry for a fix, as his mate would say.

He missed her. It was not just being parted from her for the last couple of days, though that didn’t help. He missed being there for her, watching her sleep, speaking with her about everything and nothing, the feel of her body moving under his.

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