Page 35 of Chains of Love

Lirien's eyes shine with unshed tears. She blinks rapidly, turning away.

I clear my throat, scanning our surroundings. The mountain path curves around a sheltered outcropping, perfect for the night. "We should make camp here. The wind's picking up."

"Good idea." Her voice is thick with emotion. "My feet are killing me anyway."

I shrug off my pack, pulling out the linens I'd lifted from our cabin. The human's snoring had covered the sound of me stuffing them into my bag before we departed.

"You stole these?" Lirien's eyebrows shoot up as I spread them on the ground.

"Borrowed." I smooth out the wrinkles. "Besides, they owed us for those roommates."

She laughs, the sound warming my chest. With a casual wave of her hand, she ignites a pile of kindling I hadn't even noticed her gathering. The flames cast dancing shadows across her face.

I dig through my pack for Serra's provisions—the last of our supplies. Breaking the bread in half, I offer Lirien the larger portion.

"Split it evenly," she protests.

"I did." I take a bite of my piece to prove the point.

She narrows her eyes. "Liar."

"Just eat, little demon." I push the bread closer. "You need your strength more than I do."

"We both know that's not true." But she takes it anyway, tearing off a small piece. When she tries to hand me the rest, I shake my head.

"Finish it."

"Darak—"

"Please." I meet her gaze. "For me."

She sighs but takes another bite, and I ignore how my heart leaps at the small victory.

The mountain air bites through my armor as darkness creeps in. Lirien shivers, her thin robes offering little protection against the cold.

"Come here," I say, patting the space beside me on our makeshift bed of stolen linens.

She hesitates, teeth chattering. "I'm fine."

"You're freezing." I arch an eyebrow. "Unless you'd prefer to freeze to death on this mountain?"

"Always so dramatic." But she moves closer, settling down beside me.

I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her back against my chest. Her body tenses for a moment before relaxing into my warmth. The curve of her ass presses against me, and my breath catches. Heat pools in my core, desire coursing through my veins.

Without thinking, I brush her silver hair aside. My fingers trace the edge of her robe, sliding it down her shoulder. Her skin is like silk beneath my lips as I press a kiss to the exposed flesh.

A shiver runs through her body. "Don't," she whispers, reaching back to tug the fabric up. "It's cold."

"Let me keep you warm, then." My voice comes out rougher than intended, betraying my need.

The mountain air does nothing to cool the heat building inside me. Lirien's body fits perfectly against mine, her curves pressing into all the right places. Every point of contact is more intense thanks to our bond.

My hand slides down her side, memorizing the dips and curves beneath her robes. She has no idea how she affects me. Ever since that day I trained her to defend herself… I want totouch every inch of her, to worship her over and over again until she begs me to stop.

Her breath hitches. "Darak, I—I can feel what you're thinking through the bond."

"Good." I tighten my grip on her hip, pulling her flush against me. Images flood my mind—her pale skin in the moonlight, those soft lips parted in pleasure, silver hair spilling across my chest. "Feel it again. I'm not shy."

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