Page 32 of Shielded Heart

Arcanthus settled his cup atop his palm. “Are you going to sit? It’s no problem if you’re not; I really don’t mind looking up at you.”

It was almost comical how quickly she moved, perching herself on the edge of the cushion at the opposite end of the couch.

Eventually, she’d learn to relax in his presence. Part of him was disappointed in that knowledge; he found her reactions to him endearing. He’d never met anyone quite like her. The world in which he’d lived before had necessitated bravado for survival; everyone had exuded confidence whether they felt it or not. And the females he’d joined with here in Arthos… Well, they’d been of a rather different sort than his little terran.

But a stronger part of him longed for her to be that comfortable with him because it would mean she trusted him completely. He found he craved her trust as much as he craved her attention, as much as he craved her body—if not more so.

He lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip. Though the liquid was hot, its heat was not unpleasant. Still, his brow furrowed at the taste, and the corners of his mouth tugged back as he fought a reflexive shudder. The drink had a hint of sweetness, but it was not enough to mask its bitter, herbal punch.

He forced himself to swallow. The sound of it was loud enough to catch Samantha’s attention. She studied him silently, searching his face before looking at his tail, the tip of which was flicking restlessly on the floor. He struggled to keep a neutral expression; that was the best he could’ve managed at that moment.

“You don’t like it, do you?” she asked.

What’s one more lie?

He studied her face, unable to deny the vulnerability in her eyes. Another lie, even a small one, was another crack in the trust he’d so desperately come to desire. He’d spent years of his life obsessed with trust, expecting betrayal at every turn—all while building a fortress of lies around himself.

Arcanthus smiled and glanced down at the brownish liquid in the cup. “I’m afraid it’s not quite to my tastes. The tretin side of my people leaves us a bit fonder of…savory and salty flavors.”

“Oh. I-I should have asked you what you’d like. I’m—” She set her cup down on the nearby table and leapt to her feet, moving toward the kitchen. “I’ll get you something else.”

Placing his cup beside Sam’s, Arc stood up and followed her. As she was reaching into one of the cabinets, he caught her arm and spun her to face him.

“There isonething I’d like to taste, little terran.” He settled a hand on the side of her face, sliding his fingers into her long, brown hair, and leaned down to kiss her.

Samantha’s eyes widened in surprise, and she pressed her hands against his chest as though to stop him—her palms were warm and soft, and he longed to feel them elsewhere on his body—but she offered little resistance as he claimed her mouth with his. He tasted a hint of the tea on her lips, but it was made sweeter by the flavor beneath it—byherflavor.

She curled her fingers, raking her nails over his skin, and her eyelids fluttered shut as she parted her lips in a breathy moan. Arcanthus closed his eyes and deepened the kiss, shifting his hand to cradle the back of her head. Samantha surrendered to him; Arc slipped his tongue into the warm depths of her mouth and growled at her divine taste.

He neededmore.

Arcanthus pressed Sam against the counter, trapping her, and slipped his arm around her to place his hand on the small of her back. He clutched her closer. His cock strained against his loincloth’s under wrapping with enough pressure that it threatened to tear through.

He dropped his hand lower to cup her ass and draw her pelvis against his.

Samantha flinched and jerked her head back, breaking the kiss. She shoved against his chest. “No! No, stop!”

Awash in a lustful haze, Arcanthus opened his eyes; the haze dissipated the instant he met her gaze.

Samantha’s eyes were rounded and glimmering, filled with desire andfear.

This sudden turn, combined with her vague answers to his questions and her overall timidity, sparked a realization in Arcanthus.

She was deeply hurt by someone she trusted.

His jaw clenched and his brows fell as anger swept through him. He thrust the emotion aside as quickly as it had come; he couldn’t risk her mistakenly thinking he was angry ather.

Arcanthus eased his hold on Sam and leaned back, removing his hand from her backside as he gently ran the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “It’s all right, Samantha. I mean you no harm.”

Her eyes welled with tears. “I’m sorry. I just c-can’t—”

“No, no. Shh. You don’t need to be sorry.” He brushed away the first of her tears. “This has been one of the most pleasant days I’ve ever had. I simply wanted to thank you in the best way I knew how.”

She released a shuddering breath. Arc’s gaze moved over her face; her lips were red from his assault on them, and her cheeks were stained pink. Despite the situation, he was tempted to kiss her again.

He moved his face closer to hers. “Iwantyou, Samantha. I’ll not hide that. And even if you don’t see it, I know a simple truth about you—you’re worth waiting for. Take all the time you need to understand that you want me, too.” He stroked her bottom lip with his thumb. “I won’t be going anywhere.”

Samantha searched his eyes, and her fingers twitched against his chest. Indecision strained her features as she dropped her gaze.

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