“Come here.” He pulled me to him.

The warmth of his palms sliding up and down my arms soothed the vibration of unease in me a little. But not enough.

He leaned down for a kiss, but I turned my face away.

“Not tonight, Kyllen… Not right now. I…”

I felt too distracted to focus on what Kyllen was trying to do. In my head, I kept going over everything that could possibly go wrong tomorrow. I pondered the reason for King Aigel to call the Summit for the first time in decades. A restless night was surely ahead of me. I’d spend it turning and tossing, trying to solve the puzzle that couldn’t be solved with the information I had.

“Hmm.” He tilted his head, as if trying to read me. “What makes my wife, the love of my life, the horny little vixen I know she can be to turn me away tonight?”

“I’m not turning you away. It’s just that…”

“Oh, but you are, sweet pea. Look at you. You wouldn’t even kiss me.” He propped his hands on his hips. “I’d feel offended if I didn’t know for a fact that my kisses are irresistible. It must be something else. Something right here…” He slid a hand up my chest, stopping between my breasts. “It’s because of this unpleasant feeling that’s buzzing inside you right here, isn’t it?”

“It’s nothing.” I placed my hand over his, cherishing his touch.

“It’s bothering you.” It wasn’t a question. He knew. We shared a bond. Kyllenfeltwhat I was feeling. “It’s annoying like a fly trapped in a glass jar.”

He rubbed my chest, his touch turning lighter, more sensual as he stroked the top of my breasts above the scarf tied over them.

“And this hollow sensation you have in your stomach.” He splayed his other hand over my belly, his fingers dipping under the waistband of my pants. “It’s depriving you of appetite. You hardly ate your dinner.”

“I’ll be fine. Soon…” The last word came out somewhat breathlessly as Kyllen slid his hand under the scarf tied over my breasts. The tip of his finger grazed my nipple.

Pleasure fluttered deep inside me, muffling the buzz of the anxiety. I sucked in some air, leaning into his caress.

“You’ll be better thanfine, my sweet pea. I’ll make sure of it.” A corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided grin.

“I…” I struggled to remember what I was going to say, only that I needed to stay focused, which was becoming less and less possible with my husband touching me like that. “I need to think.”

“Yes, my queen,” Kyllen murmured, drawing me closer. Sliding his hands to my back, he tugged at the ends of the scarf that was concealing my breasts. The strip of the light material fluttered to the woven grass mat on the floor.

Kyllen’ssentiesslithered over my bare breasts. Two tiny mouths promptly latched on to my hardened nipples, nibbling and pulling at them. Desire thickened in my veins, costing me the remnants of my concentration.

“Kyllen…” I moaned, arching my back. “I was going to…”

“I know what youthinkyou should do.” He kissed my neck. “You think you should sit and strategize through the night. But what would it accomplish other than leave you tired and stressed in the morning?”

“But…”

His hands found their way into my pants. He kneaded my backside, bringing me closer. “You feel too restless to sleep. You can’t relax. Your anxiety is urging you to move.”

“Well—”

“To run until you’re out of breath.”

“Maybe—”

“To ride your board as fast as your arms would paddle.”

“Yes, but—”

Gripping my hips, he lowered himself to the bright mat on the floor, taking me with him.

“Rideme, instead.” He positioned me to straddle his hips, his erection trapped under my core. “Ride me as hard and as fast as you wish, my queen.”

Breath left me in a rush.