Page 243 of Lady for Embers

“We were not on the brink of war back home,” Callan said gently.

“You know what I mean. This is new. For both of us. New expectations have been placed upon us.”

“No one is expecting anything of you.”

“Of course they are, Callan. Drake has been shoved onto a throne, and if you think it is not expected that I will marry you or Hale, you are sorely mistaken.”

“And that matter has already been settled,” he replied tightly.

“But they do not know that yet,” she said. “And when they learn of it, I would guess it will only make these decisions even harder.”

Callan tensed at what she was implying. “They are not handing you over to him, Tava. I will not let them do that.” When she didn’t say anything, he tipped her face up to his. “Is this what is worrying you? That they will ask this of you? Because I will not allow it to happen.”

She smiled sadly at him. “I know.”

“You do not believe me?”

“I know you will not let them force me into something, Callan.”

Something eased in his chest, and he brought his lips to hers. She relaxed further into him, and his hand slipped into her hair, cupping the back of her head. A small contented sigh left her and had him pulling her closer, his tongue gently running along the seam of her lips. She instantly opened for him, letting him slide his tongue along hers. He angled her head, taking the kiss deeper, and he swallowed down his groan of want.

He tried to pull back, but one of her hands had slid to his cheek, and her ?ngers tensed, trying to keep him there. He smiled against her lips, kissing one corner of her mouth and then the other. But when he tried to pull back farther, she followed, sliding all the way onto his lap. He couldn’t swallow down his groan this time.

Because she was in a robe.

And those were bare legs visible beneath it.

“Tava,” he rasped, not knowing what else he was going to say. He had kissed her plenty since their talk in the gardens around that pond, but nothing like this. Nothing with her in his rooms in the middle of the night. Sitting in his lap. In a robe.

“Can I stay here tonight?” she whispered. “That...”

Gods, he wanted nothing more than that. But she had told him he was only the second person she had ever kissed. He was certain she had never been with anyone in any other way either. She was a Lady, raised to save herself, even if she had snuck out with Scarlett on occasions.

He cleared the gravel from his throat, cupping her jaw. “You can have the bed. I will sleep out here. Like we have done before.”

But she held his gaze, shaking her head slowly in refusal of that arrangement.

“Tava,” he rasped. “I do not think you understand—”

“I understand,” she whispered, leaning in and brushing her lips on his. “I understand that the world is on ?re.” Another feather-light kiss. “I understand that we could wake up tomorrow and the world could look different.” Another kiss. “Tonight, I just want some light, Callan.”

His hand was still on her cheek, and he brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, staring into turquoise eyes. “Are you sure about this, Tava?”

“This is the only thing I am sure of in my life right now,” she replied, pushing off of him. She got to her feet, grabbing his hand and tugging him up.

He took her face in his hands, tipping her head back, bringing his mouth back to hers. Her ?ngers gripped his wrists, her lips moving tentatively against his. He pulled back just enough to see her face. “Youare my light, Tava.”

She smiled softly, and then there were no more slow kisses. There was the desperate meeting of lips and exploring touches. He walked her back towards the bedchamber, his ?ngers reaching for the sash of her robe. She let go of him to let it slide down her arms while he turned to close the bedroom door behind him. When he turned back, his mouth went dry.

The nightgown she was wearing was the same color as her eyes. Its straps were thin, mere strings, and the front plunged betweenher breasts. The silk material was sheer, and he could see the faint outline of her peaked nipples through it. It clung to her torso and hips, stopping mid-thigh. If he’d had any doubts about her knowing what she was doing, he didn’t anymore. She came here tonight knowing this would happen.

Wanting this to happen.

His eyes swept over her again, taking in every inch of her, memorizing the way she looked right in this moment. When he made it back to her face, he found a slight blush on her cheeks.

“I have been shopping with Scarlett a few times,” she murmured. “I have seen her buy similar things, and she has spoken of how Sorin likes them.”

Callan’s brow arched, and he fought the satis?ed smirk trying to form on his lips. “Did you go shopping for me, Little Fox?”

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