Page 81 of Smoke and Moon

His stare was intense, but he didn’t ask if she was sure.Instead, he pulled her into his big, strong arms and held her.She drew in his strength and allowed his calm, patient fortitude to be her armor and help her to get through this moment and fill the hollow pockets in her soul with love.

Love?

She buried her face in his chest and inhaled the roasted-cinnamon surrounding him.Kai accepted the quiet declaration of her emotions toward the fierce leader of the Drahks, but for now, she set her feelings for Aodh in a lockbox inside her heart.They had come together out of necessity, her for her sister’s care and him for a mate to plant his offspring.They both had gotten what they wanted.She would keep a tight binding around her emotions until she knew that this was something more for him.

They were doing well together, and she was satisfied now.

Kai took a moment to lift a prayer to both the human’s God and the shifter Great Spirit that Morlie would not only be okay, but she would thrive with the Lupines.Then, before she said Amen, she added that she wished to see her sister again.

“Are you okay?”His voice came through like Thunder, vibrating his chest.

She leaned back and offered him a small smile.Her heart was elated by the situation, but she grabbed hold of the wisp of peace and squeezed it with both hands.“I will be.”

Once again, the scale-like etchings along his skin were black, and the fire banked in his eyes.Aodh’s hands stroked along her spine.“Come with me to feast on the meal Tana took to our suite.Besides, I still have a hoard to show you.”

“I’d forgotten with all the excitement, but I am eager to discover it.”She shivered as his fingers traveled down her arms until he held her hand.

When they turned away from the building and placed the forest behind them, she realized the others had left, including the enormous dragon patrolling the sky along their border.She wasn’t sure at what point Aodh had dismissed them, but now that she knew her pregnancy had amassed her authority over them, she’d have to learn to tread lightly and not react so quickly through her emotions.She wanted to prove herself worthy of power.

Chapter Twelve

Aodh leaned to theleft of the table and kissed her.What started as a light brush of his tongue over her bottom lip became a sensual feast.He savored the sauce from the meat and everything that made up Kai.He loved the taste of his mate and slid his tongue into her mouth.Her mouth was only second to having his tongue buried between her sweet, silken thighs.It had been a long day, and he’d missed Kai every moment he dealt with the situation between Fae and Lupine.Right now, he wanted nothing else than to lift her from her seat and place her on his lap, right on his hard cock, and have it caressed by her heat.Until he could strip her out of her clothes and guide it inside of her, of course.

When he pulled away and claimed his seat again, he watched her chest rise and fall not once but three times, as if she needed to gain a measure of control before she spoke.And from the heat radiating in her beautiful, brown eyes, Kai wanted him as much as he desired her right now.First things first.

“What was that for?”She licked her lips and then rolled the plump bottom into her mouth.

He growled.That was his mouth; he was the only one who could devour it.He felt the intensity of his need for her as he studied not only her mouth but Kai’s face and neck.He dragged his gaze to her eyes again before he allowed his view to descend any further, his restraint was already at risk.“You had gravy on your lip.”

Aodh couldn’t help admiring how her cheeks darkened to a lovely cherry-brown.

“You know that is what napkins are for.”Kai lifted the cloth she’d set beside her drink after eating.

“Yes.But tasting you is too much fun.”

Heat, on top of heat, exploded in her eyes.

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