Page 106 of A Kingdom of Fire and Fury
“Fuck it.” He grabbed the back of my neck and crushed his lips against mine. My breath hitched, and he used that to explore every inch of my mouth. It was an all-out attack, and I was helpless against it. My knees quivered. The man kissed like he fought. Devastating. Overwhelming. Demanding total submission and accepting nothing less. His hand gripped my wrist and pulled me against him. Kieran licked into my mouth, and I nearly crumbled. Fire surged under my skin, and I deepened the kiss. It was like a frenzy had overcome me. I wanted this for so long, and now that I had it, it was everything I wanted and more.
Heat pulsed between my thighs. I tugged at his shirt, trying to press him even closer. This was insane. This was irresponsible. This might’ve been a mistake.No.It wasn’t a mistake. I wanted him so badly it ached. Hell, the evidence of how much I wanted him was mysoaked panties. When he went to pull away, I chased after his lips and ignored the burning in my lungs.More.I needed more.
A whimper escaped me, and a tidal wave of heat crashed over me. Kieran groaned against my lips, and he kept on the onslaught until black dots covered my vision from the lack of air. Only then did he pull away and only slightly.
While we gasped for breath, merely inches from each other’s lips, Kieran’s hand stayed fisted in my hair. I moaned and the sound, loud in the soundless room, jolted me back to reality. “What was that?” I whispered. He hadn’t stepped back. His lips were still brushing mine, and his hand still burned my waist.
“The reason why I helped you. And why I stayed silent.”
“What are you trying to say?” I didn’t dare hope.
“Do I have to spell it out for you?”
The look in his eyes terrified me. I wasn’t stupid. I knew. Just like I knew I couldn’t take my eyes off him, even when I loathed him. “Yes. Say it plainly. No more lies.”
“Selena, I’m utterly infatuated with you. I want you. Even if that complicates things, I want to be with you.”
I stared, wide-eyed. “But you hated me. And you said we’d only ever be allies.”
“I did. And yet, I can’t get you out of my mind. I’ve tried. You’re like a fucking poison I can’t get rid of.”
I shoved him away. “Really? A poison?”
He let out a breath, looking less controlled than I’d ever seen him. “Of course you are. The second I saw you, you consumed me. I hated you, but I wanted you. I didn’t want to help you, but I did. First, the day of your execution. I phrased your sentence differently. Deep down, I’d hoped something would happen. And then when Umara claimed you, I couldn’t get rid of you. And a part of me was relieved even though I wanted you dead for fucking over your sister.”
My head spun. Every word he said to me, every biting comment, I went through it in my mind. “What do you want me to say to this? I don’t—I don’t understand. You said you hated me. You said you were using me.” This wasn’t supposed to be our story. I didn’t know what to do with this man who stood before me.
“I tried to keep my distance and stay away. But you wouldn’t let me. You chased me down.”
“So it’s my fault?”
“Yes.” He exhaled. “No, but I wish it was. You took the first step, but sooner or later, I would’ve jumped off the cliff to join you or been dragged down by fate. I can’t stop giving away parts of myself to you, Selena. You truly are a siren, and I’m helpless against your call. Your song was made just for me.”
My lips still tingled from the kiss. My Captain gifted to me by the gods themselves. I wanted him to drown in me. “What’s real, Kieran?”
“Everything.” He stalked forward and backed me against the wall. “It was never a lie, Selena. I’ve known since Umara claimed you that the two of us couldchange the country for the better. I want you by my side. Not because of my plans. Not because I want to use you, but because I fucking need you like I need air. You’re my salvation, my light in the shadows.”
Heat pulsed under my skin. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to flee or grab his shirt and pull him closer. “What happened to just scratching an itch?”
He smirked. “We can do that. If that’s all you want, I’ll take it. I know you want me. I’ve seen you staring. You’re not subtle. You feel this too.”
Heat flooded my cheeks. “I don’t.”
He cupped my cheek and tilted my chin up to meet his gaze. “Your pulse says otherwise.”
I went to grab his hand and tug it away, but the moment our hands touched, he tightened his grip. Heat pooled between my legs, and I froze. “You’re a cocky, arrogant bastard.”
“You’ve always known that.” He leaned closer.
“I hated you when I first saw you.”
“I felt the same.”
“I can’t stop thinking about you.”
He pressed our foreheads together. He thumbed my jawline. “Neither can I.”
I closed the gap between us and pressed my lips against his and Itook.Now was my turn to explore his mouth, to let my desire take control. I groaned when he reached up, grabbed my braids, andtugged.Pleasure thrummed through me, creating a fog in my mind. I wanted to melt, but I wasn’t ready to give upcontrol of the kiss.
