Page 57 of The Rowan's Stone
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In a blur,we’re in the lounge. I want to laugh at his impatience, but out of the corner of my eye, I notice Theron is slumped down into the couch, fast asleep. Stepping away from Daire, I carefully pull Theron’s phone from his hand, place it on the coffee table, and slip off his vest and shoes. Daire helps me ease him down into the sofa, and I cover him with the throw. My hand aches to sweep his hair back, but seeing the dark circles under his eyes, I refrain.
A minute later, Daire sets me down in his room. Taking off his coat, I hand it back to him to hang up. I wander around his room, picking up items, only to set them down a second later. For some reason, my nerves are lit up. Glancing over my shoulder, I notice Daire leaning against the wall, his icy blue eyes intent and hooded.
“Ever since I walked into my new room, I’ve been picturing you in it.” His voice is husky, convincing me of his sincerity. “You’ve been here twice tonight…more than I’d hoped. I might be pushing my luck.”
For some reason, his open declaration calms me. Sauntering over to him, I breathe in his natural scent and his luxurious cologne, and the sexy combination fires up the passion simmering inside of me. Placing my palms on his chest, I slip his suit jacket off his shoulders and place it on a nearby chair. When I return, he’s still, watching my every move like a predator who’s getting ready to pounce. My palms smooth over his silk shirt and the muscular body hiding beneath it.
“I’m here now,” I remind him. Leaning my body into his, I kiss his neck several times then move to his jaw, but when I reach up to capture his lips, I find myself flat on the sofa with him lying next to me.
“I’m truly a lucky man,” he murmurs, his voice rough with need. Slanting his mouth over mine, he picks up right where we left off. His kiss is demanding as he strokes and sucks, and I can’t help but return it with equal fervor. He plunges into each kiss, taking fiercely, until I’m lost in the sensations bombarding me.
Turning my body, I grip his shoulders with my hands but encounter a barrier. Using my magic, I strip him of his shirt. When they return, my hands encounter smooth skin and his hard body, and I sigh. Skimming his body, I map every inch, not stopping until I find a smooth piece of skin on his lower stomach. I run my nails across it, and he twitches and moans.
With my hands on his bare skin, his kiss gets rougher. Pulling back slightly, he tips my chin to the side and skims his teeth against my neck. Lifting his head up, he rasps, “Are you sure you want me to taste you?”
My heart is beating fast, but not in fear. I want this kind of kiss from him. “Yes, I’m absolutely sure.” My answer is firm and clear, leaving him without doubt.
He groans and trails a finger down my cleavage. “It’s more intimate here,” he whispers, stopping on the inside of my left breast, by my heart.
When I nod, he picks me up and sits down on the sofa with me in his lap. When I’m straddling him, he tightens his arms around me and gives me a deep, languorous kiss, filled with heat. His hand tugs on my hair, pulling my head back, and he places kisses along my neck. Lingering on each individual pulse point, he makes me breathless with anticipation as I wonder what it will feel like when he sinks his teeth into me.
His fingers hook the straps of my jumpsuit and pull down the top. “You’re so beautiful,” he says, leaving my mouth to lavish attention on each of my breasts. When I moan, he uses his firm lips to suck hard on my nipples, and I shift restlessly on top of him.
Grinding down, I rock back and forth, needing more. With my hands on his shoulders, I arch my back and move against his hard body.
He moans and thrusts up to meet my core. In a flash, he bites, sinking his teeth into the side of my breast.
There’s a pinprick of pain, then an avalanche of sensations rushes through me. Desire floods my body, and I come hard. He grunts, and his body jerks against mine. Holding tightly to him, I inhale sharply when the desire is replaced with images of me and a kaleidoscope of emotions. Anger, fear, sadness, wonder, hurt, and of course, desire—all for and about me. He’s been hiding a lot behind his deceptively calm exterior. Breathing heavily, I ride out the intense wave, finally coming down a few minutes later to find him staring at me. I glance down and notice the tiny holes on the side of my breast.
His eyes reflect a strange mixture of satisfaction and apprehension. Grabbing the throw on the couch, he pulls it around my shoulders. “Did you know my heart beats when you’re around? The rest of the time, it might as well be a rock in my chest. I don’t even know if it’s involuntary or if I subconsciously will it to happen, but I like it because it reminds me of my human half.” He trails his finger across my lips. “The taste of you lingers on my lips and tongue, and I know one taste is never going to be enough.” His finger slides down and circles his bite. “Thank you for my incredible surprise. I would love for you to sleep here with me tonight and share it with me.”
Tilting my head, I consider his words. “I felt it beat earlier, but I didn’t realize it was a rare occurrence. I like the fact that a piece of you only responds to me.” Reaching up to cup his jaw, I lean forward and swipe my tongue across his bottom lip. “Mmm…I taste us, and I would love to stay with you.”
A wicked smile graces his face. “I can’t wait to see you in my bed.”
34
THERON
When I wake early the next morning, I realize I’m on the couch in the lounge. Puzzled, I lie there for a moment, trying to figure out when I took my waistcoat and shoes off. I can’t recall, but things are usually blurry when I get caught up in researching something. Standing, I stretch a few times and grab my phone off the table. Based on what I found last night, we have three possible leads, but only two of them have a significantly higher chance of being the right one.
After grabbing some coffee, I head up to shower and change. If I can check one of the leads this morning and rule it out, we’ll be pretty close to finding Arden’s ancestor. If it was later, I’d take Astor with me, but he’s not a morning person, and I don’t like dealing with him when he’s irritable. Valerian is still away, and Fallon left to check on his father, which leaves me with Daire. Shooting off a text, I ask him to meet me in the lobby in fifteen minutes.
Of course when I get to the lobby, he’s not there, but he’s not technically late either. Scrolling through the information on my phone, I take the extra two minutes to make sure I have it memorized, since technology doesn’t always work the same in the land of the Fae. I hear a whistle, then a blur goes by me, headed toward the kitchen. Twenty seconds later, he comes to a stop in front of me, holding a cup of coffee.
Giving him my best impassive stare, I scrutinize him carefully. When he grins, I realize I’ve never seen him this relaxed. “You’re cheerful this morning. I thought for sure you’d give me hell for getting you up this early. What’s going on with you?”
“A tall blonde with legs for miles, who’s one of the best warriors I’ve ever seen and smells utterly delicious,” he replies with an arched eyebrow. “Our date last night? Thanks for delivering the present for me. It fit her beautifully.”
The date. I can’t believe I’d forgotten, or maybe I can. When I heard him ask her to dinner, I could only sit there and gnash my teeth. I don’t mind if she goes on a date with Daire, but I’d been planning on asking her out myself. Frustration eats at me. It always feels like something or someone gets in the way.
Pushing away the negative thoughts, I feign casual interest. “Oh? Where did you take her? The new place on the east side?” He usually keeps up with the newest restaurant openings.
“First, I took her to an art gallery, where I had dinner set up for us. Then we came back and I took her flying,” he replies before taking a sip of coffee.
That’s interesting. And a good sign.I stare at him in fascination. He never takes anyone flying. “I can’t believe Arden wanted to hang out in your dungeon,” I remark dryly. “You’re a lucky bastard.” I’m sure he can probably hear the envy in my voice, but I can’t help it.
