Page 8 of A Storm of Fire and Ash
I raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. “Don’t tempt me, Golden Boy,” I countered, a playful challenge sparking in my eyes.
“You won’t... especially not after what I just told you I would do for you. Unless, of course, you don’t want me to pass a message to your father?”
“No! I do!” I practically jumped up, leaning forward to face my entire body toward him. “I want you to give him a message.”
Fintan raised his eyebrows. “And what is the message you would like me to tell him?”
I tread carefully, not wanting the prince to know I planned on sneaking in to free my father. “Tell him…” I paused and bit my lower lip, catching his attention. Fintan’s eyes kept going from my mouth back to my eyes. “Tell him it will be alright, and that… and that I will find a way to free him.”
Fintan’s expression changed, not in a bad way, but a curious one. I could tell he was pondering something. “You know I could have your head for trying to free one of our prisoners?”
I swallowed hard as he said ‘our prisoners’.Shit.I started to sweat. I shouldn’t have said that! I’m so stupid.
Fintan flashed his dimples and stroked my cheek, “I’m only joking, El, relax.” He paused and then asked, “What’s in it for me?”
Crap, I hadn’t thought that through…I had nothing to give him.
“You have everything you could possibly want. I—I don’t have anything to offer you,” I responded, irritation creeping into my voice as I crossed my arms defensively.
He leaned back slightly, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “I may have a lot of things, Elara, but I don’t have everything I need,” he replied, his voice low and velvety as he looked me up and down.
I blushed.
“How about a kiss?”
You’ve got to be joking.
Laughter bubbled up from deep within me, escaping in a series of rich, unrestrained laughs. I threw my head back, my shoulders shaking with the force of my amusement.
He joined in, his laughter deep and infectious.
“A kiss? What, are you twelve?”
But then the laughter faded from his eyes, replaced by something more serious.
Oh crap, I’d offended him. The weight of my words sat heavily on my chest; I could kick myself for being so stupid. I knew I would beat myself up about this later.
“Perhaps, I’ll bend you over and fuck you right here, in this open field, for anyone to see us,” He licked his lips.
Oh gods, yes please!
My mouth fell open, and heat exploded throughout my body. I had never been spoken to in such a way before.
Before I could even say anything, he continued. “Elara…” His voice dropped an octave, deep and resonant, sending goosebumps racing across my skin. He hooked his finger under my jaw, forcing me to look at him. “I’m not joking. Kiss me.” He leaned in closer, the space between us evaporating.
His breath, warm and invigorating, brushed against my lips, and I caught a whiff of him—sandalwood mingled with cedar, an intoxicating scent. My eyes fluttered shut, and when I opened them again, his lips hovered just a whisper away from mine. “Right here, right now.”
I wanted nothing more than to feel his lips on mine.
Heat crept up to my face and down between my legs. I squeezed my thighs together. Fintan’s eyes dropped as if he understood what I was doing, and he smiled. My body buzzed with electricity again.
Before I could catch my breath, a figure emerged from the shadows of the dense woods—a man on a magnificent black horse, his silver hair cascading behind him like a shimmering waterfall caught in the breeze. The air crackled with an electric energy that coursed through my veins, but just as quickly as it ignited within me, it dissipated.
I instinctively leaped away from Fintan, who caught my gaze, eyes wide with both urgency and concern. Without hesitation, he stood and then offered his hand, which I grasped as I rose to my feet beside him.
The rider drew closer, the resonance of his horse’s hooves echoing in the stillness of the forest. “Zayn, what can I do for you?” Fintan’s voice betrayed a hint of annoyance as he regarded his guard.
Zayn.
