Page 19 of Sold to the Fae King (Kings of the Fae Islands 2)

Chapter 10 - Ember

The desire that coiled like a snake in his stomach was instantly quenched by concern the moment Iris pulled away from him.

"What’s wrong?" he asked softly, fearful that if he raised his voice, she might grow skittish and flee from him. Having felt her in his arms, having felt the warm caress of her lips, he couldn't bring himself to release her.

Iris shook her head and when she turned her face up to look at him, Ember was almost certain that he could see tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. Concern gripped his chest even tighter, making it hard to breathe.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, her eyes glimmering with torn emotions, "But I can't give myself to you knowing that I am nothing more than property."

Anger welled up inside him instantly and he struggled to keep himself from tightening his grip on her. Before he could say a word, she added, "I do not wish to give myself to you as a slave but as a free woman."

His anger boiled over into disgust, and this time his hands did tighten on her. Scared that if he continued to do so he might hurt her, he loosened his grip and stepped away. His arms felt instantly empty without her in them.

"I have never thought of you as a slave," he said through gritted teeth. "I have never and would never force any woman, least of all you, to do anything you are uncomfortable with."

There was a flash of something in Iris's eyes then, darkening the blue to purple, though Ember couldn't be sure if it were shock or disbelief or something else entirely.

His anger and disgust only seemed to grow with the expression, and he turned away from her, adding, "You are still free to leave the palace if that is your wish."

His heart clenched as he said the words, but he knew that if he pleaded with her to stay, she might take it as his wish to control her.

There was silence for a few moments and Ember was fearful to look around in case he found that she was edging toward the door. When she broke the silence, he found his emotions were almost too strong to handle.

"What if you change your mind and drag me back? What if you decide to punish me for running away?" she asked, the words tumbling from her mouth like a waterfall. "You could have me de-winged or executed for breaking the law. After all, you are king and I am nothing but a woman."

You are everything! a voice screamed in his head, but it was drowned out by his fury and he couldn't bring himself to say the words out loud.

"Is that how little you think of me?" He demanded, "Do you truly believe I could be so malicious? Who has told you that I am cruel?"

He realized then that there were probably several such rumors in the palace alone. With so many subjects, he couldn't possibly keep everybody happy. There would always be someone spreading negativity about him.

"All men are cruel," Iris responded with a shrug. Ember could feel her belief in her words coming off her in waves. She sounded defeated . He gritted his teeth to stop himself from saying something he might regret, and instead took a deep breath before making his way cautiously toward her.

Relieved when she did not attempt to move away, he gently lifted his hand to her face and stroked a stray strand of auburn hair from her cheek. Brushing his thumb against her soft flesh, he gazed deeply into her eyes as he whispered, "I will show you that not all men are cruel if you will allow me to."

Iris made no attempt to speak, but he saw her gulp as if she had a lump in her throat. He wasn't sure whether he felt it or imagined it, but he thought he felt her trembling.

I must be careful with this, Ember warned himself, I can't push her away again. With that thought in mind, he delicately took her face in the palms of his hands and lowered his face down to hers, pausing when their noses were almost touching.

"May I kiss you, Iris?" His voice was little more than a growl and he heard Iris's breath hitch. For one fleeting moment, his stomach clenched. Had he already gone too far?

He held his breath, watching as she closed her eyes, admiring the way her eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks.

Please, don't push me away, he pleaded silently. Relief overwhelmed him when he felt her nod against his palms.

"Yes," she breathed, and Ember felt her rising onto her toes once more to meet him. Their kiss was careful and cautious at first. Ember kissed her tentatively, well aware of the tension in her body, but as she began to relax against him and he felt her hands rise to hold onto his chest, he allowed his passion to deepen. The taste of her was so sweet and seductive that he felt he couldn't get enough of her. When his tongue stroked questioningly against her lips, she opened her mouth for him and her own tongue came to meet his.

Fingers stroking backwards into her hair, he cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss, just barely holding back the passion he wished to shower upon her, knowing that at any moment she might change her mind and he would be forced to scale it back.

When she didn't, his hands began to travel, fingertips stroking first down the back of her neck until she began to quiver beneath his touch. He continued onward, over her collarbone, dragging the shoulders of her gown with them. Her shoulders tensed for only a moment before relaxing again, and Ember paused for only a moment to give her a chance to object before he began to slide his hand down her back, searching for the fastenings of her dress.

It wasn't until he pulled on the first bow lacing that she whispered, "King Ember, I…" there was uncertainty in her voice, and it caused Ember to hesitate. He pulled back just far enough to gaze into her blue-purple eyes. They sparkled with a mixture of desire and uncertainty, and Ember took her face in his hands once more. Willing her to look him in the eye, he said, "Iris, I will never force you to do anything you do not want to do."

When she closed her eyes again, Ember could sense her indecision. For a second time he was sure that she would pull away but when she opened her eyes they sparkled with certainty and desire.

"I want this," she said simply, and the last hints of struggle began to leave her. She stepped closer, pressing her body firmly against his. When she reached up to cup his face in her hands, his skin instantly began to spark with electricity.

Wasting no more time, he began to undo the fastenings at the back of her dress. Unable to see what he was doing, it was a much slower process than he would have liked. Growing frustrated, he gripped her hips and urged her around to face away from him.

---