Page 91 of King Elijah (The Zemiran Chronicles 2)

Thirty-Two

TEGAN PLACED Abag in the corner of the room where Aiden would sleep and slowly looked up to meet his eyes.

“Clean clothes are hanging in the closet there, and I’ve washed everything you own. It’s inside this bag—”

Aiden stepped forward but didn’t come too close to Tegan. His lips pressed in a hard line, watching her shift uncomfortably. Her pale skin was luminescent in the darkened room. The memories of their night together flashed in his mind.

It wasn’t that he was incapable of feeling empathy or lust now that the darkness had consumed his soul, but his desire for Tegan felt different now.

She was undoubtedly beautiful, but now she seemed afraid of him. Tegan was willing to hide the sword from Kieran and even resisted the guards when they forced her to hand it over after hiding it in her room. Now, she stood as far away from him as she could.

Tegan changed from the girl I met at the tavern, he thought. I might have to break her.

“You know what?” she started, turning to face him with her arms folded across her chest. Tegan had a glowering expression, and her lips were pressed in a hard, scolding line.

There she is, he thought, remembering the fire she had when they first met.

“You’re being a prick, Aiden. Yes, I tricked you, but don’t sit there and pretend to be perfect. You let one taste of that darkness seep so far into your bones that you’ve forgotten who you are. I tried to save your ass, and you didn’t listen. And now, you’re so far gone that you’re giving me this meek, silent treatment—”

“Silent treatment?” he interjected; his expression fierce. “Really, Tegan? I understand what happened between us was for only one night. We don’t owe each other anything. You lied to me then, and now I must pretend to be your ally for the sake of my new leader.” He sauntered to her until he had her pinned against the wall. “Though I must say, you did a fantastic job convincing me you liked me.” His finger touched her belt loop at her waist, then ran his nail up her belly until he stopped between her breasts. He paused at the cleavage. “But I won’t complain about one moment of our night together.”

“Stop,” Tegan said, but he noticed a hesitation in her tone. She turned her face to avoid his eyes. His hand continued up her chest until he reached her throat, pressing his palm against her neck.

Aiden only wanted to threaten her, make her fear what he could do if she were to ever deceive him again. But something else stirred within him, the pulse in Tegan’s throat quelling his urge to harm her.

“Control the darkness, Aiden. I can feel it eating away at you.” She turned her head to face him again. “We don’t have to be longtime friends for me to know this isn’t you. Janelle is my friend, and what she’s shared with me about your childhood together . . . you’re not this.”

His face hardened again as the tightness grew in his chest. “Maybe this has always been me.” Aiden’s lips brushed her cheek. “But I had to suppress my true self. All because an Elven warrior is expected to be strong and brave for the people they serve. Never to be selfish, always sacrificing.”

Aiden’s lips touched her neck. His tongue came out and caressed wet trails up to her ear. The soft kisses against Tegan’s flesh caused her body to squirm. All the worry left her face as she gave a moan of approval.

“Good girl,” he hummed.

“You’re . . . you’re drunk. I don’t know if we should—”

Aiden wrapped her red hair around his fingers and gave a tug at the back of her scalp. “We were drunk last time,” he reminded her.

He used his grip on her to crash their lips together, swallowing whatever words of protest she was about to utter. It felt raw and visceral, and he never wanted to release her. The idea of owning Tegan, possessing her in every possible way, was like a siren call that he couldn’t resist. He was trapped by it.

Sharp nails clawed into his back as she dug her fingers in. He ran his free hand down the soft skin of her stomach before sliding it into the waistband of her pants. His hand slotted neatly between her legs, pushing them farther apart, and he dove for the wet, hot center of her. The feeling of her shuddering as he touched her filled him with an innate, carnal hunger. She was slick between her thighs, and a quiet, desperate moan escaped her lips as he slipped his fingers into her.

Aiden pulled back, breaking their kiss with her taste still lingering on his tongue.

“You’re so wet for me,” he said. He released Tegan’s hair, grabbing her by the hip instead to hold her tight as she rocked down onto his fingers. He pushed deep into her, engulfed by heat, and watched as she sank into the feeling of being filled. As soon as his thumb found her apex and applied pressure, her moans turned to gasps. Aiden moved relentlessly, filling her from the inside as he sparked continuous pleasure by rubbing her. Watching the sensations build and Tegan get lost in it, drove him insane. He wanted to look her in the eyes as she climaxed.

Tegan cried out, fingers scrabbling at his shoulders as she clenched down on his fingers, his wrist trapped between her trembling thighs as she rode out wave after wave of sensation.

Contentment washed over Aiden, even as his erection remained untouched. He let Tegan sag into him in a boneless slump. She was warm and soft, and he held her close. He was nuzzling his face into her hair, inhaling the aromatic scent before her hand came out, pressing against his chest to give them a little space.

Tucking her hair behind her ear with gentle fingers, he said, “I’m not done with you yet.”

Tegan reached out to cup the edge of his jaw and pulled his head up to look into his eyes.

“Kieran cannot know what we’ve done,” she pleaded. “I’m nothing but a weapon to him. He’d never allow this.”

A wicked grin flitted across his lips before brushing the back of his fingers against her cheek. “I can’t make that promise,” he whispered, his fingers closing around her chin, keeping her gaze locked on his.

Tegan returned his smile, although her face looked more drawn and tired than his. She moved under the arm he used to pin her to the wall and then quickly adjusted her clothes and hair before opening the door. She turned, casting one last glance at Aiden before disappearing down the hall.

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