Page 74 of Enspelled

She gapes up at me. “Now?That’s more important than getting away?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

I stare down at her for several seconds without speaking. “Because I need it to be me.”

22

BRIAR

With my back flush against the door and Keane standing close in front, his eyes filled with a desperate intensity I’ve never seen before, it’s impossible to speak.

“Uh…”

He steps closer, so every inch of him presses flush against me. “Were you dreaming about me?”

If speaking was impossible, the hard length of him tucked against my belly means I can barely summon the ability to think.

He lifts a hand and strokes the hair back from my face. “Briar?”

I swallow hard, and after a long moment, I nod. Once.

His amber eyes darken, and something that resembles relief flashes across his face. “What was I doing to you?”

I shake my head. But in my mind the dream stirs to life, the memory of Keane Destin tangling his tongue with mine before his lips touched my throat, my pulse, and then moved down my body, kissing every inch of me, even—

Keane draws in a long breath and groans deep in his throat. “Are you thinking of it now?”

Desperately, I shake my head no.

One corner of his lips turns up. “I think you’re forgetting how good my nose is.”

Crap.

I will myself to think of something else. Rocks. Earth. Boring things that don’t excite me. Right up until Keane presses his lips against my throat.

Just like in my dream.

I whimper.

“You once said something,” he murmurs against my skin. “About there being a good kind and a bad kind.”

I slam my eyes closed because wecannotbe having this conversation.

He kisses me lightly on the throat, soft, gentle touches that make it a battle to draw enough air into my lungs.

“Keane,” I say, trying to make my voice firm. “We need to go.”

“And we will.” He kisses me again. “But not until I’ve tasted you.”

I freeze.

I’m still trying to convince myself I didn’t hear him say what I thought he did when he drops to his knees in front of me and reaches for the hem of my dress.

I grab his hands and hold on. “What are you doing?” I demand, my voice high with my panic.

Lifting his head, he meets my gaze. “You heard me.”

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