Page 15 of A Realm of Fire and Ash

He reaches up and runs a finger along my jawline. "If you're going to win this game, Morte, you'll have to learn to negotiate a better deal. You won't get much in exchange for a kiss on the hand."

I roll my eyes at his bravado. "What else do you want?"

"Your loyalty, my little loon. That's all I need." He takes my hand and brushes a gentle kiss against it, the simple act sending a shiver through my entire body. Goosebumps line my arm, and he grins. "Promise me you'll let no one else take your virginity but me."

"I'm not promising you that."

He sighs. "How about this. If you choose to give someoneelseyour virginity, you'll let me watch."

My eyebrows shoot up and I pull my hand away. I hadn't realized he was still holding it. "You must think I'm a fool if you think I'd agree to something like that."

He grins lopsidedly, his eyes heavy with desire. "Here's my final offer: If you choose not to give me your virginity, and you want to give it to someone else while here, you will let me watch. Fair enough?"

My desire to stay away from him wars with my curiosity. "Only while here?"

"Only while here." He splays his hand, gesturing to the area.

I place mine in his. "You have yourself a deal."

He tsks. "That's not how we make deals here."

"How do you make deals here ... wherever here is?"

"We seal it with a kiss."

"You're full of shit."

"Not likely. I have a date in the king's chamber soon."

I open and close my mouth several times, gaping like a fish, but nothing comes out.

"You've got to actually press those lips to mine for a kiss, love bird. It has to be a real kiss, with tongue, and must last a minimum of twenty seconds to activate our deal."

"That's absurd."

"Never been kissed?"

"Of course, I have."

"Good, then you know how it works. Now come here," he purrs.

My heart races and I know I'm going to regret this, but I lean in and place my lips to his, feeling the coolness beneath me. He wraps his arm around my waist and hoists me into his lap, deepening the kiss. My head spins in a mix of pleasure and panic. Every nerve ending sparks and ignites, and I can't breathe, can't think. His tongue slips into my mouth, and I forget where we are and why I'm here, and I moan before realizing what I'm doing.

His length nudges at the seam of my pants, and before I can do anything embarrassing like press closer, he breaks from the kiss, dragging my bottom lip between his teeth before letting it go.

"Deal sealed," he whispers against my lips.

Magic tingles between us and my breath comes out in short, strangled pants. Heat rises in my cheeks as I scramble off his lap.

"Now where the hell is Wilder?" I use the back of my ash-coated hand to wipe my mouth.

"He's at Bedlam Penitentiary. Your feather brought him back to life."

All the air escapes my lungs. I’d already known it should’ve, but hearing confirmation of my feather saving him gives me immense relief. I brace a hand against the wall, tilting my head to the ceiling to survey my surroundings.

"And where in the gods am I?"

"Aggonid's realm."

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