Page 100 of The King's Weapon

But Kallie couldn’t move, she didn'twantto move. Because if she moved away from him, if they broke their kiss . . . if they let go of each other, she feared that whatever spell they were under, whatever bond pulled them together and allowed them to put aside their concerns for once would be broken.

And she wasn't ready for this to be over.

It had barely begun.

So Kallie stayed there, on the edge of the drunken crowd, in the little paradise they had created for themselves. Kissing the man whom she was undeniably attracted to, who caused her whole world to flip on its side. The man whom she had chosen to kiss, despite her mind telling her time and time again that she shouldn't.

It was her choice and hers alone.

His hold on her tightened ever-so-slightly, bringing her closer to him. His tongue slipped into her mouth and she savored the taste of him as she brushed his tongue with hers, the whisper of alcohol on his tongue.

His touch was warm and felt like home, a foreign place she never wanted to leave. A place she could always return to and would always be waiting for her with open arms. It made her question why she kept trying to put distance between themselves. Graeson's hold on her promised her that he could give her everything she wanted, title or no title.

And somewhere deep beneath her gift, she believed that could be true. That he could be the one she had been missing. The one she had subconsciously been looking for.

But then somewhere in her body, something tugged at her, pulled her from those thoughts. It made her wonder if it would be enough, and she wanted to squash that feeling.

Still, it was persistent.

It pulled on her. It kept tugging on her until she felt his tongue begin to retreat and the pressure between their lips lessen. Unwillingly, a soft whine escaped her lips and she dragged her teeth lightly against his receding tongue, to which Graeson responded with a deep chuckle that reverberated throughout her entire body. Only furthering her desire to keep him there.

He pecked the corner of her mouth, laying his forehead against hers.

His breathing was heavy, and she slid a hand from his hair, sliding it down to his chest where his heart beat firmly beneath her touch. And she wanted to know how his breathing would be affected if they went further. She had recalled getting a glimpse into the garden, but her hiccups (and subconscious) had prevented it from going any further. Though she somehow knew Graeson was not the type of man to have let it go any further at that moment.

He removed his hand from her ass and placed it over her hand, holding it in place. "I don't think I could ever have enough of you, Kalisandre."

She looked at his lips and noticed that they were tinted red, and she didn't hide her amused smile. The chuckle that left her lips was true and pure. Kallie took her other hand and wiped the edges of her lips, knowing that he had smeared the rouge that she had applied earlier that night. And as her finger traced the edge of her lips, she watched as Graeson licked his own.

She then wiped the red tint from his lips that were still warm from their kiss with her thumb. And as Kallie went to drop her hand, he grabbed it and ran his teeth across her finger. His hand fell from hers, and she dragged her thumb down along the bottom of his lips, revealing his teeth.

She needed more of him, but the look on his face told her she wasn't going to get what she wanted. And she knew wholeheartedly that he was right.

He would always be right about that.

Music blared around them as Kallie said, "Graeson, I need to tell you something."

His brows bunched as he held a hand to his ear. "What?"

She went to repeat what she had said but snapped her mouth shut and shook her head. Another night, perhaps.

He placed a kiss on her forehead and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. He shouted over the music. "Come on, I have something I want to show you."

* * *

Graeson ledher by the hand through a series of hallways and up several flights of stairs. Her heart raced alongside them as Graeson kept quiet while he guided her.

When they came to a dead end, she wrapped a hand around his arm. "Where are we going?"

He dropped her hand and pointed up. "To the roof." Reaching up to a hatch on the ceiling and using his height to his advantage, he pushed it open. Fresh air seeped through. He then grabbed a ladder propped up against a wall and signaled her to climb.

Kallie looked at him and back at the ladder. "Are we allowed up there?"

"Are you telling me you're not up for some rule-breaking?" Graeson challenged, cocking his brow.

Kallie pursed her lips. She grabbed onto the wooden rail and began climbing up the ladder while Graeson kept it steady at the bottom. Once she reached the top, she hoisted herself up.

The air was less stuffy, and the flat roof was more spacious than it was in the tavern with the wild crowd. But more space meant more space for her mind to wander.

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