Page 27 of A Tale of Treachery

He was right. There were too many complications. His father would be absolutely livid at the idea. Aiden would need to marry a princess, not a lowly scholar in training.

A relationship between the two of us would be impossible.

Internally, I cursed George for opening his big mouth.

“Stop,” Aiden demanded. He approached me and gently grasped my chin, tilting my face upward. “I can see the wheels spinning in your head. All the reasons why you think this is a bad idea. And I agree, it’s a horrible idea. There are many obstacles, but I know we can find a way around them.”

I grasped his arm, tracing the smooth muscle that flexed beneath his skin. I’d never had the liberty to touch him in this way. He was so strong, so perfect, and I wanted him so much. We owed it to each other to have this.

If only for just one night.

“You don’t have to convince me. I want you. I’ve always wanted you,” I whispered.

“You have me,” he acknowledged in a low voice as he leaned down to press his lips against mine.

I squeezed his arm tighter and pulled him toward me, wanting him closer. He pushed his torso against mine and wound his arms around my waist, pressing against me until there was no space between us, no room for doubts. My arms wound around his neck as I returned his kiss, feeling the love, friendship, and warmth we’d always shared.

He groaned when my tongue slipped past his lips, then wound a hand through my hair and tugged. His tongue chased mine, and a small noise escaped my throat.

My hips ground against his, and I pulled back to see his expression. His baby blues blazed with heat.

He groaned again, and a flash of red overtook my body, so I kissed him. Hard.

My core tightened, and I needed more. I needed all of him. So I traced my fingertips down his torso, taking in the contours and grooves of his muscles. My fingertips halted at the stay of his pants, and his breath hitched.

I pulled back and looked at him, raising my brows as I tugged on the drawstring that held his pants at the waist. He gripped my wrist tightly as if to stop me.

“We don’t have to do this tonight,” he said, his voice strained as if he had to force the words from his lips.

“We don’t have to, but I want to,” I replied, kissing his jawline. Then backed away and shrugged off my cloak.

His eyes burned through my clothes when I reached for the hem of my chemise and pulled it over my head. I slowly moved my hands down, and he held his breath when I reached the soft leather pants that still covered my lower half.

I slid the material down my legs.

He inhaled at the sight, his chest rising and falling as I stood before him in nothing but my undergarments.

“I don’t want to pressure you. We don’t have to rush,” he blurted out, seemingly nervous.

I knew he was willing to wait, but his promises of a future together were unrealistic. He knew it and I knew it. There was only here and now.

I sauntered past him to his bedroll, and his gaze followed as I lowered myself to the makeshift bed and slowly stripped my undergarments away. My pulse skittered as his hungry eyes traced my body.

His fists clenched, and I smiled.

He approached, stood before me, and touched my cheek tenderly. “Dahlia, we shouldn’t rush. God would frown upon us if I took your maidenhead out of wedlock.”

His words drifted into my hazy mind, and I chuckled. I’d hardly ever claimed to be virtuous, but he didn’t know about my nights away from the kingdom.

The sweet expression dropped on his face. “What? What was that? Why did you laugh?”

“This isn’t my first time,” I muttered.

I looked away when his face fell, but he gripped my jaw and made me face him. I still didn’t make eye contact.

“Look at me,” he commanded.

My eyes shifted to his, and he looked so…bothered.

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