Page 56 of A Kingdom of Shadows

He chuckles, our noses touching. "Make it a barrel of wine."

My legs quiver, my heartbeat too loud for me to hear myself as I press my palm against his chest and gently push him back. "Sleep," I repeat, walking past him as I try to regain my breath despite the lack of exertion. As I look back at him, he's leaning against the wall, his eyes on me with a mesmerizing smile. "I'll come back to check on you."

He stiffens, cocking his head to the side. "Why would you do that?" he asks with a deep frown, but beyond that, there's a glimmer of sadness in his gaze, like drops of amber turning dark and cold in winter.

"To make sure you've not gone and caused any havoc." I raise a brow, humored by the thought, yet Darius does not tease back or smile as he lowers his gaze.

My stare reflects his, but when I try to ask, he stalks over to his bed and sits down without a word. Even though he's not looking at me, I nod and rush out of his chambers, heading straight into mine. Closing the door behind me, I place a hand on my chest, searching for a beat, a thump, anything. My feet are heavy on the floor as I pace toward the dresser by my bed and fumble to light a wooden split. With trembling hands, the candle ignites, and I draw back sharp breaths.

Forget how badly I want to kiss you.

I close my eyes and shake my head.

I'll be honest with you, Goldie, because I'd be lying to myself if I didn't tell you how I've considered taking you up against every inch of this castle.

I scrunch up my hair by digging my fingers into the sides of my skull. "Even in my mind, you annoy me, for Solaris's—" A gasp hurtles past my lips as I whirl at the door opening and closing.

Darius's gaze collides with mine, and my heart soars.

The candle flickers behind me, illuminating different shadows of the room.

"I said I was going to check on you later," I say, but it might just as well be no less than a whisper.

"Did you want me to go further?" He ignores me as his hooded gaze takes me in. When I frown, he clarifies, "Today in the woods, did you want... more?"

He'd been thinking about it earlier, just as much as I had. "I told you to get some rest."

He clicks his tongue, advancing toward me. "Not an answer, Goldie, unless you're too stubborn to say yes, or no?"

I scoff. "If anyone should be asking a question, it's me. Why did you stop?"

That stumps him, and for a second, I don't expect an answer. It's hard to deny I'm not disappointed because I am, and usually, where I am good at hiding my emotions, I can never do so with him. "Seems like I'm not the only stubborn one," I say and start toward my door in an attempt to have him leave.

"When we first met—" His voice is like an echo that makes me freeze. My heart stops as I breathe and spin to look at him. He slowly turns, his eyes brimming with an agonizing hold "—I wanted to hate who you were. A venator so bold enough to go up against me alone. And even so, I could never shake you off... I wanted to hate your smile." He takes another step. "The way it would sometimes slip out, whether it was with a lilt in your voice or a twitch in your body. I wanted to so easily find a way to despise it all because I knew I didn't even deserve to be near you, but then your laugh," he breathes like the thought aches every inch of his mind and soul. "The day you laughed inside the den, then the forest... it took every ounce of me not to kiss you, feel you, laugh with you, and damn anyone who dared to try come between."

I can't blame this on him drinking. I can't even breathe over him saying this to me with such determination and need because I'm not used to it.

"So, when you ask me why I stopped?" He forces out a husky chuckle, running a hand over his jaw. "It's because I do not think I will ever be worthy of you. I don't think anyone is. You are too forbidden to even look at... always have been, Goldie."

My heart drums to a fast beat. I'm staring at him as if I'll be able to find a flaw in his words. Something that in the next few seconds, he will say how he's lying and insult me, tell me how my hair is a mess today, mock my attire, and laugh at my anger over him.

But no, he does none of that.

He's drinking me whole, waiting, pleading to get my answer.

"Kiss me," I finally say, my words taking him back.

"What?"

My chest rises with each second. I can't think of anything other than the fact that he is over there, and I am here, and that I want him to do the very thing I have craved since that night in Emberwell. "Kiss me," I repeat. "And never stop."

His jaw locks as his eyes travel to my lips. It's the confirmation he needs before he whispers, "Fuck." And takes two steps, cupping my cheeks as my back slams against a desk with the force of his mouth claiming mine.

The first few seconds do not register in my mind. It's a haze of ecstasy, wants, and the pit of dangerous territories.

Our tongues meld into one. It's not soft. It's an unending passion where we're gasping for air with each contact of our lips joining. His hand lowers from my face to my thigh as he hoists me onto the desk. My hands rake through his hair, vicious and wild, like I'm in need of more. As he jerks me up against him, my middle meets his as he situates himself between my legs. Our foreheads rest on one another's as a sound escapes from my throat, and I think I must have said his name because he practically devours me with another kiss, swallowing up any other noises I make.

Unable to resist, I arch my back and pull away as his lips graze my jaw down to my neck. The contact of his teeth nipping and kissing me leaves a trail of fire behind, igniting it, even more, when his hands come under my tunic, and that possessive instinct takes over as he grips my waist and tugs me closer to him.

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