Page 71 of Rain of Shadows and Endings

“Did you think I could not speak with you and order breakfast at the same time?”

“No. I just…wanted your complete attention,” she said, finally managing to form the words.

“And now you have it.”

Tessa swallowed, and he took a step towards her. She went to step back, but he reached out, twisting her so that the back of her legs bumped against the bed. One of his arms looped around her back, catching her, while the other held him over her when he lowered her onto the unmade bed.

“Theon, what are you doing?” she breathed. Her stomach dipped, and her skin tingled at the close contact. Sleeping beside him was one thing, but having him look at her like this was something else entirely. Faint wisps of darkness swirled across his heated emerald eyes. Eyes that dipped to her mouth.

“You wanted my attention,” he said, his face coming close to hers. A lock of his black hair fell into his eyes, and without thinking, she reached up and brushed it back. The corner of his mouth quirked up. “You were saying?”

She had been saying something, hadn’t she? His face moved an inch closer so that his breath danced over her lips.

“Tessa,” he murmured, amusement flickering across his features.

“What?”

“What did you require my complete attention for?”

“To…”

He ran the tip of his nose down the length of hers, and her entire body flushed with heat and need.

“To what?” he whispered.

There had been something she’d been trying to tell him. There had been something she was trying to say. She mentally tried to go through her morning, but ignoring him on top of her was not easily done.

Coffee. Axel. Running.

Running!

“To tell you I’m not going running with you,” she blurted at the sudden recall.

Theon pulled back a fraction of an inch. “You are sure?”

“Yes.”

“Positive?”

“Positive?” Tessa repeated in confusion. “Yes, Theon. I am certain I am not going running with you.”

“Hmm,” he hummed. He’d worked his arm out from beneath her, and his hand settled on her hip. Now those fingers began slowly skating up her side, brushing across her ribs in a way that made her squirm.

“Theon,” she breathed, trying to push against his chest, but he snatched her wrists with his other hand. Bringing them up, he pinned them above her head, and she went utterly still at being completely at his mercy.

“Did you know that you’ve said my name more times this morning than you have in the last three days?” he murmured, his hand skating along her ribs again. His gaze was fixed on his fingers, following their path.

She swallowed but didn’t answer.

She did know that. Calling him by his name seemed too personal when they were not that. Source and Master. That was the extent of their relationship. Nothing more.

“I’ve missed hearing it on your lips, little storm,” he continued.

“I don’t care,” she ground out.

“No, you don’t,” he said, more to himself than her.

His hips rolled against her. A small movement that had her sucking in a sharp breath because gods. If he was literally anyone else, falling headfirst into pleasure would be the perfect distraction from everything.

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