Page 208 of Halfblood Deceived

“I will fight for you, too, Aella,” Zeydan vowed. “Against anyone or anything. You are more than worth fighting for.”

The last thread of Aella’s self-control snapped. She got on her tiptoes, sinking her fingers into Zeydan’s silky hair, and drew him closer, pressing her lips against his. A low moan escaped her as a powerful wave of relief washed over her, soothing aches she didn’t know she had.

Zeydan tilted his head and parted his lips in invitation.

Aella took it, running the very tip of her tongue over his lower lip, tasting him, wishing she could consume him somehow.

Not breaking the kiss, Zeydan maneuvered them toward the nearest tree, pressing his back against it. One of his hands slid down Aella’s waist, wrapping around her hip. His thumb drew idle circles over a sensitive spot Aella didn’t know she possessed.

Feeling in control was intoxicating. Aella deepened the kiss, brushing her tongue against Zeydan’s. They moaned in synchrony; the kiss turning desperate and hungry instead of careful.

Zeydan sucked her lower lip, nibbling it gently. A low growl rumbled in his chest. “You’re so delicious.”

Aella returned the gesture, biting and licking Zeydan’s lip. “So are you.”

Zeydan hummed with satisfaction, pressing Aella tighter to him.

The feel of his body—strong, warm, enticing—made Aella feel hollow with yearning. “Touch me,” she asked when they parted slightly to breathe.

Zeydan met her gaze as he slowly slid his hand from her hip to under her fluffy cardigan. She shivered at the heat of his hand on her bare skin. His thumb brushed the scar on her side. He measured her reaction. She did the same. The sharp edge of something painful threatened to burst her bubble of desire and warmth, but she didn’t let it. She placed her hand on Zeydan’s nape and urged him to kiss her again.

He did so at once, trapping her lower lip between his teeth that bit harder, and then easing the soft throb with his tongue. Aella inhaled sharply, melting into him, chest against chest, and heart against heart. She slid her blunt nails down Zeydan’s neck, feeling his pulse throb against the pads of her fingers. Zeydan let out a low purring sound that traveled down Aella’s stomach. It added more demanding sensitivity to that part of her anatomy she’d recently become acquainted with.

She felt tempted to grip Zeydan’s wrist and urge him to touch her where she needed him most.

But that was more than she was ready for at the moment.

Zeydan slowed the kiss, not letting her go but removing his hand from her bare stomach, interlocking his fingers at her back instead. Heat lingered in his dilated, vertical pupils, and his lips were deliciously reddened.

Aella took a deep breath to try to gather her wits. “I—there are some things I’m not ready for yet.”

“We’ll move at your pace,” he assured her. “Always.”

“You seem to know at once when I want to stop,” she commented.

He nodded. “I am a strong empath. I can feel most of what you feel if we’re touching. However, I’m not infallible. So if I ever misunderstand something, I want you to let me know, alright?”

Even the way my heart seems to have traveled down to my belly? Aella wondered.

Zeydan gave her a warm, knowing smile.

Aella swallowed hard and bit her lip. “Alright.” She broke eye contact to trace the veins and muscles in his forearms, feeling his eyes on her face. Then she slid them higher, up his powerful biceps, across his shoulders, and finally interlocked her fingers behind his neck.

Zeydan shuddered.

“Would you like to kiss me again?” she asked, still not quite believing her newfound boldness.

Zeydan let out a soft growl. “I’d love to kiss you forever.” He pressed her tighter against his lean, powerful body and claimed her lips with mind-melting passion.

CHAPTER 42

Soft yellow sunlight, barely obscured by fluffy light gray clouds, bathed Kam and Kerian’s mansion when Zeydan arrived.

He gave a distracted greeting to the guards patrolling the grounds before going inside. His mind was still mushy, like melted caramel, from Aella’s kisses.

There was a mix of earnest passion, delighted surprise, and traces of uncertainty in Aella’s aura as she kissed him. It was more intoxicating than the strongest fey wine Zeydan had ever tasted.

He was at risk of becoming addicted to her.

---