Page 59 of Death of a Mortal

I turned in my chair and, looking up at him, reached out and lightly touched his cheek with my fingertips. His face was warm and smooth, and it made me wish desperately that it were my lips in place of my fingertips.

I could see his momentary surprise, but it didn’t stop me. “I wore the slip for you.”

His gaze darkened. “I was looking forward to seeing you in it again, but I’m very much looking forward to taking it off you tonight.”

And right then, I knew tonight I would burn in his ice, no matter the cost.

Chapter 16

Six Deadly Sins

I stood upand slowly unbuttoned my top, shimmying it off my shoulders once the last button was undone.

His stare dropped hungrily to the swell of my breasts that were pressed up from the bodice.

Varyn’s gaze followed the movements of my hands as my thumbs slid under the hem of my pants and pulled them low over my hips, then further until the whole slip was visible. I paused for a moment there, soaking up the way he was devouring me with his eyes, before bending down to slide the pants to my ankles, exposing the bare skin of my legs.

I was so nervous, but it also felt so right, Varyn seeing me like this.

It had only been a couple of weeks since we met, but every time we were together, I felt it had been so much longer, each time feeling like one step closer to this moment right here. He’d been sweet, charming, intriguing from the start, and getting Nella and me into the castle had been something that, at the time, I hadn’t seen for what it was—kind.

And he treated mortals with respect, even the servants.

He dragged his lower lip between his teeth, exposing the sharp canines. I thought to myself that I might like to feel those canines pierce my pebbled flesh.

But I was in no rush to get there. I wanted to enjoy every minute of what he wanted to give me.

“Turn for me, Naci, let me see every bit of you in this delectable little thing.”

I turned slowly on the spot, getting some dark pleasure from doing as he asked. The fire inside me was burning hotter and hotter for him.

When I was facing him once more, he took a step closer, hungry eyes taking in every part of me, every flaw of my skin. I had never felt so exposed and so seen at the same time. It was deliciously unsettling.

“I believe I owe you for being late to pick you up tonight.” He took another step closer. “How ever can I make up for such a travesty?” Another step.

His voice was so sultry, drenched in the promise of pleasure.

“I’m sure you’ll think of something,” I nearly panted in response.

He smiled his devilish grin, eyes meeting mine once more. “I’m thinking of a lot of somethings.”

I had never wanted someone so much in my life. Admittedly, it was the first time I’d ever wanted afaemale. The heat creeping up my spine and neck was consuming me—I thought I might burn up before he even touched me.

Gods, I needed this male to touch me.

As if he’d heard my thoughts, he brushed my hair over my shoulder, his knuckles softly grazing my arm. He was so close that he towered over me, looking down with a fire in his icy gaze.

His other hand came up to grip my chin between his thumb and finger and tilt my chin up toward him. When he leaned in close to speak his next words, I felt his warm breath on my lips with every syllable.

“Tell me that you want me as badly as I’ve wanted you these last few weeks.”

The headiness in my brain made it hard to form the words I wanted so desperately to say, but I was able to manage, “I want you, Varyn. I want all of you.”

The hand at my chin moved to cup my jaw gently before his fingers made their way into my hair as his thumb stroked my cheek.

“I’m glad, Naci, because I have six ways I need to make up for my transgression. And by number six, I expect you to be screaming my name.”

I took a sharp breath, my hardened nipples aching under the lace fabric of the slip. The tension low in my core tightened to a desperate crescendo, and I was going to fall apart piece by piece if I didn’t feel him against me immediately.