Page 108 of Fate's Wicked Oath

Faren leaned back on his elbows, stretching out, enjoying her profile: the blade’s edge of her cheekbones and the soft peaks of her breasts underneath her shirt. “What would you like me to say?”

“I don’t know. What’s on your mind?”

A huff. “I’m not sure we should go there just yet.”

“Why not?”

“Dangerous territory.”

“My life is dangerous territory.” She lifted a haughty eyebrow. “You think you can scare me?”

He considered listing all the things he was thinking: how desperately he wanted to explore her naked body, how much he yearned to sink deep inside her, how there were feelings taking root in his chest that had nothing to do with lust, and how foolish he was for being here with her tonight, like this, giving in to his temptation, when a stronger knight—a better knight—would find it in him to resist.

But that was too much to articulate.

“I’d rather hear about what you’re thinking,” Faren said.

“To be honest, I’m tired of thinking.”

“Do you…want my help with that?” he asked carefully.

Her nod was quick and singular.

Faren pushed up off his elbows and moved closer, taking his time. He started by dragging his fingers across her exposed clavicle, brushing her collar aside. Her head dropped back, giving him a delectable view of her sternum and Oath-ringed throat, the shadow of cleavage beneath the laces of her shirt. Her skin was soft and cool, a hot flush blooming beneath its surface to meet his fingertips. His magic rose in answer to hers, relishing how quickly she responded to his touch.

Keeping his movements slow, firm, and measured, he dragged his hand up, encircling the side of her neck, his thumb on her pulse point. It jumped and throbbed against him, betraying her arousal. In answer, Faren bent, pressing a kiss to the center of her chest. A faint moan thrummed out of her, vibrating into his lips. With tongue and teeth, he traveled up her neck, teasing and tasting, giving rise to the goosebumps he was beginning to ache for in every encounter.

When he reached her jaw, her back arched. She turned her head, seeking his mouth, sliding her lips against his in a wet, blazing kiss that made his whole body ignite. He swiveled toward her, using his hand on the back of her head to cradle her as he eased her down to the floor.

The kiss deepened, her fingers raking over his back, tongue sweeping his mind blank. Her body undulated with each press, pliant as his palm began to roam, sliding over her shirt between her breasts and down her stomach to the sharp point of her hip, which he gripped possessively, eliciting another flimsy moan.

Taking that as a good sign, Faren smoothed his hand up under her shirt, where her skin was warm and supple; on the road, he’d noticed that she often bound her chest, but not tonight. Her breasts were soft and free beneath the fabric, and he cupped one, his thumb rolling over a hard nipple as he squeezed the perfect shape of her. With a groan, he nuzzled under her chin, lavishing her neck in kisses, making his way down to—

Her body tensed underneath him, and he paused, moving his hand to the safer territory of her waist. “Alright?” he asked, trying to think of what he could’ve done to get such a reaction. A ticklish spot, perhaps? Or something she didn’t like?

“It’s fine,” Mariana said, gripping the back of his head to return his mouth to hers.

But Faren resisted. “You tensed.”

“It happens sometimes.” She stared past him, at the ceiling, lashes fluttering. “Just ignore it.”

He pinched her chin, forcing her look at him. “I will not,” he stated.

“It’s fine, I’m used to—”

“Haveothersignored it?”Rage. Instant rage, which—for her sake—he tried his best to smother.

Her voice was small when she said, “Others haven’t noticed.”

Faren wiped a hand over his face. “Well,Inoticed,” he said, “and I will not ignore it.” He rolled off of her, propping his head up on one hand while the other lingered on her hip in what he hoped was an anchoring touch. “Why did you tense?”

With a sigh, Mariana draped a wrist over her eyes, as if she couldn’t bear to look at him as she spoke. “I…get overwhelmed. My magic…I don’t know how to describe it.”

Faren kept his tone encouraging, but not demanding. “Try.”

She removed her arm from her face and looked at him. A deep mauve colored her cheeks, her lips were reddened from his stubble, and her hair was a dark and tangled halo around her head. It felt like a gift to see her like this, exquisitely undone.

“It just gets too intense,” she said. “I start to feel like I don’t know where I am, like I can’t focus, like I’m…”