Page 108 of To Kill a Shadow
I ran my hand over his, not grasping it, but simply letting my weight settle. “No more talk of Cirian,” I pushed, sensing his ire. “I, for one, am still pretending that we live here, and that there is no suicide mission or curse to contend with. We made a deal, remember?”
“Ahh, yes. Likely a horrible deal I never should have made.” My heart fell, but then he added, “And one I don’t regret.”
Jude snuggled in close, tentatively snaking his hand around my waist. It was new, the touching, but since we’d kissed, it was like Jude couldn’t resist anymore. I rested my head on his uninjured shoulder, a yawn breaking free.
In this ethereal place made of dreams, we could just…be.
Jude stroked a hand through my damp hair, absentmindedly playing with the strands. “Such a rare color,” he remarked, almost to himself.
Silence ensued for some time, but then he finally said, “It’s beautiful. Unique, like you.”
I snorted. “Such a poet, commander.”
Jude rolled his eyes. “Come on, heathen, let’s get some rest before I change my mind and show you all the ways I’d like to keep you up.” His words were like a sensual promise, and I might’ve ceased breathing. Just the thought of what he insinuated had my heart racing in the most delicious way.
Jude lifted to his feet and offered me his hand, a sly grin brightening his features as if he knew just how much he’d affected me. Those blasted tingles raced across my palm as I placed my hand in his.
“But before we sleep…”
Jude’s hand grabbed at the nape of my neck, yanking me to his lips.
He kissed me like he might never do so again, like tomorrow we’d wake and everything would go back to normal; he would be my vexingly responsible superior, and I his insubordinate recruit.
I dug my fingers into his bare skin, my nails likely leaving marks, but my eagerness seemed to excite him further, and his tongue darted into my mouth, tasting me.
Fire blossomed as I moved my hands to his chest, the pads of my fingers trailing down and across the rippling lines of his stomach. I could feel every dip and indented scar, his body a map I wished to learn.
“Gods, even your touch holds such power over me,” he murmured against my lips. “You have no idea how you’ve thoroughly destroyed me, do you, Kiara?”
I didn’t have a chance to reply as the grip on the back of my neck tightened, his fingers holding me in place as he devoured me. His free hand traveled to my waist, my back, and then he was cupping my chest.
I cursed the fabric separating us.
Smiling against his mouth, I leaned into his touch, craving him in a way that was physically painful. We were both burning alive, our wandering hands everywhere at once. And yet it wasn’t enough. I wanted all of him, totouchall of him.
“Dammit, Kiara.” He groaned when he pulled back, allowing us both a chance to catch our breath. “You taste better than I imagined. And I’ve imagined you so very much.”
The blush that painted my cheeks burned in its intensity.
“I could spend hours tasting you. Kissing you.” His lips touched mine, soft and sweet. “I know we shouldn’t be doing this, but—”
“Shut up, Jude,” I cut him off. “Will you get out of that stubborn head of yours for just one second?”
“You’re callingmestubborn?”
“More so than me,” I replied, heaving a sigh before resting my head against his chest. His heartbeat raced beneath my ear.
“We really do need to sleep before we do something we shouldn’t.”
I lifted my head, peering up at him. “I’m not as naive as you believe me to be, dear commander.” It took considerable effort to force out the next words. “Although, I begrudgingly agree. We should probably get some sleep.”
But gods, did my body disagree.
“Come on, recruit.” Jude guided me to the fire, his eyes never once leaving me. They were molten fire, pools of searing desperation. “At least let me hold you.”
I shuddered at the low timbre of his voice. Yes, I could certainly allow that.
When we were curled up on our sides, the flames dancing before us, all the adrenaline I’d felt dissipated, replaced with a heady exhaustion. While Jude maintained an inch of space between our bodies, his broad hand rested on the exposed skin of my hip. Without warning, I pushed back against his chest, snuggling in close.
