Page 88 of Crimson Kingdom

“All right. Fine. I did. But only because…” I trailed off.

Evander’s hand cupped my chin, turning my face back to his.

“Because?” he prodded.

His tone was teasing, but there was the barest hint of wariness in his expression.

It wasn’t fun anymore, each of us making the other uncertain. I hesitated for less than a second before deciding on the truth.

“Because we had a busy day,” I said softly, peering up at him through my lashes. “And if I had stayed in that bed another minute, we would still be in it now.”

Heat sparked in his gaze, his lips parting with the same hunger I felt rising up in myself. Energy crackled between us for one heartbeat, then another, before he tilted his face toward mine.

“Der’mo, Lemmikki,” he growled, just before his mouth crashed against mine.

His hand trailed along the hemline of my robe, his knuckles grazing my skin on the way down. I gasped, fisting my fingers in his hair and biting down hard on his lower lip, pure need overwhelming any sense of restraint I had left.

He made a sound low in his throat, pressing further against me. I skated my hands down the sides of his neck until they hit his bandage, and it imbued me with just enough sense to pull away.

Even if it did take every ounce of self-control I never knew I possessed. But I needed to get Gallagher in here to look at his wound, because I in no way trusted his assessment about how minor it was.

“And that,” I said breathlessly, “is why I left quickly this morning.”

I didn’t say the rest, that as much as my body craved his, the idea of taking that final step with him filled me with a curious mix of elation and terror.

As always, though, he seemed to read it in my expression. His features softened, and he nodded, planting one final kiss against my forehead before backing away.

“I should get cleaned up, Lemmikki. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you...you should get dressed.” He said the words wryly, and I gave him another smirk.

“Fair enough.” I needed to go get Gallagher anyway.

And I needed a moment, or two, or a hundred, to compose myself before I was back in this room with Evander.

CHAPTERFORTY-SIX

Taisiya was already in my rooms when I arrived. She helped me throw on a dress, and I sought out Gallagher.

He was in his family’s suites, having just gotten himself cleaned up from the battle.

“Would you mind seeing to Evander’s wound?” I asked. “I know it’s not fatal, but…”

“Of course, Row.” He looked at me speculatively, getting to his feet.” “You know, that’s how I knew you were going to pick him. I mean, I knew youshouldbefore that, but that’s when I knew youwould.”

I raised my eyebrows, and he expounded.

“That day when you didn’t make him leave. You trusted him even when you thought you hated him.”

That was true enough. In some bizarre way, I had trusted him from the moment I met him. That was why I had never been truly afraid, even trapped alone in a carriage with him.

“Then why did you stop me from sparring with him?” I asked curiously as we took off down the halls.

Gallagher chuckled under his breath. “Because you have a certain unrestrained quality about you, Cousin. And I wasn’t sure any of us needed to witness that, least of all your other suitor.”

I winced. That was also true enough.

“Thank you, then,” I said, just as we were getting to Evander’s rooms.

Gallagher knocked, and I realized this was the first time I had been to Evander’s front door. He opened it with his hair still damp from the bath, falling in his eyes, and his shirt laces undone.