Page 91 of Crimson Kingdom

His smile turned more genuine as he took the ring out. He held my left hand in one of his while he slowly slid the band onto my third finger, where it fit exactly right. Lightning crackled between us, sending scorching waves everywhere his skin grazed mine.

Then Davin cleared his throat, loudly and pointedly, pulling us out of whatever trance we were in. Evander released my hand, smirking, and went to open his gift.

I held my breath as he pulled the lid off of his box. When he efficiently peeled away the cloth wrapping, his lips parted in surprise.

Sensing my family’s extreme curiosity, he pulled the first saber out of the box. Rayan truly had outdone himself.

The blade was lightweight and made of a reinforced black steel that Rayan had designed specifically for Evander. The handles were scalloped, edged in a dark silver that burst from the hilt like small flames.

And engraved at the base were two simple words:Lord Arseling.

When his eyes found the inscription, a chuckle escaped his lips in a huff of air.

“I just wanted to make sure you knew they were yours,” I said with an innocent shrug.

His eyes blazed into mine, like he suspected I was talking about more than the sabers.

And maybe I was.

“They’re exquisite,” he said, his gaze never leaving mine.

And I suspected he was talking about more than the sabers, too.

We left the family dinner, and Evander offered to walk me back to my rooms. His hand was on my lower back, warming me from the outside in.

When we got in the hallway, I turned toward his rooms instead of mine.

“Are we going to my rooms then? Through...the front door?” He smirked, but there was wariness as well.

I had, in fairness, told him my father would kill him if he knew we were in there together last night.

“We’re just stopping by to get that vodka I know is stashed in your trunks somewhere,” I assured him.

“And how would you know that?” He quirked an eyebrow.

“Because I could taste it on your lips,” I said with a wicked smile.

It wasn’t true. I had just seen his empty glass. But the way his features went slack with desire was more than worth the lie.

“Der’mo, Lemmikki.” He shook his head. “I swear, you’ll be the death of me.”

A low chuckle escaped my lips just as we were getting to his door.

“Are you going to tell me where we’re going with said vodka, or shall I endeavor to guess?” he asked.

“You’ll see,” I shrugged.

I followed him into his rooms and shut the door behind us.

Instead of going to get the vodka, though, he set his swords down and spun around. Putting his hands on either side of my waist, he effortlessly lifted me up against the door until I was eye level with him, pressing himself gently against me.

He leaned in until his lips were barely brushing mine, then swept them over to my ear.

“I wonder what I’ll taste when I kiss you, Lemmikki,” he mused in a low, seductive tone.

The wordbiscuitspopped into my head, but I could no sooner have spoken than I could have flown right then. He had effectively robbed me of every last bit of breath.

Evander brought his lips back to mine, this time pushing fully against them. He dipped his tongue into my mouth, tasting me in truth.