Torrent of Tears (Scourge Survivor Series Book 3)(34)

His tongue fought with mine as my hands explored his honed, rippled muscles. A low moan escaped my throat as every hormone in my body fired at once. Eyes closed, I breathed in the scent of his skin mixed with a faded trace of his cologne.

When he spun us to the side of the house and pinned me against the stone surface, I thought our bodies might ignite. There was fire in this man and more than just in his DNA. As his free hand slid under my shirt, my hands found the back of his slacks. I rucked up the tail of his dress shirt and set my finger loose across the smooth, muscled plane of his back.

His hips rocked forward, those linen pants doing nothing to soften his erection against my stomach. A shudder of need tore through me.

It was more than wanting to vanquish the guilt and anger. It was more than trying to refill some of the emptiness of losing Tham. I wanted Rowan. I wanted him on top of me, pressing me into the cool, hard ground. I wanted to writhe, skin-on-skin, have my way with all this lean, toned muscle. No interruptions. No inhibitions. I wanted the two of us to lose our minds until both of us were sweaty, sated and spent.

His kiss left my lips and seared a trail across my jaw to my neck. His thumb stroked and teased my nipple as his thigh parted my legs. “Yes.”

“No!” Rowan growled and pulled away. Shaking his head, he ran both his hands through his tousled bronze hair “Gods, what’s wrong with me . . . I, uh . . . that was . . .”

“Fantastic?” I traced my fingers over my swollen, still tingling lips.

A devilish smile pulled at his mouth as he sucked air into his lungs. “I was going to say it was a mistake.”

“Why?”

The look he flashed me was so hilarious I had to laugh.

“Have you forgotten your impending marriage to Zale at your sixth anniversary celebration? That’s in four days.”

I sank back, using the wall of the house to hold me up. “Never gonna happen. I say we go back to the palace, get your sister and head to the outer ring until we have a plan. You must have family there somewhere. What about that Tavas place your grandma came from?”

“I can’t, Lexi.” Rowan turned his back to me and let his head drop back. “You don’t know how badly I wish I could, but you just don’t understand.”

“Then make me understand.”

Rowan’s shoulders tensed and when he turned, a wave of emotion crashed over his rugged features, anger, pain, regret. “If I tell you, you’ll never look at me the same way again.”

I swallowed. What could be so terrible that he thought it would forever taint my opinion of him? I didn’t say a word, I just stood there and waited.

“It’s stupid to keep it from you. The whole city knows.”

“Knows what?”

Rowan dropped his gaze to the palm of his hand and scratched at nothing. He swallowed and seemed to brace himself. “To ensure that my family’s humiliation is not forgotten the Queen has made me her whore. It’s public knowledge that I’m her filthy play-thing. If I refuse, the Strati take it out on Elani.”

The tangle of emotions on his face choked at my throat.

“I’m sorry I kissed you. I had no right.” Rowan’s body was so tense he looked like he might break out of his own skin.

My mind whirled with a fury I’d never known before. Pushing away from the wall of the house, I paced and tried to form the words to make this right. The woman was horrible. She had to be stopped.

I thought about what Sera told me in the apothecary room beneath my father’s townhouse. She and Balor had given me every advantage they could . . . to ensure I grew up with what I needed—

“I see how angry you are,” Rowan said, turning toward the direction of the waterway. “I hope you can forgive me.”

I moved directly in front of him and blocked his path. “I am angry. I’m furious, but not at you. I’m furious for what you and your sister and Coal and everyone has gone through under this psycho-bitch’s rule. I’m furious that she had Tham, the sweetest, funniest man I’ve ever known, killed for no reason other than to show me that she could. And I’m furious that you thought so little of me that you expected to be judged for something that’s been taken out of your control.”

“You don’t condemn me for it?”

“For what? Enduring? Surviving? Sacrificing yourself to save your sister?” I ran my hand down the scruff of his stubbled jaw and grabbed hold of his face. “Nothing has changed. I don’t judge my friends . . . ever. You’re still the same hot Doc who moonlights as a swordsmith and can out-kiss an incubus demon on the make.”

I waggled my brow and flashed him a smile. “And I know that firsthand, by the way.”

Rowan exhaled hard and exhaled. “Who are you Alexannia Grace?”

“I’m a friend. I’m hot tempered, impulsive, headstrong . . . but loyal.”

He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “I’m not used to anyone standing with me.”

“Well, get used to it. We’ll figure this out.” I drew a deep breath and was reminded that dinner was waiting. “But first we eat.”





CHAPTER FOURTEEN


“Matera, enough. She’s full.” Terran shrugged in apology as his mother slid a third piece of her decadent fruit flan onto my plate. “She’s going to explode if you don’t stop.”