Trial By Fire (Going Down in Flames #3)(43)

Valmont’s lips pressed together in a thin line. For every second he waited the beat in her temples increased.

He took her hands in his. “Bryn—”

Not this again. “Damn it, Valmont. I need some proof you care about me as more than a friend. If you don’t, what I have to tell you won’t matter, anyway.”

“I’m trying to do the right thing.” Valmont closed the distance between them and placed his hand under her chin so he could stare into her eyes. “But you’re making it difficult.” In slow motion, he leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“If that’s how you want to kiss me, nothing’s wrong.” Was she being rude? Yes. But she needed more from him, some sign he wanted her. Then again, maybe the small, brief, I-want-to-kiss-you-about-as-much-as-I-want-to-kiss-a-dead-frog was the message he intended to send.

“Bryn, we discussed this.”

Flames banked in her gut. “No. You made a decision without me. You decided to treat me like a little sister.”

His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

Anger felt better than feeling sad and pathetic, so she decided to go with it. “That kiss and the other one where you kissed the top of my head…those were affectionate, and nice, but they weren’t the same as the kiss at Rhianna’s.”

“I told you—”

“I know, ‘blah blah blah, I’m being honorable.’ I don’t want honorable.” Smoke shot from her nostrils. “I want you to really kiss me, and if you can’t do that, then don’t bother.”

One minute he was glaring at her, and the next minute, she was flat on her back. Valmont’s weight pressed down on her. His mouth moved against hers. She clutched at his shirt holding on to him as the kiss grew, fueled by the magic of their bond, full of hunger and longing and need. It felt like they were flying, soaring through the air except in this weird role reversal her legs were wrapped around his back.

A growl reverberated through her chest, and Valmont froze. He pulled away with a questioning look on his face. “That was a good growl?”

Good God, how can he form coherent sentences? She nodded, not trusting what might come out of her mouth if she tried to talk. Probably gibberish or some embarrassing, hormone-fueled comment about how pants were overrated.

He pressed his mouth to hers in a languid, lingering kiss. Warmth filtered through her body, and her grip on his shirt relaxed. Without breaking the kiss, he shifted back to an upright position pulling her with him, so she was sitting on his lap. Staying tangled up with him like this forever seemed fabulous.

When he pulled away from her, she sighed in equal parts frustration and satisfaction.

“Was that the type of kiss you had in mind?” he asked.

“Yes.” She laid her head on his chest. “That is exactly the type of kiss I’ve been missing. I wasn’t sure if you still wanted me.”

He huffed out a breath. “Hello…knight…trying to do the right thing.”

She laughed. “Stop that. Don’t do the right thing. Kiss me while you still can.” Oh, crap. She hadn’t meant for that to come out.

“What do you mean?” Valmont asked, his light, happy tone gone.

Damn it. Back to sucky reality. She put her forehead against his. “My grandmother told me that before I marry Jaxon, I’ll be expected to release you from the bond.”

Valmont closed his eyes and exhaled. “Without the bond, I will still want to be with you. Is that what you were worried about?”

“Yes.” She gave a small laugh to try and break the tension which had sprung up between them. “I wasn’t sure you still wanted me now.”

“And did I reassure you?” he asked.

“Mostly.” She pressed her lips to the side of his mouth. “Maybe you can show me again.”

“Just my luck to be bonded to a slow learner,” he deadpanned. And then he pulled her in for another kiss.

…

After Mr. Stanton’s class Wednesday morning, Ivy yanked Bryn into the girl’s restroom. “What’s going on with you and Valmont?”

“Just a minute.” Bryn glanced under the stall doors for feet to make sure they were alone. Once she realized they were, she jumped up and down. “Valmont kissed me and things are complicated but wonderful.”

“Thank God. For a while there you two were weird around each other and since you weren’t sharing, I didn’t know what was going on.”

Bryn rolled her eyes. “It’s hard to share when the guy you’re talking about is in the room with you. I wish I still lived in your dorm.”

“We should have a slumber party. I could stay the night. We could invite Rhianna. It would be fun.”

That sounded like an awesome idea. “Too bad Jaxon would never go for it.”

“She doesn’t need his permission.” Ivy headed for the door. “Come on. Clint and I need to go to history class.”

Bryn headed toward the library with Valmont. He didn’t say much on the walk over. Once they were tucked away at their usual table on the third floor, he winked at Bryn. “You shared, didn’t you?”

“Maybe.” Her face heated. “Maybe not.”

“Nope, I’m pretty sure you shared about how fabulous I am.” He ran his hand back through his hair.