A Kingdom of Venom and Vows (Stars and Shadows #3)(46)

“Oh shit!” I heard Thalia laugh hysterically from behind me, and I looked away from Evren long enough to see Sorin catch her just before she fell to the ground. “What did you put in that wine, Sorin?”

“Oh, yes. Blame it on me.” He rolled his eyes playfully before lifting her into his arms as if she weighed nothing. “It couldn’t have anything to do with the ten pulls of liquor that you and Adara both took.”

She waved her hand as if he was being foolish. “Semantics. But you brought the liquor too, so either way, it’s your fault.”

“Agreed!” I pointed to my friend, and she giggled. “Thalia is innocent.”

“You do realize we just watched you both drink like fish, right?” Evren laughed beneath me, and I swatted at his chest.

“Pick a side, Evren, but I’m on Thalia’s.”

“Yes!” Thalia leaned her head back from where she was held in Sorin’s arms. “We will have each other’s back until the end. You can’t break us.”

“Exactly.” I climbed from Evren’s lap and moved toward my friend. I felt shaky on my feet, but I didn’t let that stop me.

She grinned as I approached her, and she looked like a dead weight in Sorin’s arms. “I love you,” she said it so nonchalantly, so easily, but it stabbed into my chest and took hold.

I pressed my hand against my stomach as tears filled my eyes. “I love you.”

I pushed forward and hugged her, and Sorin’s deep grunt sounded around us. “I think it might be time to get these two to bed.”

Thalia’s hands just tightened around me, and mine on her. “They are trying to kill our moment.”

“They just can’t handle us.”

“Oh, I will handle you just fine.” I squealed as Evren wrapped his arms around my middle and pulled me away from my friend.

Sorin laughed but looked down at Thalia as soon as she swatted at his chest.

“Good night, Thalia.” Evren cradled me against his chest, and I dropped my head back as I looked at Thalia while upside down. “I love you!”

“Good night!” She craned toward me, and Sorin looked like he might drop her.

We passed by Jorah who held our used mugs in his hands and a solemn look on his face. “Good night, Jorah.”

“Good night, Adara.” He smiled softly, and I studied his face as Evren led us from the room.

I ran my hand over Evren’s chest, tracing the buttons of his shirt. “Jorah seems sad.”

“He’s fine.”

“Are you sure?” I peered up at him. “I think he might be a little bit in love with Thalia too. Not that I blame him.”

Evren snorted out a small laugh. “I think he’s been in love with Thalia for as long as I can remember, but that’s for him to do with what he will. You’re meddlesome when you’re drunk.”

“Who said I was drunk?”

“The way you’re looking up at me with one eye closed is a good indicator.” He laughed and shifted me in his arms as he opened the bedroom door.

“I just love your friends.” I sighed and pressed my head against his chest. “They make me feel like I’m home.”

Evren’s body went tight beneath me before he laid me down gently against the bed.

“They are your friends too, and this is your home.” He kissed my forehead, and I smiled. “I am your home.”

He pulled the blanket up over my body before kissing me again. “You need to get some sleep.”

He turned from me, heading in the direction of the washroom, and I caught his hand in my own.

“You can’t be serious right now.”

“I’m sorry?” He looked back down at me with a laugh.

“I’m not going to sleep.” I climbed on the bed until I was sitting up on my knees. “You promised that we would continue what we started later. It’s later.”

His gaze darkened as he stared down at my lips. “And you’re drunk.”

I shrugged, and his lips twitched with amusement. “I want you.”

His hand reached out, cupping my cheek, and rubbing his thumb along my bottom lip. “There hasn’t been a moment since I met you that I didn’t want you, princess.” His finger pressed harder against my lips. “You are everything I have ever wanted.”

“I want to taste you.” I clung to the lapels of his shirt and pulled him closer to me until my chest pressed against his. “I want to make you feel as crazy with need as you do me.”

“It doesn’t take your mouth for that, princess.” He pressed his thumb against the opening of my mouth, and he slowly slid it inside. I widened for him, enjoying the fullness of his touch, and my eyes closed as I silently begged for more. “But I think of your perfect mouth wrapped around my cock often, stretched out before me, begging me with these beautiful fucking eyes.”

He pushed in farther until his thumb reached the back of my throat, and I hollowed my cheeks around him, sucking him into me.

“Fuck.” He let out a long sigh, his eyes never leaving my face. With a gentle, deliberate motion, he pulled out of my mouth. His hand left an imprint of warmth on my chin as he wiped away the trace of saliva.

I moved off the bed before he could stop me, and I slid to my knees before him. My head still swam, but it no longer had anything to do with the liquor and had everything to do with the man standing before me.