A Kingdom of Venom and Vows (Stars and Shadows #3)(48)

“Don’t drop me!” I set her down, her body bouncing softly against her mattress and her curls framing her face.

She leaned back against her pillow, and I reached forward and grabbed her foot. I tugged her boot from her foot before quickly grabbing the other. “How many nights have I had to carry you home after a night of too much drinking? I’ve never dropped you once.”

“There’s always a first time.” She sighed and lifted her hips as I reached for her trousers. I tugged them down her legs, revealing her beautiful thighs, and bit down on my lip to stop myself from groaning at the sight of her.

I was used to this torture.

I had been Thalia’s friend for more years than I could remember, and I had craved her just as long. I had become a professional at keeping those thoughts to myself.

I loved to tease her, but that was as far as it ever went.

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I looked down at her. My desire for her grew with every second that I was in her presence, and I needed to leave her room.

I reached for her blanket and gently laid it over her body before pushing her hair out of her face.

“Good night, Thalia,” I said softly before straightening.

“Stay with me.” She looked up at me, her eyes pleading.

“That’s not a good idea.” I shook my head even as my cock jerked in my trousers.

She frowned, and a pout formed on her full, perfect lips. “Why not?”

“You know why,” I said, my voice tight.

But she didn’t respond. She simply grabbed my hand in hers and tugged me toward her. “Please stay.”

Her gaze softened, begging me, and I couldn’t deny her. I kicked my boots from my feet before I climbed into the bed beside her and lay on top of the covers.

She giggled as she curled up against me, her head finding a spot on my chest.

The heat of her body radiated through me, and the scent of her overwhelmed me. It was my favorite smell in the world, vanilla mixed with something that was uniquely her. It reminded me of home.

I gently stroked my hand down her back, and she shifted, her body melting into me.

She looked up at me, her eyes heavy with longing, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist her.

“I really should leave.”

“I want you to stay,” she purred, her voice thick with her want.

“You’re drunk,” I reminded her and myself of that fact.

“How long have we known each other?” She cocked her brow as she leaned forward and ran her fingers over the seam of my lips. “It doesn’t matter how much I’ve had to drink. I still know what I want.”

“Thalia.” I groaned and ran my hand down my face, and I could feel her retreating from me.

“Fine.” She pushed off me and leaned against her pillow. “Leave.”

I watched her for a long moment, but she refused to meet my gaze in the dark room. Moonlight filtered in through her window, illuminating her enough that the sight of her drove me crazy, and I huffed as I stood from her bed.

“Sorin,” she said my name on a moan, and when I looked back down at her, she had her eyes clamped shut and her lips parted.

Then I saw her hand as it began to move beneath the blanket.

“What are you doing?” I growled, and her other hand reached up, cupping her breast. I could feel my arousal increasing with each passing second as I watched her silently touching herself.

Her breath rushed out of her as she mewled, then she opened her eyes to look up at me. “You said you were leaving.” She looked to the door before her gaze fell back on me. “But that doesn’t stop me from wanting you. If you don’t want to touch me…”

I shot forward and clamped her wrist in my hand as I leaned over her. She moaned softly, and I ran my nose along her jaw. “You think I don’t want to touch you?” I moved her hand away from her breast and replaced it with my own.

My hand was rough and greedy, and I pinched her hard nipple between my fingers as my cock strained painfully against my trousers. “You think I don’t dream of all the things I would do to your perfect fucking body, Thalia?”

She gasped, pushing her head back into the pillow, and I pressed my lips against her exposed neck.

I lapped at her skin with my tongue before I moved to her mouth and pressed my lips against hers. I kissed her softly at first, hesitantly, but when she opened her lips, moaning into my mouth, I lost every bit of my control.

I deepened the kiss, my tongue chasing hers, my teeth nipping at her lips, and she moaned as my hand left her breast and moved down her body.

Her hand was still pressed between her thighs, still rubbing small circles against herself, and I wrapped my hand around her wrist before I lifted it between us and sucked her fingers between my lips.

I groaned at the taste of her and burned it into my memory. I had imagined what she would taste like a million times over, but my imagination had done her a disservice.

I pulled her fingers from my mouth before dropping her wrist, and she watched me as I lowered my hand between us and slid my fingers through her wetness.

She was soaked. I slid my fingers into her undergarments and over her nub. I lowered them until they met her entrance. I stared into her eyes, waiting for her to tell me to stop, but there was no hesitation staring back at me.

“Are you sure?”