Shadow Wings (The Darkest Drae Book 2)(90)

I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t believe he’d said all of those raw, honest things. My breath hitched as my stomach erupted into butterflies. I laughed nervously and tore my gaze from his. I couldn’t handle so much emotion when I’d only just decided to let him in my head. I hadn’t said I’d mate with him yet. These were courting words, words he wanted me to return. “Where do you come up with these lines?”

He frowned. “You don’t like what I say to you?”

“No. I mean, yes, kinda. Also, no.” I was being stupid, and it didn’t help that Tyrrik was sitting up, distracting me with his naked chest again. “Here,” I said, standing up. I grabbed the towel and shoved it at him. “I can’t think straight with you in the tub.”

“If you joined me, you wouldn’t need to worry about whether to join me or not.”

I gave him a withering glare and shook the towel. “Not going to happen today. Tyrrik, I know I said you can be in my head, but this might be too fast. I haven’t decided . . .” I trailed off helplessly.

He tossed the carrot top to the ground and grabbed the towel. I know, Khosana. But you did ask.

You could’ve told me a story about how the first Drae was created from mortar and horse dung under the twin moons. I spun my back to him, the water splashing and moving as he stood. A moment later, I felt him behind me.

“You really don’t like my compliments?” he asked, his breath warm on my neck.

“It’s like you’re trying . . .” To pressure me. But that wasn’t really it. Everything he said sounded perfect, effortless, but . . . “I don’t know what to say back to things like that.”

He trailed his hand down my arm, and his heat licked my skin. I froze. My breath hitched. The gates between our minds were wide open, and his yearning pulsed through me until I couldn’t tell if the emotion was his or mine.

“I love when you blush,” he said, brushing his fingertips up my neck. “It drives me near madness.”

I arched to give him better access.

“I love when your skin touches mine,” he continued, his thumb stroking the skin above my collarbone. “It is a sensual gift.” He stepped closer, his body fitting to mine.

“I love when your desire pulls me to you,” he said, brushing his lips to my neck. “Your smell changes, deepens; like flowers and sunshine.”

I said silently what I was too scared to say aloud. Is that just the mate bond doing that to me? He pulled me closer, and I shut my eyes as I fought to gain control of the desire. I didn’t want to be with him because of some stupid bond. I wanted our emotions to be real, but how could I even know what was real when this was all I felt when I was near him?

“What we share is real, Khosana,” he murmured. “There is nothing that makes more sense than what lies between us. If I could choose anyone, I would choose you. I would pick you out of a crowd of thousands. Your Drae calls to me. Please, my love, please . . .” He reached a hand around and rested it at the base of my throat, spanning his fingers above my breasts.

“Tyrrik,” I gasped.

He turned me, and I had no thought to resist as his arms circled my waist and pulled me flush to him. I pressed my hands to his chest. His heart was racing, beating in the same erratic rhythm as mine. I slid my arms up until my hands were around his neck and guided him to my mouth.

“I love when you whisper my name. My real name,” he said, and he crushed his lips to mine.

Whatever this mate bond forced upon us, there was no doubt in my mind of Tyrrik’s desire for me or his joy when we touched.

Heat pulsed between us. Our lips and bodies tangled with a frantic edge I’d never felt before. His lips were soft and warm, and he tasted of nectar. The nectar I’d made for him. He coaxed my lips open and brushed his tongue against mine, pulling me closer. I threaded my hands through his dark hair and stood on my tiptoes to meet his hunger with my own. He pulled away suddenly and I made a sound of protest until his lips pressed to my neck. I arched again as he trailed kisses from my ear to my chest.

“Uvijek sam te voljela,” he growled. I have always loved you.

His hands tangled in my skirt, and I grabbed either side of his torso, my mind clouded with a thick haze. Tyrrik backed me to the wall, only breaking our kiss to whisper in my ear. My entire body shivered with want for him.

“Mistress moons!” Dyter sputtered.

I screamed, jumping a meter off the ground.

“Oh my stars,” Dyter hollered as he stepped back out the open door. “My eyes. Oh stars. I can’t . . . I can’t unsee that.”

Tyrrik pulled away as I dropped my skirt which had apparently migrated during recent events. As I did so, I heard a series of clinks.

Drak!





35





Dyter and I froze and Tyrrik raised his eyebrows, a slow smile spreading as he looked at the three beautiful sapphires on the stone floor.

Dyter’s lips dipped into disapproving lines. “Please tell me you’re not stealing from our host, who is also a king.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” I protested weakly.

We all stared at the glinting gems again.

Tyrrik wrapped his hand around my waist, and my blush intensified due to Dyter’s presence as the Drae spoke. “Ryn is indulging in her instincts.”