He gave her a meaningful look. “Very.”
As he sat, Lannahi reached for the pitcher and filled the goblets, aware of his gaze on the exposed skin of her cleavage. After mixing her portion with a spoonful of honey, she sat gracefully and sent him a flirtatious look.
He smiled with amusement. “When I was first told to beware of enchantresses, I didn’t understand the reason for it. I am grateful that you have now shown me the danger.”
There was sweetness in her voice. “I’m glad I could be of assistance.” She brought the goblet to her lips and took a sip without taking her eyes off him.
“Shall I shuffle the cards?” he asked, feigning indifference.
“If that’s your wish.”
He smiled again and after taking a sip from his own goblet started shuffling.
The purpose of the game was to arrange two stacks of cards in a specific order in the shortest amount of time. The challenge was that a player could only have five cards in his hand at a moment. The player not only played against their opponent, but also against time. Quick reflexes were a necessity and Lannahi knew that playing against a swordsman, she had little chance of winning without luck on her side.
“Did you purposely choose this game?” she asked when it became clear that she’d lost the first round. “So, you could claim all the prizes?”
“How could I have such an indecent goal?” Ashared didn’t even try to hide his satisfaction. With a triumphant smile, he reached for the dice. “Be nice to me, Lannahi.”
He threw the dice which fell on the table with a soft clatter.
One.
You kiss me. You can use only your lips.
Ashared chuckled. “Fate seems to want us to play it slow.” He watched her intensely. “But remember, youdon’t have touse only your lips.”
Lannahi smiled. His cheerfulness was infectious, and the way he looked at her made her feel more confident with each passing moment. Ashared wanted her. It was that simple.
When she stood up and started circling around to him, Ashared pushed his chair away from the table and faced her. When she came closer, he spread his legs wide so she could stand between them. It wasn’t the first time they’d been this close, but it was the first time their proximity was based on pure desire and though he didn’t touch her, her body reacted immediately. The delicate fabric of her dress seemed rough. Every point of her skin begged to be caressed.
“It’s a good thing I possess a keen smell,” he said when her fingers began trailing lightly across his face. “If I were to rely on hearing alone, your silence would make me tremble like a teenage boy in fear of rejection.”
She chuckled and twitched when he placed his large palms on her hips.
“You should laugh more often, Lannahi,” he murmured.
She moved her fingers along his eyebrows. “You should too.”
“I will if you touch me often. Your touch is uplifting.”
Lannahi snorted with laughter, and Ashared smiled with satisfaction, but when she started leaning toward him, he froze in anticipation. His eyes widened as if expecting a miracle to occur.
Since he was so much taller than her, even when he was sitting, Lannahi only needed to lean forward just a bit until her lips pressed a kiss against his forehead. She stepped back, wanting to take advantage of his surprise and slip out of his embrace, but he understood her intention and strengthened his grip on her hips, keeping her trapped between his legs.
“Are you sure this is how you want to play, Lannahi?” he asked. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes. “Think about it. Imagine my hands caressing you where you need them the most. You wouldn’t want me to withdraw them too early, would you?”
Lannahi’s throat went dry. She’d intended to tease him, but his words stirred her imagination. His strong hands, which felt warm even through her gown, suddenly became a promise.
“I wouldn’t,” she admitted.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. He must have detected the staccato change in rhythm in her breath.
“Then give me the kind of reward you would like to receive.”
Lannahi didn’t argue. She cupped his face with her hands and began to press kisses everywhere her fingers had previously touched. Forehead. Eyebrows. Nose. Cheeks. Lips…
“You won’t use your tongue, will you?” he murmured when she brushed his lips with hers for the third time before moving along down his jawline.
