She intended to say something, but when he slipped the fingers of his free hand into her hair and began to place kisses on her face as she had done to him, thoughts quickly fled her head, leaving her alone with his touch and the warmth of his body. Each of his kisses burned and caressed at the same time. She closed her eyes. She surrendered to him.
When the gentle caresses were no longer enough for him, he focused on her lips alternately sucking and biting them.
“Open for me,” he murmured and slid his tongue inside when she obeyed.
Considering the caution with which he’d touched her so far, she’d expected a gentle, tender kiss but the force of his confident, determined movements surprised her and she sighed involuntarily. Ashared knew what he wanted, and she yielded to the pressure of his will, melting like a rock carried away by a river of lava. Fire spilled into her chest and flowed down her belly. She moaned, thirsty and helpless.
Ashared pressed her tighter against him and deepened their kiss and her desire. She grasped his arm, seeking support, an anchor to the real world, but every moment brought her closer to the fiery chasm. In a desperate attempt, she embraced his neck but to no avail.
She shivered. She burned.
When another moan escaped her throat and her hips vaguely began to move guided by the inner melody of an ancient dance, Ashared broke the kiss.
“If you want to continue playing,” he rasped out, “then now is a good time for you to return to your seat.”
Lannahi looked at him wide-eyed, breathing hard and struggling to collect her thoughts.
The corners of his mouth quirked up. “Are you speechless, Lannahi?”
She slipped her fingers into his hair, lightly rubbing her body against the hard bulge she felt under her thigh.
Ashared leaned in so that their lips almost touched again. “Do you wish to continue?” he asked, his voice low and heavy with emotion.
“Yes,” she murmured, but when he leaned to kiss her, she pulled away and added with an innocent expression, “Let’s continue playing.”
From Ashared’s throat came a sound that was something between a laugh and a sigh of frustration and that turned into a raspy groan when she rubbed herself harder against him before rising from his lap.
“I see,” he said when she sat back in her seat with a playful smile. His eyes lit with a challenging glint. “Let this round be a good one.”
This time it was Lannahi who reached for the cards to shuffle them. She needed to cool down and to achieve that, she needed to engage her mind in something other than the memory of their recent kiss.
They played in silence. Ashared was so focused on the game that it would have been amusing if his determination didn’t take Lannahi’s breath away. When he played like this, she could only win by luck, but for some reason, Fate didn’t feel the need to help her.
Ashared didn’t comment on his win, but the satisfaction on his face left no doubt as to his thoughts. He rolled the dice, staring into her eyes.
When the cube stopped, they both lowered their gaze to the tabletop.
Four.
You caress me with your mouth.
“I refuse,” Lannahi said, wiping the smug smile from his face.
He sent her a heavy look. “Remember that every decision you make affects the progress of the game.”
“I do remember,” she assured him with a sweet smile. “That’s why I’m making sure you don’t succumb too early.”
When he realized the meaning behind her words, he narrowed his eyes. “I appreciate your concern,” he said, lowering his voice almost to a menacing growl, “but you don’t have to worry, Lannahi. I guarantee that if anyone drops out of this game for lack of strength, it won’t be me.”
A wave of heat hit her.
Ashared leaned back in his chair, completely relaxed. “You still owe me a consolation prize,” he reminded. “I want to see you. Bend over. Lift your dress.” He moved his gaze over her blushing cheeks. “This time I amnotopen to negotiation,” he added with a vengeful smile.
Delaying the inevitable, Lannahi reached for her goblet and took a few sips of nectar. This wasn’t the first time she stirred someone’s lust, but while many men had flirted with her, none had been as bold and determined as Ashared. The intensity of his desire was intimidating and oddly thrilling.
She set her glass down and looked him in the eye with what she hoped was a steady gaze. “As you wish, wolf.”
The corners of his mouth tipped up, but he said nothing. As she walked around the table, he shamelessly moved his eyes over her figure. When she stopped, he stood up and moved his chair aside, making room for her.
