Those three words haunted me. And they would continue to do so. Dread pierced my gut. What if she hadn’t held her own? The last time I’d held her like this, kissed her like this, it could’ve been thelasttime in this life for both of us. The mere thought of that was more painful than taking the bone blade to mychest. More terrifying than all the seconds I’d spent as the Blood Crown’s prisoner.
Poppy stiffened in my arms. “Are you all right?”
“I’m…” Her concern was thick in my throat, and I knew she was picking up the same from me. There was no point in pretending. “I’ve been so…” I closed my eyes, struggling to find words that adequately captured how fucking terrified I’d been. “When you disappeared, I had no idea where you were or what you were facing. I’ve never felt more helpless.”
She clasped my cheeks. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t.” Opening my eyes, I leaned back so we were eye to eye. “Don’t apologize for something you had no control over.” I folded my hands around her wrists. “I understand that you had no choice but to go.”
Poppy spread her fingers, seeming to enjoy the feeling of my stubble. “And I hate that you had to worry about me when I left. I…” She trailed off, the tang of guilt mixing with the warm vanilla of her empathy. “I wish you hadn’t gone through any of that. I wish you didn’t have to worry. That you were…” Her inhale was sharp as her eyes searched mine. “I wish you hadn’t spent a second afraid. I would take that from you if I could. I would do anything—”
I was moving before I knew it, capturing her mouth with mine. Her lips were so godsdamn soft. So perfect as they parted. My fingers curled around her hair as I flicked my tongue over her fang, fully intending to pull back. But her breathy moan evoked the best kind of madness.
Poppy’s fingers sank into my hair as she kissed me with a fervor that branded my soul and sent a bolt of red-hot lust down my spine.
The kiss was supposed to be just that…a kiss I couldn’t help but take before I let Poppy go. I’d planned to be responsible. Dawn had come and gone while she was away, and there was stillso much we needed to discuss. Everything that had happened with the Ascended. Pensdurth. The shit Aydun had said. What had happened in the land beyond the Veil and Iliseeum. But who was I kidding?
A kiss with her was never just a kiss.
The moment I tasted her lips, felt her against me, nothing—fuckingnothing—else mattered.
Desire thickened my blood as her jasmine scent increased, and the taste of her arousal gathered in my mouth—spicy and smoky with a hint of sweetness.
Ineededher.
Needed to feel her and know she was here. That she was safe and well. I justneededher.
Always.
A deep, throaty groan rumbled up from my chest as she rocked against me, clearly swept up in the same madness I was. I ached for her, and my hips rose on reflex, earning me another soft moan. Her nails raked my chest, sending shivers down my spine. Godsdamn, I was so hard for her. So greedy. So addicted.
It never failed to amaze me how easily she could turn me on. Sometimes, it took only a look. A brief touch. For fuck’s sake, being in the same chamber as her could do it. No one, absolutelyno one, had ever had that kind of allure—that kind ofpowerover me. I wouldn’t want anyone else to have that kind of power.
But Poppy?
She was myeverything.
Andanythingcould’ve happened to her when she crossed the Veil.Anythingcould happen to her still. The reminder was cold and cutting.
Eather hummed as I stood with her in my arms. Another shudder rattled me when she wrapped her legs around my hips.
Her warmth seeped into me as I turned and lowered her to the bed. Our lips didn’t part as I rocked against her.
“Cas,” she breathed against my mouth, her fingers tangling in my hair. Her hips followed mine, arching and seeking.
Groaning at the sound of her voice, I deepened the kiss, pouring all the worry, fear, and anger I felt into it.
This felt like madness as she clutched the back of my tunic, her fingers trembling as she tugged it up. Our lips parted as I lifted myself to pull the shirt off. Her breath came in short, quick bursts as I stared down at her. She was far too dressed.
“Do you have strong feelings about this robe?” I asked, drawing my fingers over her shoulder.
Her brows drew together. “No?”
I looked closer at what she wore, remembering that she had left here in just her nightgown. “Where did you get it?”
“Mount Lotho.”
My fingers halted on the elaborate stitching as I lifted my gaze to hers. “You’re going to have to explain that.”
