“Arken, you don’t need to apologize,” I began.
“No, I do—I didn’t—I don’t—Gods, I’m not trying to—”
She scrambled to find the right words, to explain herself in full, not realizing just howdeeplyI understood her headspace. But maybe I should have left this alone. I hadn’t intended to exacerbate this anxiety she’d been dealing with, though it was clearly unresolved. Still, as she struggled for words, I could only think of one decent way to shut her up for a minute.
I kissed her.
Gently, this time, mindful of the raw skin of her lower lip and the split that I had accidentally worsened earlier. I could still taste her blood on the tip of my tongue, and though that alone had done things to my libido, I wanted to makecertainthat she was okay before dragging her off to bed again.
Her mouth followed mine as I began to pull away, attempting to linger… It was an effort not to groan at that, not to pull her back in and taste her mouth on mine again. We’d both had our fill of supper, and yet I was still ravenous. Even so, we needed a moment to breathe. Emotions needed to be settled, calmer, for the things I wanted to do with her tonight.
“Arken,” I repeated softly. “I understand why you were nervous, and I’m terribly sorry if I gave you any particular indication that’s… what was happening here, but it wasn’t. It’s not. I’m not going anywhere. Not tonight. Not in general. I fear you may be stuck with me.”
“It’s fine,” she murmured, still not meeting my gaze. “I’ve got no right to—”
I didn’t let her finish the sentence, leaning in to kiss her again. Partially to interrupt whatever silly little train of thoughtthatmight have been, and partially because I couldn’t resist. I still had her cornered against her pantry door and the kitchen countertops, and the proximity to her mouth was just too tempting for my own good.
“Do shut up, woman,” I replied while my mouth was still against hers.
You’ve got every right.
She sighed, but did so with a smile. And she was smiling still when I finally pulled away.
“Can you do me a favor, though, Kier?”
“Hmm?”
“At least give a girl a warning. If you ever change your mind. If it ever comes to that.”
If I were ever to abandon her, she meant. If I were to toss her aside like one of my fleeting distractions. If she ever became the rule, not the exception. I growled in irritation, not even wanting to dignify that request with a response.
Just tell her, you idiot, I chastised myself.Tell her, and alleviate all these stupid fears.
But it was my own fear that kept the words locked behind my teeth. Not yet.Not yet.
Arken rolled her eyes before dipping her head beneath my arm, wriggling herself free to resume what remained of the dishes. I resisted the urge to pull her back and entrap her in my arms again. For now, I was content to lean against her from behind, resting my chin on her shoulder and letting my hands wander.
“That’s very distracting,” she murmured as one of them cupped her ass cheek, the other toying with the band of her leggings, fingers tracing the dip in her hip bones that led towards my final destination for the evening. Her skin was so warm, and so, so sensitive.
“I think you’ll live,” I whispered against her ear, savoring that lemon-and-sunshine scent of her hair.
“I should hope so,” she replied. “You still haven’t told me about yourplans.”
“Are you certain that you’re even ready for them?” I teased.
She snorted under her breath, but didn’t reply.
“I’m going to need an answer to that question, sweetheart,” I said, pulling my hand away from her tights.
Her whine as I withdrew was quiet, but I sure as Hel heard it, and the sound sent my pupils to the back of my skull. Gods above and below, that fuckingsound.
“What was that?” I crooned.
“Yes,” she breathed. “I’m ready.”
When I bit down on her neck in response, she slammed a soapy palm against her countertop and whimpered again. I let my fingers splay against her lower abdomen, applying light pressure as they traversed lower, and lower—and then the whimper turned into a low groan.
“Are you sure?” I murmured, savoring the way she had started to writhe up against me.