She couldn’t think of a single reason.
Before River could second-guess herself, she reached out and slapped the light switch. Darkness washed over them as she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his.
CHAPTER 18
Made for Him
River tasted like everything Nikhail had been missing in his life. Sweet and a little salty from her chips and entirelyhis. The moment their lips met, he groaned and reached for her, drawing her closer and relishing the feeling of her breasts pressed against his chest.
This.
This was exactly what Nikhail needed after the day he’d had.
The Pit was exhausting on the best of days, and today certainly hadn’t been that. It had taken Nikhail hours to convince Elodie Valois to evenlookat the document, and even more for her to translate it. In the end, the offer of blood and upgraded living conditions had been the key to getting her to work with him.
Thank the gods, Nikhail’s efforts hadn’t been in vain. The document had contained new information about the rebels and several locations where they might be hiding. Not only that, but Elodie’s translations would provide them with a key to translate other important files on the device.
They were one step closer to putting an end to these threats altogether. One step closer to normalcy.
By the time Nikhail left The Pit, the Chancellor had dispatched teams to raid three of the locations, hoping to root out the rebels. If all went well, they’d locate the Black Night’s leader tonight and capture them before any more attacks could take place.
None of that mattered right now, though.
River was here, dressed in a worn grey T-shirt that left most of her legs visible. His cock had hardened the moment he first saw her tasting chips in the pantry, but he’d told himself he would keep his distance.
But then, she’d kissed him.
And gods fucking help him, but this wasn’t just a peck on the cheek. Even calling it a kiss felt wrong.
It was an exploration. A journey they had embarked on together, with only one goal: to get as close to each other as possible.
Everything, from the feel of her lips on his, to the low moans he swallowed with his mouth, to the brush of her hardened nipples against his chest, was amplified. Perhaps it was because they were no longer hiding what was between them, or it could have been because she needed him as much as he needed her, but this kiss felt different.
Passionate and desperate and urgent in a way that nothing had before.
River moaned and tangled her fists in his shirt, drawing him closer. He threw out an arm behind her to stabilize himself, and his hand slammed into the shelf.
Gods, he’d almost forgotten where they were.
He tugged River out of the pantry and placed her on the counter, stepping between her legs. She was breathtakingly exquisite, this water fae of his, and he couldn’t bear to be apart from her any longer than necessary.
Their lips crashed back together. Nikhail moaned. He couldn’t help it; he needed River like he needed to speak to the wind. There was an intrinsic part of him that only felt complete when they were touching.
She rocked against him, clinging to him as if she were afraid he would leave. That was the last thing he wanted to do.
“What do you want, Princess?” He kissed her, because how in the gods’ names could he not? “Tell me.” Another kiss, this one to the corner of her lips. “If it’s in my power, I’ll give it to you.”
She peered up at him, her eyes dark and lips plump. “I wantyou, Nik,” she breathed.
His chest constricted. He’d yearned to hear those words for so long, his mind was having trouble comprehending that she was saying them now.
He choked out. “You mean?—”
“All of you.” She released his shirt, her hand wandering lower and lower, until there was no mistaking her meaning.
Her fingers traced his length, her touch teasing but firm. She stroked him, and his cock jumped to attention.
Nikhail bit back a groan, suddenly very aware that they were standing in Atlas’s kitchen. The earth fae could wake up and walk in on them at any moment, and yet, Nikhail didn’t care.