She closed her eyes briefly. I’ve always loved your voice.
I want to love you. I want to—He snapped his shield back in place.
She blinked. “I can’t hear you anymore.”
“You don’t want to hear my thoughts right now.”
She snorted. “Why not?”
“You might be shocked.”
Her mouth twitched. “Try me.”
“I want to kiss you.”
“Hardly shocking.”
“Whenever you wear a man’s shirt like this, I want to unbutton it, so I can see your breasts. Then I want to touch them. And taste them until I make you moan.”
Her eyes widened.
“And whenever you wear breeches like this, I want to grab on to you like this.” He planted his hands on her rump and with a squeeze, pulled her hard against his swollen groin.
She gasped.
“I’m thinking about removing your clothes. And I’m wondering how sturdy that table is.”
“The table?” She glanced at it. “What does that have to—” She stopped when he nuzzled her neck.
“Shall I tell you more?” He kissed a path up to her ear and whispered, “Or would you like me to show you?”
Her fingers dug into his shoulders. “Silas.”
“Yes.”
“Show me.”
He rested a hand against her cheek, turning her head till her lips met his. A sweet, nibbling kiss that didn’t last long before his passion erupted. Soon he was ravaging her mouth with a deep, desperate, and demanding kiss.
She didn’t shy away, but threw herself into the whirlwind of passion, delving her hands into his hair and entwining her tongue with his.
When he cupped her bottom to lift her off her feet, she wrapped her legs around him. Still kissing her, he carried her to the table and set her down.
“Oh.” She glanced down at the table. “This is what you meant—” She stopped with a gasp when he unfastened the top button of her shirt.
“Shall I continue?”
She hesitated, then nodded. As he swiftly unbuttoned her shirt, he noticed there was a white camisole underneath, edged with lace and decorated with tiny pearl buttons. So feminine. His fingers trembled, fumbling with the delicate buttons.
Finally. He swept the camisole away to reveal her breasts. So soft against his fingertips. The pink nipples pebbled, the tips hardened. And his groin tightened.
“Gwen,” he whispered as he lowered his head.
She let out a deliciously sweet moan when he drew her nipple into his mouth. He suckled a moment, then flicked his tongue against the hardened tip. Now the sound she made was more like a whimper.
Was she wet? Was she ready for him? He returned to her mouth to ravish her lips once again. By the Light, he wanted her now. He squeezed her thigh, then smoothed his hand up to her hip.
“Gwen.” He leaned back to look at her.
Her lips were rosy and swollen, her lovely lavender-blue eyes dazed with desire.
“I want to touch you.” He slipped his hand between her thighs.
She stiffened with shock, but when he pressed gently against her, she closed her eyes with a groan.
Yes. As he reached for the buttons of her breeches, he heard a thundering noise like a racing horse. His heart, no doubt.
His hands grew still as a horse whinnied. Dammit. That wasn’t him.
Footsteps sounded on the porch outside. Then a loud pounding on the door.
Gwennore gasped.
“Don’t come in!” He lifted Gwen off the table.
“Silas!” Dimitri yelled. “I need to talk to you.”
“Dammit to hell,” Silas growled.
Gwen’s hands shook as she refastened her clothes.
“Wait here.” He adjusted his too-tight breeches and strode toward the door.
This had better be important. Hell, even if it was important, he might still clobber Dimitri.
Chapter Twenty-Five
While Gwennore fumbled with her buttons, she eased up close to the shut door to hear what was going on outside.
“Aleksi captured the priest right before he crossed the border to Woodwyn,” Dimitri said.
“Woodwyn?” Silas sounded surprised. “Romak was spying for an elf?”
“We don’t know. Aleksi took the priest to the army camp. He thought you might want to talk to him.”
“I’ll leave right away.” Silas’s voice grew too quiet for Gwennore to hear.
She quickly checked her clothes to make sure everything was in place. Her hands were still shaking, her heart still pounding. Goddesses help her, she’d completely lost herself in a moment of passion.
What had come over her? She’d always been the calm and rational one among her sisters. But then, she’d never met a man like Silas.
Obviously, she had no control whatsoever when it came to him. She glanced at the table, recalling all the liberties he had taken. All the liberties she’d allowed him to take. And she’d known the man a total of five days?
Could she trust a passion as sudden and explosive as this?
She took a deep breath and made sure she had erected a strong mental shield. It would be too embarrassing for anyone to hear her thoughts now.
Feigning a calmness she didn’t feel, she opened the door and sauntered outside. “Hello, Dimitri.” She hoped he wouldn’t notice the blush warming her face.
Thankfully, he barely gave her a nod as he tied the reins of Silas’s horse to the back of his saddle.
“Gwen, I have some business to take care of.” Silas led her to her horse. “Dimitri will take you back to the castle.” He leaned close to whisper in her ear. “I hate to leave you now, but I’ll see you later. Don’t work too hard. Get some rest.”
“I’ll be fine,” she murmured as she slipped a foot into a stirrup. “Be careful.”
“I will.” Silas hoisted her up onto her horse, and she noticed that he refrained himself from touching her more than necessary. He gave her horse a light slap on the rump to get it moving.
As she rode off with Dimitri, she glanced over her shoulder and spotted Silas slipping back inside the cabin. Was he planning to undress so he could shift into Puff?
So much had happened today that her thoughts were swirling. Her suspicion had turned out to be true. Silas could shift into a dragon. Dimitri, Aleksi, and King Petras
