The moonlight made the sharp features of his face more pronounced—his strong jaw, his chiseled nose and cheekbones—and reflected off his fair hair, almost as if he wore a crown. The look of authority and raw power he exuded was nearly overwhelming. It was the look of someone noble. Of a king.
My common sense seemed to evaporate as I ran my fingers along his jaw, over his brow, and then trailed down his lips. He didn’t stop me as I caught his face between my hands and drew him to me.
My lips met his. I kissed him softly at first, learning the taste of his mouth, soaking in every detail. The slight metallic taste of blood. The scent of his hair, like the fresh spring rain. The feel of his stubbled cheeks between my hands.
He ran his hands down my back until he gripped my waist. My skin erupted with tiny goose bumps as he drew me closer, pressing my breasts against his chest. I twined my fingers behind his neck.
He moved the cloak away from my face and let his kisses trail down my neck. I let out a tiny gasp as his hands found my shirt and moved the fabric off my shoulder. He lowered my bra strap and then kissed my collarbone. Gently, Kull kissed the top of my chest, just above my breasts. His hands wandered under my shirt to my back, his fingers teasing at the waistband of my jeans.
I wanted him. I wanted him so badly it hurt.
My heart pounded against my ribcage, and I arched my back as his mouth found mine once again. His hands cupped my butt. I breathed in every inch of him as he pressed my body tightly against his. I could feel him through the layers of fabric, hard and strong, his muscles rigid and hot.
Finally, he pulled away. I struggled to catch my breath. Despite the chill, my body burned with desire.
He clasped my hands and rested his forehead against mine, his broad chest rising and falling as he breathed heavily. “I won’t let you go,” he said quietly.
“I know.”
With gentle fingers, he fixed my bra strap and arranged my shirt carefully over my shoulder, which made my heart beat with a wild cadence. He pulled my cowl over my head, and then kissed my nose. “You looked cold. Why you would want to be out here half naked is beyond me.”
I playfully jabbed his stomach with my finger. “You haven’t seen me half naked,” I said.
“Hmm.” He groaned a deep, masculine sound, laced with need and heat. “I’m sure there is a remedy for that,” he said, brushing a kiss over my ear.
Reaching under my shirt again, his hand ran the length of my back, caressing my skin, making me shiver and driving me mad with his touch. Kull locked his gaze on me and then brushed a strand of hair away from my cheek. He smiled his teasing grin for half a second, but then his face fell and he looked away.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me to a downed log. As I sat beside him, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. The faint sound of crashing waves came to us from below, and I rested my head on Kull’s shoulder, listening to the steady sound of his breathing.
“We’ve chartered a ship to take us to the outer isles,” Kull said. “My father will be watching our every move. I am his son, and I know he loves me, but I also know how stubborn he can be. He will follow through with his threats, even if he regrets it later in life. He will not hesitate to exile me.”
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t think of a remedy for our situation. “Isn’t there some way to reason with him?”
“I’ve tried. The gods know I’ve tried, to no avail.” He let out a heavy sigh.
“Then for the moment,” I said, “we’ll keep our distance from one another, at least while we’re on the ship. We’ll give your father what he wants for now.”
“No,” he said. “My father demands that I marry someone of high rank, someone with connections, but he cannot stop me from being with you. As long as we do not marry, he has no authority to exile me.”
“You really think he’ll agree to that?”
“It doesn’t matter if he agrees or not. I respect our laws and our ways. I understand that I will be king someday, but that is a long time from now. My father cannot not keep us apart, not as long as I am searching for someone suitable to marry.”
My stomach formed a tight knot. Someone suitable to marry? I pushed my panic aside. I had a habit of reading too much into people’s words. He must have meant he would only appear to search for someone to marry. Still, the immediate problem with his father persisted.
“I still think it would be wise to keep our distance. You know your father will be looking for any excuse at all to throw me off the boat,” I said.
“And if he should, I will simply jump in after you. We will swim to the farthest island where he’ll never find us. We’ll live off wild boarhound and drink the nectar of fairy dew blossoms. We will make passionate love as we lie under the stars.”
“That sounds wonderful,” I answered, “except that our world will be destroyed unless we restore the magic. It will be a very short-lived romance.”
“Then we shall die in each other’s arms and be blissfully happy as we make our way to Valhalla.”
I smiled. “I’m sure we will.”
“Yes.” He sighed. “Until my father dies, joins us, and makes us miserable once again.” He worked his jaw back and forth as if debating something.
Where had his thoughts wandered?
“Perhaps you are
