The moment the kiss deepened again, Elara felt her brain slowly turning useless.
Kaelis held her like a man starving, his rough hands gripping her waist hard enough to leave warmth beneath the silk of her gown. His breathing was uneven against her lips, almost angry, almost desperate and Elara hated how easily her body responded to him.
Her fingers curled tightly into his shirt as his mouth moved against hers again.
Slow.
Dangerous.
Possessive.
Then suddenly...
He stopped.
Just like that.
Kaelis pulled back so abruptly that Elara almost frowned in confusion. Both of them were breathing harshly, their foreheads nearly touching while silence filled the room heavily.
The king stared at the small blood staining her lower lip.
His jaw tightened instantly.
Very carefully, his thumb brushed against the blood before wiping it away completely. His touch had suddenly become gentler, almost painfully so.
Elara looked at him, confused. "Kaelis-"
"Forget it."
Her brows furrowed.
