Aftermath by Jaci Burton Read Free Book Online Page B

only thing she could think of doing. Pushing against his chest, she released her arms and wound them around his neck, giving in to the need that burned insistently throughout her body. “I would prefer you cast your magic upon me, Braedon.” Storm clouds darkened his eyes and he gave her a look so intense it made her legs tremble. He gripped her tightly, removing his sword from between them and jamming it into the ground. He stared at her for a few long seconds, then with a harsh whispered oath, he claimed her mouth.
    At the first touch of his lips to hers, she exploded, releasing pheromones that filled the air with the scent of her desire, enveloping them both in a cloud of faerie dust. Braedon groaned and pulled her closer, digging his fingers into the flesh of her hips and rocking his erection against her.
    His lips, though soft and full, ravaged hers with insistence. He plunged his tongue between the seam of her lips and found hers, tangling and teasing her with furious strokes that spoke of passion and need. She could not get close enough to the heat and hard planes of his body to satisfy her desire to meld completely with him. Every touch, every kiss, made her whimper with desperation. She lifted up on her toes and rocked against his erection, feeling wanton, like a wild animal, caged and desperate for release.
    But she cared not for repercussions right now. She was right where she wanted, needed to be.

    She moved her hands freely over his body, from his neck to his shoulders, sliding her arms around his back so she could press her breasts tighter against the hard planes of his chest. Was it possible to crawl deep inside someone, to feel them to their very soul? She had not expected this type of reaction to Braedon’s touch, yet it felt right, as if she had found where she belonged.
    Silly girl. He does not even want to keep you. He is all about duty and not love. This is sex.
    A part of her realized the consequences of what she was doing, but she could not have stopped herself from wanting Braedon right now any more than she could prevent the moon from rising tonight. An all-consuming need had taken over and would not be denied.
    Braedon tore his lips from hers and moved to her throat, his tongue swiping along the column of her neck. Goose bumps prickled along her skin, centering on her sex and pounding away with an ache that made her whimper and tremble.
    But she was not the only one trembling. She felt the tremors in Braedon’s arms, shocked to discover he was not as unaffected as she would have assumed. She pulled back and searched his face. The hot intensity of his gaze seared her.
    “I want to be inside you, faerie,” he whispered, his voice hoarse and deep.
    Words of response would not come to her, so lost in her senses as she was. She could only nod her assent.
    “But not here. I do not wish to be disturbed, nor do I want anyone interrupting us. Sheath your wings.” She did, immediately. Swooping her into his arms, he carried her through the gardens and courtyard, his stride deliberate and brisk. She smiled when he waved off the guards at the gate who hurried toward him.
    They halted immediately and returned to their posts.
    He was not taking her outside the castle. He stepped through the darkened forest and into D’Naathian land, taking the same route she had taken toward the pools yesterday. She held tight to him and rested her head on his shoulder, feeling safe and comfortable for the first time since she had arrived at Greenbriar.
    And wanted. This feeling of having a man want her was indescribable. She had never expected to feel desire for her betrothed, especially considering the way he normally treated her. Yet she felt an underlying current of equal need from Braedon, as if he typically did not allow anyone to get this close to him. She felt strangely privileged to be wanted by him.
    They arrived at the pools and he set her down on the bank very near where she lay last night. He stood over her,