Captivated: 3 (Mating Ritual) by Ria Candro Read Free Book Online

moonlight streamed in through the open window for her to make out Adamon’s sleeping form. He lay on the bed, his sheet covering the lower half of his body. His chest was covered by a long, button-down shirt. Even in sleep he was fully clothed.
    Holding her breath, she tiptoed through the room until she came to a stop right by his bed. For a long moment, she allowed herself to look at him. He was handsome enough. His nose was a trifle broader and flatter than she fancied, but that was a Keulot trait. And his skin…well, it certainly wasn’t the color of honey. But he was still a good-looking man. A man she should be proud to call husband.
    Bending over him, she allowed her fingers to trail down his chest. He came awake with a start, his eyes slamming open with alarm. For one long, loaded moment she feared he would cry out, but finally he relaxed with an audible sigh.
    “What are you doing here, Cindra? You gave me an awful fright.”
    “I’m sorry, it’s just…” She took a seat on the bed, trying to ignore the look of alarm that came to his face and the way his arms instinctively lifted, as if he was trying to ward her off. “I couldn’t sleep.”
    His gaze traveled down her body, and his lips tightened. “Are you wearing a nightgown?”
    Leave it to him to disapprove of such a thing.
    “Why do you never seek me out at night?” she whispered.
    His eyes went wide. “That would be inappropriate.”
    “But…” She sighed, trying to find the right words. “Don’t you ever want to kiss me? To be with me?”
    Adamon’s brows drew together. “Of course I do, but—”
    Before he could finish his sentence, she bent down and pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. His body tensed beneath her, but when she lifted her face a few inches to read his eyes, he seemed more puzzled than concerned or disgusted.
    Smiling slightly, she lowered her lips back down, rubbing them against his. They were cool but firm. It felt…nice.
    When she pressed on, continuing to kiss him, one of his hands lifted to her face, drawing her hair back. She traced her tongue at the seam of his lips, sliding inside when his mouth opened, and he tentatively returned her kiss.
    Okay, this isn’t bad. Not bad at all.
    He didn’t taste of honey and spice, as Bannor had, but it was still a pleasant kiss.
    Her hand boldly traveled down his chest, then under the sheet. His body went tense, but he didn’t fight her or pull away. When she found the drawstring of his pants, she untied it before slowly slipping her hand inside.
    He groaned against her lips when her hand found his erection. Like Devan’s, it was silky and smooth, but she couldn’t fight the soft clench of disappointment in her stomach when she noted his size. Not nearly comparable to Devan.
    But that’s not a reason not to marry someone.
    He couldn’t help what he’d been born with.
    “This is nice,” she whispered against his lips while her hand started to move up and down on his modest length.
    “Umm…yes,” he groaned, his voice pained. When she lifted her eyes to examine his face, his eyes were screwed shut, but passion was evident in the tautness of his features and his body. He wanted her.
    That’s all I need.
    Relief wound through her. Moving her lips back to Adamon’s, she shifted so one of her legs wound over the lower part of his body and her breasts pressed into his chest. But the moment he felt them, something changed within him. He tensed, and with a muttered curse, shoved her off him.
    Shocked, she stared down at his figure. “What’s wrong?”
    Disgust melded with something that looked a lot like guilt covered his features. “What are you doing?”
    “I…we are engaged,” she whispered heatedly. “There’s no shame in what we’re doing.”
    “No, it’s not right.” Adamon scowled and shook his head, scooting back so he sat against the headboard. He clutched his sheet to him, looking for all the world like a blushing virgin.
    Shouldn’t that be something