Tab Bennett and the Inbetween by Jes Young Read Free Book Online Page B

Elves can levitate a foot or two off the ground – not quite flying, but close. Some Elves can affect the weather or even turn back time in small increments.”
     
    “Will I be able to do those things?”
     
    “If you’re anything like your mother, you will have many Gifts. The visions you’ve experienced are only the start of it.”
     
    The idea of magic, power, thrilled and terrified me.
     
    “Can I ask you something else?”
     
    “Of course.”
     
    “Why haven’t I ever seen you before tonight? I didn’t know you existed before today but you knew about me, right? You knew we were supposed to get married and you knew where I was. Why didn’t you come to see me? Weren’t you curious about me?”
     
    “I still am,” he said. “But you must understand, when Bennett brought you to the World, the Inbetween was in turmoil. Your mother was dead and you were too young to be queen; no one really knew who would rule until you returned to claim your crown. Not surprisingly, many of the Generals in your army felt they were the logical choice, which lead to a lot of unrest and sword rattling. Bennett feared a power hungry General would attempt to secure the crown by killing you, our infant queen. To ensure your safety he had each of the Generals, me included, pledge to stay away from you until you turned twenty-five. It was the pledge that kept me away, not a lack of curiosity. I came as soon as I was able. Happy Birthday, by the way.”
     
    With everything that had been happening, I’d honestly forgotten all about it. “Thanks but I think this may qualify as the unhappiest birthday ever.”
     
    “Maybe there is something I can do to make it better?” His voice was low and soft and seductive. I noticed that we’d somehow managed to drift very close together.
     
    I swallowed hard and choked out a strangled “I don’t know,” even though my mind was full of things I’d be happy to let him try if cheering me up was his goal. I shivered, remembering the feeling of his body pressed against mine, his fingers skimming up the inside of my thigh. “Can I ask one more question?”
            He nodded, resting his hand on my knee. After a second he began to run his thumb from just under my knee to just above it.
     
    “Why do I want you so bad?” I asked in a rush of air that sounded remarkably like a moan.
     
    He moved closer to me on the sofa until we were just a whisper width apart. He brushed his thumb across my lips. “I don’t know. How bad do you want me?”
     
    “So bad.”
     
    He pulled me across his lap. With me straddling his body there was no denying that he wanted me too, not with the evidence of it pressing against me, hot and hard. He unbuttoned my blouse, pushing it open so he could trail his lips across my neck, my collarbone, along the swell of my breasts.
     
    “I mean, it’s kind of been the worst day of my life.” I arched my back, pushing my breast closer to his mouth. Pulling the lacy cup aside, he flicked his tongue against my nipple. “My fiancé dumped me, my family is a sham, my best friend is dead, and I discovered that my kingdom is besieged by hobgoblins.”
     
    “Dark elves,” he corrected as he moved to give my other breast his attention. He nibbled and sucked my nipple through the lace, creating a delicious friction that made it hard to think or breathe. “Dark elves. But honestly, in spite of all that, the only thing I care about right now is seeing you naked.”
     
    He brushed his lips against mine and whispered, “Do I get to see you naked too?”
     
    “Oh, God yes.”
     
    I reached down and tugged his shirt up. He pulled it over his head. His arms and chest looked even better bare, muscled and strong. My blouse was long gone, my breasts spilling out of the bra, but when he reached up and unhooked it, sliding the silk straps slowly down my shoulders, I was suddenly shy.
     
    “Let me see you,” he said, stopping my hands from covering my