Warning: Mature Content Ahead.
I'd asked and he didn't wait. He crashed his lips against mine in a kiss that was less of a greeting and more of an assault. It was desperate, fueled by the adrenaline of our fight and the relief of the confession. I tasted salt from my tears and the faint hint of the brandy he'd been drinking, but mostly I tasted him—cedar and rain.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, wanting to merge our skins so there was no room for any more secrets to hide. My fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck, and he groaned into my mouth. It was a low vibration that echoed in my own chest.
He lifted me easily, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carried me toward the massive bed. The red silk of my dress bunched up, my skin tingly where it met the cool air and then the heat of his hands.
When he laid me back against the pillows, he didn't pull away. He hovered over me, his eyes searching mine. "No more lies?"
