Kennard moved closer again, not allowing her any space to retreat. A cloying scent, heavy as incense smoke, filled Elena’s nostrils, a stark contrast to the delicate floral fragrance clinging to her own skin. Had she not clasped her hands in front of her in a desperate attempt at a barrier, his body would have been flush against hers.
“I-I’m fine,” Elena stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
Kennard’s hand shot up, the movement swift and startling. Elena flinched as his fingers brushed against the bandage covering her wound. “I should have killed her right then and there,” he murmured, his voice a low growl. A muscle ticked in his jaw as he spoke. Even though the words weren’t directed at her, Elena felt a cold dread pool in her stomach.
Kennard’s sigh washed over Elena’s forehead as she forced herself to respond. “The wound isn’t deep.”
Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Elena dared not move, her breath caught in her throat. Kennard loomed over her, his every breath a warm current against her chilled skin.
“Does it hurt?” he asked.
“No,” Elena whispered, her voice barely audible.
A shiver ran down Elena’s spine. Trapped between the fireplace and his imposing form, she realized escape wasn’t an option.
As Kennard’s breath brushed against her, Elena felt that even her own breathing might touch him, making her feel unnatural about even that simple act. In the suffocating silence, it felt like the air was evaporating, and her body was shrinking. Her breathing grew more rapid.
A droplet of water from Kennard’s disheveled hair fell onto Elena’s chest, soaking her thin chemise. The chill from the damp fabric sent another jolt through her.
“Your Grace, why are you here so late…?” Elena tried to speak nonchalantly as she pulled the hem of her robe tighter.
“Why do you think I came?” Kennard’s voice was low and deep, sending shivers down her spine.
Though he was close, he didn’t touch her or make contact. Yet it felt as if his hands were already caressing her body, a phantom warmth against her chilled skin. Elena’s heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic counterpoint to the slow, deliberate way he spoke.
“Do you remember when you said you wanted me?”
A blush crept up Elena’s neck as she met his gaze, a silent confirmation of her earlier words. “I remember,” Elena whispered, her voice barely a whisper.
Kennard gently lifted her chin, making her look up again. “And do you remember when I said that if you took my hand, you could never let go?”
“Yes…”
“Elena.”
The single word echoed in the vast silence, laced with a possessiveness that sent a shiver down her spine. Stronger than the cloying perfume, his pheromones filled the air, a primal call that resonated deep within her.
His hands, calloused and warm, cupped her face, sending a jolt through her that singed all the way to her core. Kennard’s face lowered to just above hers, making her tilt her head back. Elena met his gaze, her breath catching in her throat. The air crackled with unspoken desire, an electric current that hummed beneath her skin.
His golden eyes glowed with heat between his long eyelashes. “I’ll give you one more chance to choose.”
They were so close their noses almost touched. Their lips brushed lightly as he spoke, sending a delicious tingle through her that spread to her toes.
“What do you…” She tried to speak through her lips, not wanting to touch his, but it was useless. Even that small movement made her delicate lips brush against his, preventing her from continuing.
“Tonight, I will embrace you,” he murmured, his voice a husky caress. His sharp nose brushed against the soft curve of hers, sending another tremor through her, a mix of fear and raw desire that left her breathless. “To make you completely mine.”
He brushed past her lips, then tilted his head the other way, softly kissing the corner of her mouth. A soft moan escaped Elena’s lips before she could stop it.
Kennard’s lips roamed her lips, teasingly, leaving her unable to think of anything else. “So if you don’t want that, say so now.” His lips touched hers as he spoke, and his hot breath filled her mouth with each word.
The world narrowed to the press of his lips, the intoxicating scent of him filling her senses. With a desperate gasp, Elena forced the words out.
“If I say I don’t want it…”
