not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?” No, do not ask her to explain. Do not spend any more time alone with this faerie than necessary. She is too dangerous .
“I meant…what I meant was…oh what does it matter? Can’t you take me to Greenbriar yourself? If we cannot bring Garick back, then you can escort me there so he can hurry back. Maybe we would even catch up with him and he could turn around.”
He grasped her shoulders and forced her to meet his gaze, hoping he could make her understand. “Have you listened to anything I’ve told you? I cannot leave Winterland, I cannot fetch Garick and I cannot take you to Greenbriar. You are simply going to have to wait until he returns, then you can go.” Perhaps she had decided to hurry on to Greenbriar because she’d found nothing in Winterland to stay for.
And now he was being ridiculous. He did not want her to stay. Her destiny lay with the southern king, not at Winterland.
“I have heard you; I just refuse to believe there is no other way.” Her skin was soft as cream, her scent permeating the air and making him mad with the urge to bury his lips against the pounding pulse in her neck. She stood with her back to the fire, the flames from the hearth appearing as if they burned through her scarlet wings. Her face was shadowed and her entire body glowed like a bonfire.
The same way she lit him up, setting him afire each time he was near her. She was the magical flame, he the tinder that longed for the spark.
Damn his desires, and damn her for tempting him this way. His only recourse was to make her so angry she would leave.
“You will get what you want soon enough, Solara. For now, you will simply have to be patient and wait until Garick and the guards return. Your childish actions have put both Garick and your sister in danger.
Why don’t you spend the time praying for their safety instead of concocting more ridiculous schemes?” He heard the rush of air as she sucked in a breath. Unfortunately, it also forced her breasts against the thin gown she wore, outlining nipples that he remembered touching, tasting. His cock came to life and he realized that railing against her would never tamp down the need he had for her.
“Why do you act as if I’ve injured you?” she asked, folding her arms across those delectable breasts. “I have done nothing to you, Roarke. I have asked nothing of you.” Her skin burned against his hands, and he pulled away as if she’d just set him on fire. “You have injured my king with your foolishness. You have put Winterland at risk by diluting our guard strength. And you have taken Garick away from Noele when they should be celebrating together, not suffering apart.” She winced and turned away, swiping at a tear creeping down her cheek.
Remorse fought hard over the need to remain impervious to her beauty. Not one to hurt a woman, he wanted to take her into his arms, stroke her hair, and murmur apologies against her soft lips.
But that he could not, would not do.
Ever.
What he could do, what he had to do, was stay as far away from her as possible. Beginning with removing her from his room before he did something foolish like carry her to his bed and sink his shaft deep inside her sweet cunt.
“It’s late and I have much to do tomorrow. You should leave.” She nodded, her eyes like moist, green pools. Blinking against the tears, she said, “Aye, that I should. My apologies for wasting your time, Roarke.”
She fled his room quickly, shutting the door behind her. Roarke released the tension knotting his shoulders and turned to his bed, knowing that sleep would not come for him tonight.
He cared for Solara, that much he could admit to himself. But caring and wanting warred with honor and duty, and in the end, he would do what was expected of him.
He would leave Solara alone, no matter how much he wanted her.
Chapter Six
Solara busied herself tending to the tables, making sure the cloths were set so the
“Then what did you mean?” No, do not ask her to explain. Do not spend any more time alone with this faerie than necessary. She is too dangerous .
“I meant…what I meant was…oh what does it matter? Can’t you take me to Greenbriar yourself? If we cannot bring Garick back, then you can escort me there so he can hurry back. Maybe we would even catch up with him and he could turn around.”
He grasped her shoulders and forced her to meet his gaze, hoping he could make her understand. “Have you listened to anything I’ve told you? I cannot leave Winterland, I cannot fetch Garick and I cannot take you to Greenbriar. You are simply going to have to wait until he returns, then you can go.” Perhaps she had decided to hurry on to Greenbriar because she’d found nothing in Winterland to stay for.
And now he was being ridiculous. He did not want her to stay. Her destiny lay with the southern king, not at Winterland.
“I have heard you; I just refuse to believe there is no other way.” Her skin was soft as cream, her scent permeating the air and making him mad with the urge to bury his lips against the pounding pulse in her neck. She stood with her back to the fire, the flames from the hearth appearing as if they burned through her scarlet wings. Her face was shadowed and her entire body glowed like a bonfire.
The same way she lit him up, setting him afire each time he was near her. She was the magical flame, he the tinder that longed for the spark.
Damn his desires, and damn her for tempting him this way. His only recourse was to make her so angry she would leave.
“You will get what you want soon enough, Solara. For now, you will simply have to be patient and wait until Garick and the guards return. Your childish actions have put both Garick and your sister in danger.
Why don’t you spend the time praying for their safety instead of concocting more ridiculous schemes?” He heard the rush of air as she sucked in a breath. Unfortunately, it also forced her breasts against the thin gown she wore, outlining nipples that he remembered touching, tasting. His cock came to life and he realized that railing against her would never tamp down the need he had for her.
“Why do you act as if I’ve injured you?” she asked, folding her arms across those delectable breasts. “I have done nothing to you, Roarke. I have asked nothing of you.” Her skin burned against his hands, and he pulled away as if she’d just set him on fire. “You have injured my king with your foolishness. You have put Winterland at risk by diluting our guard strength. And you have taken Garick away from Noele when they should be celebrating together, not suffering apart.” She winced and turned away, swiping at a tear creeping down her cheek.
Remorse fought hard over the need to remain impervious to her beauty. Not one to hurt a woman, he wanted to take her into his arms, stroke her hair, and murmur apologies against her soft lips.
But that he could not, would not do.
Ever.
What he could do, what he had to do, was stay as far away from her as possible. Beginning with removing her from his room before he did something foolish like carry her to his bed and sink his shaft deep inside her sweet cunt.
“It’s late and I have much to do tomorrow. You should leave.” She nodded, her eyes like moist, green pools. Blinking against the tears, she said, “Aye, that I should. My apologies for wasting your time, Roarke.”
She fled his room quickly, shutting the door behind her. Roarke released the tension knotting his shoulders and turned to his bed, knowing that sleep would not come for him tonight.
He cared for Solara, that much he could admit to himself. But caring and wanting warred with honor and duty, and in the end, he would do what was expected of him.
He would leave Solara alone, no matter how much he wanted her.
Chapter Six
Solara busied herself tending to the tables, making sure the cloths were set so the
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