pushing him away from it, her body still close to his. She kept him going, back to the pallet, until it hit the back of his knees and he dropped down onto it.
She never lifted her mouth from his, following him, settling astride his hips as he sat down. His hands settled on her waist, huge and strong, and her hunger doubled on itself, sudden irrational desire to feel those hands on her thighs, her back, her throat, everywhere.
"This is just a kiss," she whispered, against his mouth, lips too hungry to touch his to spare much time for words. "That's all. Just a kiss." She followed her urges, trailing a line of kisses down over his jaw to the softer skin of his throat, the beginning of the slope of one shoulder, biting at his skin.
"That's all," he agreed, though there was a groan hidden inside the words. His hands tightened on her waist, sliding down to her hips.
Amara drew up sharply as her hips pressed against his, focusing on his face, struggling to clear her thoughts. But it was hard-it would be so much easier to get rid of her clothing, his, naked skin between them was what she wanted. She wanted to feel his weight pinning her down, feel the hot strength of him pushing into her, to struggle and test her strength against his, and to be overcome. It was a fire inside of her, a raw and primitive need, something that could not be denied. With a snarl of pure, animal hunger, she started tearing at his belt.
"Wait," Bernard said. "Oh, oh crows, Brutus you idiot." He moved beneath her, abruptly, lifting her and dropping her unceremoniously on the pallet. She landed with a thump.
Bernard took a pair of swift steps away from her and held up his hand, palm toward her, motioning her to stop. He frowned in concentration and muttered, "No. Brutus, down."
And Amara abruptly found herself staring at Bernard from the pallet, cold and hungry and panting, body aching with fading need, her clothing disheveled, her hair mussed, her lips swollen from the heat and intensity of the kisses.
She lifted a hand to her temple. "Y-you... you crafted on me."
"I know," Bernard said, his face flushing bright red. "I didn't mean to. I'm sorry."
"You earthcrafted me."
"I'm sorry," Bernard said again, quickly. "Brutus is... my fury is a strong one, and he starts to thinking he knows what's good for me better than I do sometimes." Bernard sank down against the floor. "I'm sorry. I didn't know he was doing it, or I would have never. I mean, I-" He shook his head. After a moment he said, "It's been a long time. And Brutus just... wanted to make something happen."
She stared at him for a long moment, settling onto the pallet, getting her breathing, her feelings back under control. She gathered her feet up and wrapped her arms around her knees, staring down at her shoes, the slippers Isana had put on her feet at Bernardholt.
"You were married," she said, quietly.
"Ten years ago," Benard said, the words quiet, soft, as though they were burrs that would tear at his mouth if he sent them out too quickly. "She died. Blight. My daughters, too."
"And you haven't..." She let it hang unspoken.
He shook his head. "Been busy. Haven't really wanted to be close to anyone until-" he drew in a breath. "Until you kissed me last night. Guess it stirred up some things."
Amara couldn't keep the wry tone from her voice. "I guess it did."
Bernard flushed further and didn't lift his eyes.
She let out a tired laugh. "Bernard. It's all right. You didn't hurt me." And she'd enjoyed it. Wanted it. She had to work to keep from blushing herself. Just the memory of the molten need of that kiss was enough to make her shiver.
"Doesn't make it right." He looked up at her, his eyes worried and, she thought, exquisitely vulnerable, exposing how much he cared about what she would think. "You sure you're all right?"
She nodded. "Well. The obvious parts of being locked up aside."
"I don't think we'll have to worry about it too much longer. That's why I wanted to steal a kiss. I didn't mean that to happen, but I wanted a chance to kiss you before."
"Before what?"
Bernard tilted his head to one side. "Listen."
Dimly, outside, Amara heard a chime tolling the midnight hour
"Change of the watch," Bernard said "If Pluvus follows the regulations, he'll go to his bed and