back.”
Silence falls between us, save for the waves crashing into the concrete walls of the castle gate and various creatures chirping their nightly calls.
Her lips open, close, open, close—I watch her struggle to form some sort of a rebuttal. But it never comes. All I’m given is a lethal glare before she turns away and flicks her gaze out to the ocean.
The simplest of motions that nearly catches my breath.
God, she’s beautiful. I’m literally awed, unable to do anything except take her in beneath the glimmering moonlight. The defined yet delicate lines of her face, those long lashes, the pale hue of her hair, even those golden markings grazing her fair skin. She’s perfection wrapped up in a petite, supple frame, especially in that damned dress.
The bodice is eye-catching on its own, shaped almost like her wings, but it’s the slit showing off her leg that has me out of my right mind.
“Why didn’t you leave with him?” I blurt suddenly, barely containing myself from putting my hands on her.
Tinksley sighs and shakes her head, wrapping her arms around herself. “He told me not to. Said I looked too pretty, that I’d taken all this time to get ready and he knew how much I wanted to be he—”
“He couldn’t be more wrong.”
Her face contorts in offense at my interjection. “Excuse me?”
I don’t even apologize, I just react. Three small steps and I’m embedded in her personal space, towering over her. My hands fly to her waist like a magnet drawn to its pair, reeling her in closer. “You’re far more than just pretty, Tinksley. You’re absolutely stunning.” The words slither off my tongue in a breath, caressing her cheek.
A small gasp meets my ears.
Goose pimples break out along her flesh.
Breaths almost erratic, she sets her small hands on my chest and peeks up at me beneath long, blackened lashes, eyes wide and uncertain. “Th-thank you.”
Shrugging, I flash her a sly grin. “Only stating the truth.”
Tinksley’s cheeks heat under my scrutiny, tropical irises dropping between us, observing the minuscule amount of space separating our bodies.
Oh to possess telepathy at this very moment. I’d kill to know what’s billowing around in her mind, to play harder on what she’s feeling.
“Dance with me?” I ask, mostly to distract her from possibly pulling away.
I’m not ready to let her go just yet.
Her gaze snaps back up to my face in an instant. “Here?”
“Why not? We have plenty of space.” I motion around us, a gesture she follows.
“But there’s no music…”
“Do we need music? I just want to give you what he couldn’t.”
Her body tenses in my grip before her head rears back. “He couldn’t do so because your brood ran him off,” she counters defensively, pushing at my chest to gain some space. “Had they just left him alone, I’d be in there right now—”
Tightening my hold around her, I press her flush against me and drop my lips to her ear, effectively ending her rant. “Just dance with me, Tinksley. Forget about the brood, forget about Pan. Just dance with me—do me that honor.”
“O-okay.” She inhales sharply, frame trembling slightly as I inhale her.
“Relax, I wouldn’t dare,” I rumble. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“I know…”
It’s a whisper in the wind, a concession I still can’t wrap my head around. Feels like my mind is going to burst. “Why do you trust me?”
“Why are you so nice to me?”
“Stop answering the question with a question. Tell me,” I press, easing back to entangle our stares.
Wide, innocent eyes bore into me. “I-I don’t know,” she falters.
Her reactions are addictive. I love them, feel my chest puff up because of them. I shouldn’t feed off her purity, but corrupting her would taste so damn sweet. Starting with those pouty, perfectly pink lips.
Wrapped around my dick.
As she kneels before me.
The corners of my mouth quiver at the thought. “Sure you do. Tell me.”
“You’ve never given me a personal reason not to trust you,” she whispers.
“I see.” Looming closer, I ghost my lips millimeters above hers. “Interesting, considering many would likely beg to differ, especially your beloved Peter Pan.”
“My turn”— she gulps—“Tell me…”
It’s not lost on me she’s digressed even with his mention hanging thick in the air. Trapping her chin between my fingers, I feel another smile tear at my mouth. A victorious one at that. “You’re too good for him, Tinksley. You deserve so much more.” All things I shouldn’t be telling her, seeds I shouldn’t be planting. They go against the plan. “He’ll