I squeezed Torran and pulled back just far enough that I could meet his eyes. The colors were muted in the low light, but I could still see the silver streaks branching across his dark gray irises. This close, I could see that the colors shifted as his pupils dilated.

The rest of his face was just as interesting. He had the fine bone structure common to Valoffs, with sharp cheekbones and a strong jaw. His short black hair just touched his forehead where the helmet had plastered it down. When my gaze dropped to his mouth, one corner quirked up in a half smile. I remembered the feel of his lips on mine, and I wanted to feel it again, without the armor between us.

“I’m going to kiss you,” I murmured.

The smile bloomed, and he nodded his agreement.

I put my hands on his shoulders, then lifted onto my toes and brushed my mouth against his. Little sparks of pleasure danced across my nerves. When he opened his mouth, those sparks roared into an inferno.

Torran buried a hand in the hair at the back of my head and I shivered in appreciation. His other arm clamped me tight against his body and the heat of him seared through my clothes—clothes that felt more and more unnecessary as the kiss continued.

I slid one of my hands up his neck, pulling him closer as I settled back on my heels, and he groaned against my mouth as he followed. My other hand moved down, tracing the firm muscles of his chest and abs. When I didn’t find the hem of his shirt, I growled in frustration and pulled at the fabric.

Torran let me go long enough to yank his tunic up, then my hand splayed across the warm skin of his side. We both hissed in pleasure. His mouth caught mine and I lost myself in the feel of his lips until the heat of his palm glided up my side and stopped just under my breast.

I didn’t know when he’d gotten under my clothes and I didn’t care. Instead, I held my breath, but he didn’t move. I glanced up at him, struck by the stark longing on his face. “Don’t tease,” I whispered.

His hand eased upward, and when his palm met my nipple, I’d never been so glad that I hadn’t taken the time to put on a bra. Then he dipped his head and licked me, and I buried my fingers in his soft hair and clutched his head as delight raced along my nerves.