Breathless, he put his hands on her shoulders to steady himself—and to hold her back. “Someone will see.”

“I don’t care,” she whispered, biting his lower lip. A soft sound slipped from his throat and she caught it on her tongue, her mouth sliding over his again. He pushed her hard against the wall, and the cool marble sent a shiver down her spine.

So this is what it feels like to fly, she thought.

His lips roamed, marking little kisses on her jaw, down her throat. He inhaled her scent, then released a sigh.

“You can’t imagine how many times I’ve wanted to do that,” he said. “You smell so sweetly of roses.”

She extended her neck for him, and he closed his eyes, breathing her in. He pressed a soft kiss to her throat, right where her pulse beat. She swayed, unbalanced.

“We really ought not to,” he said, withdrawing, but his eyes were dark. They were both drunk with desire.

“Is that so?” Undeterred, she kissed him again, open mouth skimming across his skin.

“Do not tease me with your savage little teeth,” he begged. He stepped away, serious, and she pouted.

“Since when are you so shareef?”

He smiled. “You’ve made a noble man out of me.”

Her pout deepened. “No fair.”

“I want to do what is honourable.”

She knew this wasn’t, knew she should have shame and be shy, but she didn’t care in the slightest. This was a sin she would willingly drown in.

“Won’t you touch me again?” she asked. Batting her eyelashes at him, she took a step toward him, and he groaned, taking a step back.

“Stay away from me, woman,” he said, raising a finger.

She held her hands up innocently. “I won’t do anything. I just want to be near you, or is that too much to ask?”

He gave her a suspicious glance, but held out his hand for her. She grinned, grabbing onto it. A man’s hand in hers—it felt so strange yet so true. Like he had always been meant to fit right there, at her side.

Was it meant to feel this easy? This comfortable?

Overcome with bubbly joy, Durkhanai hugged Asfnadyar’s arm, feeling the corded muscle as she leaned her cheek on his shoulder. His chest moved with withheld laughter.

“Where to, now?” she asked. Asfandyar gave her a mischievous glance but said nothing, only began leading her toward the east wing. When she saw guards farther down the hall, she released his hand. Immediately, she felt cold.

As they passed, Durkhanai ignored their strange glances at her. She knew it was reckless, but oh, didn’t she deserve just one night? She was young; she wanted to feel free.

Durkhanai followed Asfandyar. He checked to make sure the coast was clear before quickly ushering her into a room.

His room.