Reign Queen L. Gibbs (best books to read for young adults TXT) 📖

the main room had seemed a quaint spot to recline, but this roomgave that feeling throughout rather than in just one tinyspace.

She wondered if it was a deliberatecasualness. A guest might arrive to find the king resting on thelounge and think he was inviting him into a private area. But thisroom really was about comfort and intimate living.

The narrow staircase to their rooms above wasimmediately to the left, and Russal guided her toward it. “Kambry,love.”

The deep vibration in his voice sent warmthup her spine. This was their home. There had been plenty ofreferences to her being queen, and the formal ceremony thatafternoon had made that official, but here she was alone with theking of Kavin in chambers she could now think of as her own. Thiswasn’t his comfortable space; it was theirs. The stairs he drew herto lead to their bedroom.

“Russal, shouldn’t we discuss the events inthe garden further?”

He turned her about, facing him. With his onehand on her hip, the other held the glass enclosed lamp out behindher. He teased her into backing up. The steps of the stairwaypressed against the heels of her shoes.

“Am I to climb the stairs backwards?” Sheslid her hands around his neck.

“Yes.” He squatted slightly, grasping hergown just below her knees. He rose, and the skirt of her dress cameup as well, leaving her legs exposed well above her calves. “Iwon’t let you trip. Now, up we go.”

He stepped forward, and she backed up on tothe first step. He nuzzled her neck.

“I enjoy when you look me in the eye,” hewhispered against her skin. “Take another step.”

His warm lips on her neck put a hitch in herbreath. “You can’t possibly see my eyes.”

“Hmm.”

She reached up with her left foot, feelingfor the riser, using her hands around his neck for support.“Russal, I’m going to trip. This is no way to carry on an importantconversation.”

“I won’t let you fall.” He drew back to lookat her. “Trust me?”

“Completely.”

“Up another step.”

“But our discussion.”

“Can wait. Everyone is safe in theirchambers.” Russal pressed his lips to hers, his hand encouragingher to back up another step.

She froze with one foot on the step behindher and the other on tiptoe on the riser below. Her skin tingled,the sound of her dress and their combined breath filling whatcontrol she had of her senses.

Russal pulled his mouth from hers. “Wait amoment,” he said breathlessly. “I have to put this lamp down beforeI set us both on fire.”

Via the lamp or his kisses? She wasn’tsure which would raise the first flame. Now what were they talkingabout? It was important.

His right hand now free, he pressed her tothe left, embracing her with both arms. Her dress grew tight aroundher thighs. He must have kept his grip on the fabric.

“We need to stay to this side of thestairwell until we pass the lamp. Take another step, my love.”

“How many remain?”

“Just enough, I think.”

“Enough for what?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he kissed heruntil she wasn’t sure she could summon the desire to force a footto rise to the next step behind her.

When he pulled away, she said, “I think wehave too many steps.”

His chuckle tickled her check. He bent hisknees and hugged her hips. Rising, he carried her up the stairs,her arms wrapped around his shoulders, a laugh bubbling out of hermouth.

His foot hit a step hard, and he dipped herbackward as they both tumbled slowly to the stairs behind.

“Russal!”

“I’ve got you.”

He shifted Kambry to the right, and shegripped him tighter as he lowered her to the stairs. Rather thanpressing her below him, they both lay sideways. He couldn’t becomfortable. She wasn’t with the steps digging into her thigh, hipand shoulder. He rolled her on top of him.

Shaking her head at him, she gave him a swaton the shoulder. “That was not very graceful, Your Majesty.”

“But look, we’re almost there.”

Kambry looked upward expecting to see thenarrow stairwell continuing up ahead of them in the dim light ofthe lamp below. The door to their rooms was inches away from herface.

“You must open the door for us,” he said. “Irather like this position and have no interest in moving.” His lipstrailed down her neck to her breastbone.

She stilled, her arm midreach for thelatch.

“Of course, we could stay right here.” Hepulled her down, the latch quickly out of reach.

She tugged at her dress, now bunched uparound her thighs. “You’re wrinkling my dress.”

“True. It should come off at once before wedamage it.”

Heat rose on her skin, a thin layer ofmoisture joining it. Her heart had to be jostling his ribs.

Hands on her hips, he guided her down untilshe was looking directly into his eyes. “I’ll help you take itoff.”

Her dress had risen further, his hands inchesfrom exposed skin. What if a guard entered the stairwell below?Sweat beaded on her lip. That thought helped not one whit. “Perhapswhen we are in our room.”

His fingertips danced on her skin, andgooseflesh rose on her legs. Any moment she was going to grab hishands and stop their wandering. Maybe.

“Kiss me, Kambry.”

“I’ll forget where we are if I do that.”

“We’re in our quarters together.”

His hands drifted lower.

“Russal, can we go slowly?”

“I am going slowly. I’ve no intention ofstartling you, my love. Kiss me.”

“And then?”

“I’ll kiss you back.” His fingers strokeddown the back of her thighs.

She dug her fingers into his shoulders. Inthe shadows, she caught a smug smile on his lips. He deserved tohave that smirk taken right off his face. So she kissed him,demanding his full attention. His hands grew very still, and thenshe forgot all about his hands.

Chapter Six

A pounding broke throughthe haze of feeling warm, engaged in something Kambry could notfathom but didn’t want to stop to figure out. Somehow they had madeit out of the stairwell and were laying on the floor only a fewfeet from their bed.

“Russal, what is that noise?”

He stared down at her, his eyes gainingfocus, a sense of connection to where they were coming into hisexpression.

The pounding repeated itself.

“Here love, let me help you up.” He stood,straightening his tunic and giggling at her effort