“Wh—what’s kinship?” she managed as he came impossibly close to her. She had to remind herself, over and over, that despite her attraction to Conall she didn’t know much about him, much about anything he said.
He closed his hand over her hair and cocked his head to the side. “Soft.” Eyes lowered to her lips and Vivienne inhaled deep and unconsciously parted them. His eyes flashed yellow for a brief moment before he turned away. Vivienne watched him in confusion as he said, “The law of kinship can be applied to any two creatures joined by a blood or familial bond. Cronin tried to claim kinship of you and your sister through your grandmother.”
“He didn’t succeed, right?” Still not sure exactly what kinship meant, Vivienne knew that whatever it was, if Cronin got it, it was bad.
“No. I made a counter-claim for you, and Cassandre has the right to choose.” He faced her, and his voice was strong when he said, “Even if Cronin had gotten the Council to vote in his favor, I wouldn’t let him have you.”
She nodded and slowly approached him. Conall’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t move away. When her hand landed against his chest, his gaze fell to her lips.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
***
He didn’t hear the words, but saw her lips move. Conall felt the beast stir. Hell, it had been stirring long before now, with Vivienne’s scent so strong on the air. He nodded and was about to force himself to leave the room—he’d been unpredictable of late, and she was the last person he wanted to hurt—when she stepped into him, pushed herself onto her toes, and placed a quick kiss to his jaw.
Her eyes rested longingly on his lips before she tried to step away from him. Conall secured her waist in the crook of his arm, and Vivienne gasped, and then moaned as he pulled her tightly against him. His erection pressed into her belly, and she boldly slid her hands into his hair and pulled his head down to hers.
Conall felt his control snap. It was as if the thread holding it…just vanished. He lifted her easily, growling against her lips when her legs wrapped about his waist. Her tongue was eager in its exploration of his mouth, and he quickly took them to the bed. He deposited her, none-too-gently, but Vivienne had the same wild look he was sure dominated his entire being. He’d tossed his shirt and was about to unzip his pants when small, soft hands pushed his away. Giving him a saucy smile, Vivienne turned her attention to his belt. She slowly pulled it from his jeans, falling back onto the bed as she did so, and licking her lips. She was teasing him. Dressed in a measly T-shirt with a seductive, needy look on her face, Vivienne was teasing him.
She came upright once more and slowly tugged at his zipper, turning her head to the side to watch him as she pushed his jeans down over his hips. Eyes narrowing dangerously, Conall pushed her back onto the bed, and tugged both his jeans and boxers off.
Her eyes widened as they settled on his arousal, and a small “o” formed on her lips.
Conall smelled her fear, and it overrode her desire for him. The beast retreated slightly and a smidgen of sanity returned. It was enough that Conall might have been able to willingly remove himself from her room.
“Vivienne,” he began, only to stop abruptly when she pushed her hips off of the bed and reached both hands under her T-shirt. Her eyes, golden and shining brightly with passion, no longer fear, locked on his as she slid her underwear down her legs and then dangled it from her fingers, baiting him.
In the next instant, he was settled between her thighs. His erection nudged her slick folds, and she whimpered before lifting her hips to his. Conall leaned down and kissed her, probing her mouth with his tongue until she moaned his name, and twisted her head away.
“Please,” she murmured.
Pushing himself to his knees, he ripped through the fabric shielding her body from his. He groaned as he looked down at the perfection of her body, before he lowered his head to her breast. As far gone as he was, as much as he wanted his cock buried snugly in her. He had to taste her.
Her fingers slipped into his hair, holding him against her as her hips rocked up against him.
“Conall,” she moaned, and he licked his way down her body. He lifted her hips and she parted her legs further for him.
Conall growled and lowered his head, pulling her nub into his mouth as he pressed a finger into her sex. Her body clutched at him, and she bucked against his mouth, pressing her fist against her own to keep her screams of pleasure bottled. Although needy for his attentions, she remembered that she was in her parents’ house. Conall didn’t have any such qualms. He wanted Vivienne, and regardless of where she was, he was going to have her.