These Hollow Vows (These Hollow Vows 1)

“Bash, you can trust me. How can I prove that?” How can I make you believe this awful lie?

“You—we could—” Swallowing, he seems to consider his words, but then he shakes his head. “I won’t rush you into anything you’re not ready for.”

I slide both hands behind his neck and lift onto my toes to press my lips to his. If I ever questioned what I feel for Sebastian, this kiss is the answer. A simple brush of his lips and I want to wrap myself around him.

But again, Sebastian is the one who pulls away. His eyes are hazy with desire, but he takes a deep breath, steeling himself, then steps back.

I grab his hand. “Where are you going?”

His lips quirk into a crooked smile. “If I stay here, I’m going to kiss you again.”

I step closer. “That sounds nice.”

His eyes darken. “Don’t play games with me, Brie. I can’t handle it.”

I take another step and press my palm to his chest. “I’m not playing games.” And maybe at any other moment that would be a lie, but in this one, right now, it’s true. All I want is his kiss, his touch, his affection. I want to soak in as much of him as I can before he learns the truth about me and pushes me away.

Slowly, he lowers his mouth to mine. “My heart is in your hands, Abriella,” he says, a breath before our lips meet.

I don’t know if it’s his words or the gentle way he parts my lips with his, but I let everything else go in that moment. My mind goes fuzzy and my body comes alive. Sebastian’s hands stroke down my arms and back up, and every pass of his callused fingers sends an electric pulse through me. It would be so nice to hand everything over to him. He’s doing everything in his power to get Jas back, to protect me. I don’t want to deceive him anymore or sneak around. I don’t want to carry this weight alone.

Soon. It’s a promise I’m making to myself. One I’m secretly, silently making to Sebastian. As soon as my bargain with Mordeus is complete and my sister is safe, I won’t keep any more secrets. I’ll find a way to be worthy of this love he offers me. If he’ll have me.

I plunge my fingers into his hair, and the leather tie that binds it comes loose. I stroke my tongue against his, and he groans into my mouth—the vibration of the sound sending lightning flicks of pleasure down my spine. The kiss goes rough, deeper, and claiming.

He kisses his way down my neck, kisses the swell of my breasts, dips his tongue beneath the fabric of my dress. My skin burns with the need for more, the need for him.

He backs me up until the back of my thighs hit the side of the bed. I lower down onto it, my hands at his hips guiding him to follow.

“I can’t think straight when it comes to you, Brie,” he says, his breath hot against my neck. “I have duties to my family and to my people, but one taste of you and I want to forget everything.”

I hold his face between both hands and guide him to look at me. His eyes are dark and foggy with pleasure, his lips parted as he searches my face. “Then let’s forget. Just for these moments. Let’s pretend nothing else exists.”

His nostrils flare, and he lowers his mouth and sucks my bottom lip between his teeth. Groaning, he grabs the hem of my skirt, and I lift my hips to help him drag it up until it’s bunched around my waist. He settles between my legs and I can feel how much he wants me. I lose myself in the sweet weight of his body on mine, in the aching pleasure of his hand on my hip, his thumb brushing maddeningly over my skin.

He dips his head to suck at my breasts right through the fabric. I cry out and arch into him. My hands are everywhere—on his shoulders, then against his powerful chest and down his sides, then to his belt. I can’t feel enough of him at once.

He draws back and meets my eyes again. “Tell me you’ll be mine,” he murmurs. “Tell me you’ll stay here with me.”

“I’m here with you now.” Sadness muddles with passion, and my words crack as I offer the only promise I can. “I’m yours tonight.”

He tears himself away, and suddenly he’s off me and sitting on the side of the bed, breathing hard, head hanging. “I’m sorry.”

I prop myself up on my elbows. “Why? What’s wrong?”

He swallows hard and stands. “That was too fast. We’re moving too fast.”

Are we? It didn’t feel too fast. In fact, it felt right. Easy. And I know if he hadn’t stopped, I would have let him keep going as long as he wanted. Would that be so bad?