The Hatred That Binds Us

Part 2

Despite not being able to see her in the darkness of his room, Iarfhlaith knew she was there. The soft scent of black currant and gardenia gave her away. The last time he had felt her perfume had been thirteen years ago, when she set an ambush to assassinate him, and the floral scent haunted him ever since. The insolent woman he loathed tormented him. Not because of the uncertainty of when she would strike again, but because no matter what he did to forget the feeling of her body under his, Niamh Ceallach was etched in his very soul.

Keeping his breath steady to trick her into thinking he was still asleep, he reached under his pillow and wrapped his fingers around his dagger's bejewelled handle. Iarfhlaith felt his mattress sinking as she slowly climbed on top of it to straddle him. As soon as the cold steel of her blade grazed the skin of his neck, he wrapped her waist with a strong arm and rolled her over, pinning her between the bed and his body and pressing his dagger against her throat.

The red-headed woman who was peacefully sleeping next to him woke up startled and jumped to her feet, rushing to light the candles next to the bed. The king narrowed his green eyes as soon as the face of his attacker was illuminated by the candlelight. They stared at each other for long seconds, panting and pointing their blades at each other'snecks.

"Niamh." He dropped his weapon to grab her wrists. The corners of his mouth curved in a smug grin. "Why don't you quit those childish games of yours and simply confess your undying love for me, once and for all?"

"Love?" She scoffed, struggling to break free from him. His grip tightened around her wrists, keeping her in place. "I would rather have a hot iron poker shoved far up my ass." 

He lowered his head, and he could tell the feeling of his hot breath against her skin made her shiver.

"That can be arranged." Without looking away from her, he instructed the woman still standing by the bed to leave his bedroom.

"Shall I send the guards in?" She asked, her voice barely a whisper.

He shot a warning glance in her direction, which prompted her to leave without another word. He looked back at Niamh. She looked like a deadly angel with her long auburn curls spilled all over his pillow, filling his mind with sinful thoughts.

"Come on Sunbeam, you've been out to get me since we were sixteen and– "

"Fifteen." 

He looked at her with a puzzled expression. 

"What?" 

"I've been out to get you since we were fifteen." She kneed him in the groin, making him howl with pain. Iarfhlaith let go of her instinctively and she took advantage of it, rolling to get on top of him once again. "I will not fail this time."

"I see you still enjoy being on top." He relaxed under her, sliding his hands teasingly along her muscular thighs. He felt her slowly melt under his touch, and the look she gave him made him immediately hard. "Don't do this to me, Sunbeam."

"Do what? Kill you?" She wet her lips as soon as she felt his cock pressed against her, and he couldn't resist the urge to slide his hand under her shirt to feel the softness of her skin. He moved one hand up to cup her breast and stroked the nipple with his rough thumb, drawing a delighted sigh from her. She stared at the small scar on his neck, probably trying to keep focus. "How did you get that one?"

He chuckled.

"You ambushed me, darling. I have had you carved on me for thirteen years." He dug his fingers into her waist, fighting the animalistic urge to take her right there and then. "Get it over with, Sunbeam. Kill me"

She nodded.

"I will. There's just one thing I need to do before that happens."

"And what could that be, I wonder?"