A Most Dangerous Weapon

Chapter 30: Confused Enjoyment

I can't enjoy this... it doesn't mean anything. It's just Rowan's plan to save us and nothing more. He's my partner in crime; the boy I'm working with to dethrone the Emperor. He's Maximus' son and my ex-husband's brother. He doesn't even know how to love...

This means nothing.

I have Arrian.

I can't enjoy this...

But a small part of me did enjoy it.

Rowan's hands brushed over my chest to pull the fabric of my chemise down further to expose more of my chest. I told myself that it was just his way of showing the approaching guards that I was a woman, but that didn't explain why he brushed his lips over the tender skin as well.

I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't stop him. In fact, I seemed to encourage him.

I dug my fingers into his hair and pulled him back up, sighing with excitement with every touch of his lips against my skin, he began to trace the lines of my various scars across my shoulders and back up my neck. He then followed the lines across my face. I dug my fingernails into his shoulders in desire.

He finally paused with his face hovering over mine. The tip of his nose carefully brushed mine as he gazed into my eyes. I was getting lost in the glistening blue jewels before I knew it. He softly brushed his thumb over my lips.

It seemed like he was asking for permission; he wanted to kiss me.

There's a loud crash as the door to our room flings open. I screamed involuntarily and naturally turned away from the prying eyes, embarrassed that we had been caught and that I had almost kissed another man. I suppose I never needed Rowan's instruction on this aspect of the plan to begin with...

Rowan props himself up to expose my female form as he turns to address the intruders, "Do you mind?! Things were just about to get good in here!"

I couldn't help but wonder if he was actually acting anymore. He seemed genuinely aggravated and sexually frustrated.

When the Romallian guards don't leave immediately, Rowan shifts his weight onto his elbows to free his hands so he can fidget with my blouse to cover the tops of my breasts from prying eyes. "Stop leering at my girl!" He shouts before waving his hands erratically. "GET OUT!"

They must have been satisfied with the scene before them; they wouldn't find the two assassins in our room. "Our apologies... carry on."

They close the door in a lighter manner from which they entered.

I turn back to check that the coast was clear, but my gaze stops as I lock eyes with Rowan's once more. He's looking down on me, only this time his face is much further away and he's expressionless. There's no desire, no passion, no enjoyment, and no urgency. He doesn't look like a man who just ravished a woman, even if it were a planned move for escape. His face is just... blank.

I stumble over my words, "You can get off-"

"Shhhh." Rowan presses his finger to my lips to silence me. The gesture wasn't nearly as tender as his thumb's graze earlier. "They're still here."

We both fall silent as we listen to the commotion coming from the landing just outside the door. The Romallian guards seem to be discussing their next move. Footsteps clank across the wooden floor as they move towards the stairs. They march downstairs into the crowd below, and then their voices fade away as they exit the establishment to continue their search.

In a flash, Rowan removes his finger from my lips and then pushes himself off of me. He sits on the edge of the bed, completely unaffected by what just happened between us.