Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121339 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 607(@200wpm)___ 485(@250wpm)___ 404(@300wpm)
“So you were mighty.”
“I was. And naturally gifted in my physical abilities, as well. I set hard to training, at first because the kingdom was watching. I wanted to earn my place in the family—the place my mother had died to give me. Then the court started to grow wary of my constantly growing power. They started to mistrust me. So I trained to keep busy. I spent all my time training—hiding, really. I made myself more than just my magic and stayed out of the court’s eyes while I did it.”
He twisted to grab a washcloth and a chunk of soap from the stand. His arms came around her, and he rubbed the cloth against the soap before sweeping it over the dips and curves of her body.
She closed her eyes as he washed her, letting her head fall back to rest on his collarbone, feeling his touch as it moved along her skin. “In turn, you scared the court more because of it.”
He soaked the cloth in the water, washing it of soap, before dripping it over her skin. “Yeah. I learned that too late.”
“Don’t we always?” she whispered, angling her head to the side so he could run his lips across her shoulder and up her neck. “Did your father blame you for your mother?”
“No. He blamed himself. That’s why the court is failing. He is wallowing in misery. He has lost control, and the vultures are circling.”
She lay harder against him, reaching back to loop her arms around his neck. She thought about all he’d said. What a tragic past. He’d caused a rift just by being born, through no fault of his own. Because yes, with that level of power, physically and magically, it was no wonder they wanted to get rid of him, especially with the throne in jeopardy. He was powerful beyond compare, decorated, tight friends with soldiers, and a natural heir. He would be the number one contender to take over for his father. No surprise that he’d ended up here.
“It would’ve been helpful if I’d known you then so you could’ve filled me in before I ended up in this situation,” he murmured, tracing endless loops across her pebbled skin, where the warm water ended and the cool air of the bathroom began.
She breathed out, falling into the feel of his touch tightening her core.
“I’ve learned all this in the last handful of years, like you,” she said. His fingers moved up and down her arms and across her stomach, as though he were memorizing every inch of her skin. “In your situation, I likely would’ve ended up in the same place. Well…I kinda did, didn’t I? With godly magic that will get me killed. A perfect pair.”
His hands drifted up her stomach. The mood deepened, their movements slowing.
“Yes, a perfect pair,” he said, and she could hear the conviction in his voice. The truth. He wasn’t lying. He wasn’t being sarcastic. He actually thought they were perfect together.
Strangely, surprisingly…she agreed.
She lowered her arms, letting her hands fall. They landed on his, and she directed them farther upward. His palms moved over her breasts.
He breathed out heavily. His thumbs stroked across her budded nipples. He kissed her cheek, then waited while she turned so he could kiss her lips.
“All I thought about today was getting back to you,” he admitted, his tone deep and filled with reverence. “I was finishing what had to be done so I could see your beautiful face again. So I could taste your perfect lips. I haven’t known much of heaven in my life, but lying here with you, feeling the closeness of your flesh, it was worth the deal I made. It is worth all the hardships I’ve endured. If I only know this moment, it will have all been worth it.”
She deepened the kiss, desperate for him. Needing to feel him deeper. “Make love to me, Tarian.”
He reached lower with one hand, down over her stomach and on between her thighs. She sucked in a breath as his fingers explored.
“I nearly lost my mind when Glimrey suggested I loan you to him.” He leaned forward and nipped at her neck. “I wanted to kill him on the spot. It took all of my control to stop at a threat.”
His finger moved in a tight circle. She pushed her knees wider and drank in the sensations.
“I want to mark you so badly,” he murmured.
“Won’t you be embarrassed that I’m human?”
He breathed out a laugh, stroking down and in, the heel of his hand grinding, hitting everywhere at once. His other hand kneaded her breast. She arched, his fingers plunging, her body tightening up.
“Fuck ’em.”
She lost her breath as he worked faster, stroking her higher. She rolled her hips as the pleasure pounded, as she braced at the edge, and then she was flying, hitting her crescendo and coming apart.