Fuck me.
I have to bury my head into his shoulder, biting hard enough to make him jump as I take a moment to adjust. He feels so big in this position, the fit so deep, that my muscles immediately clench around him. I have to concentrate to ease the tension in my body as his hand strokes gentle circles at the base of my neck.
“Fuck, Ana,” he curses lightly, taking my chin so he can lift my face to his. “If you’re not careful, you’ll destroy me.”
I don’t have the breath to tell him that it’shimwho’s destroyingme.Even as our bodies are connected in a way that claims the deepest corners of me, I want more. And part of me wonders if this feeling will ever stop. What if I can’t get over this hunger I have for Leon? What if he’s ruined me for anyone else?
I have to find a way to banish the thoughts. Luckily, all it takes is a slight circle of my hips, sending a bolt of raw pleasure through me.
“Do that again,” Leon growls.
I’m only too happy to obey, rolling my hips against him. With each undulation, he reaches deeper within me. As I build momentum, he joins the rhythm, thrusting up into me as my body descends to meet his. My hands grip his shoulders, fingernails leaving grooves in his flesh. I tilt my tailbone slightly, and his cock hits a tight bundle of nerves right at my core.
The sudden explosion of sensation rips a cry from my throat, and Leon keeps me there, hitting the same spot over and over, making my whole body quiver. It’s not rough and raw-edged like before. Instead, he takes me slow and sure. There’s a kind of certainty to our movements, like we could stay here forever. Our bodies locked in perpetual ecstasy, worshipping each other.
Maybe that’s it—neither of us want this to end because we may never find anything like this again.
At the thought, I bring my lips to his, drinking in the taste of him, inhaling his scent. My hands run over his shoulders, savoring the lines of his body, committing them to memory. There’s an edge of fear to my exploration, as if I’m trying to hold onto the beauty and power of him, feeling it slip through my fingers.
But I can’t fight the building pleasure. Can’t run from the sparks dancing through my body. They engulf me like a wave on a stormy sea, sweeping me into my climax. I feel the warmth of Leon spilling inside me.
I ride him until we’re both utterly spent.
And when I fall against his chest, catching my breath, I know I’ve probably made a terrible mistake. He brushes my hair from my face, but I can’t meet his eyes. I wanted to just feel with Leon, but now I’m afraid I feeltoomuch.
Instead of clearing my head, I’ve only made things even murkier.
After that night, Leon stops avoiding me. But I think we’re both too aware that with every touch, we’re saying goodbye.
It’s hard to be near him in a whole different way, kicking up confusing emotions as we eat and talk together. I’m almost glad when Ravesley interrupts our meal the next evening.
“We have to make a stop,” the captain announces.
“Why?” Leon asks, setting his cup down.
“We have to pick up some goods at the next port. I’ll take you where you want to go, just like Mr. Wadestaff asked, but I can’t just ignore my other business in the meantime.”
“Fine,” Leon says neutrally. “But you seem on edge, Ravesley. Why would that be, if your papers are as good as you claim?”
I’m surprised at Leon’s assessment, but when I think about it, the captain does seem more tense now than when we came on board three days ago.
Ravesley sniffs. “Deerfell’s got heavier security than most. Some port authority nonsense on behalf of the crown. I’m friends with the port manager’s clerk, but his bosses still might need to come on board. Just in case, you’ll have to stay hidden.” He pauses, waiting for us to object, but when we don’t, he presses on. “I can’t pass you off as crew; there’s no need for a riverboat like ours to carry so many sailors. But I have a suitable spot where you can stay during an inspection.”
“Very well,” Leon says. “When we get near the port, we’ll make sure to conceal ourselves.”
When Ravesley’s gone, Stratton leans over to me. “I don’t suppose you’d like to have a word with the crown and ask them not to search us?”
“She’sprobably the reason for the searches,” Phaia says, like Stratton’s an idiot.
“We don’t know that,” Leon says sternly.
But I can’t concentrate on what they’re saying since the name of the port has already caught my attention.
I know Deerfell. Otscold is only a day or two from there.
I hadn’t paid much attention to our route, and it’s a shock to learn we’re so close to the place that used to be my home. Especially when so much has changed. Maybe one day I’ll go back. I plan to send Tira a letter as soon as it’s safe. For now, however, I need to focus on reaching the safe, quiet future I have planned for myself. One that doesn’t include a certain gray-eyed fae.
It’s early morning, before the sunrise, when Ravesley’s crew rouses us from our beds to tell us we’re approaching the port town. As we collect our weapons—me with the knife I’m allowed to permanently wear again—Leon and the soldiers seem confident enough. But Ravesley and his crew are nervous. The smugglers keep sliding looks at us as they move about the ship, preparing space to offload cargo and load on new goods.
