“You feel so good, Annora.” His lips find my neck, kissing and biting his way up to my ear. “Tight and wet and perfect.”
A moan rips from my throat as I dig my fingers into his back. “I need...”
“What do you need?” He pulls back enough to stare at me. “What do you want, love?”
“You,” I say, my voice shaking with need. “All of you.”
He lowers me onto my back and pulls my legs over his shoulders, giving him even deeper access. I move with him as my breath comes in short, staccato gasps.
“You’re so beautiful like this,” he says, reaching down to tangle his fingers with mine. “So fucking beautiful.”
I bite my lip against a cry as he pushes me higher, teetering on the edge of pleasure so intense it’s painful. Then, he strokes a thumb over my clit, and I shatter. My body convulses as wave after wave of pleasure rip through me.
He follows me, spilling into me with a hoarse cry. And for a moment, we stay like that—joined, breathless, our hearts racing.
This was everything I have longed for. Everything I needed. Everything I never thought I would find.
But I did, with this man who is supposed to be my enemy.
The entire world could try to drive us apart, and we would still find our way back into each other’s arms.
Moonlight filtersthrough the wooden slats in the stables, painting silver stripes across Jasce’s sleeping face. His arms cradle me against his chest, and our legs tangle beneath his cloak.
For one perfect moment, I let myself pretend that this is our normal. That I’ll wake up in his arms every morning for the rest of our lives.
Then, reality returns.Ourreality.
I have no choice but to walk away and return to the fortress.
Sadness wrenches at my chest as I trace his jaw, memorizing the stubble beneath my fingertips, the curve of his lips, the fan of his dark lashes against his cheeks.
I love you.
I love you so much.
The sadness deepens as I slip away and pull on my clothes. It’s better this way, walking away, leaving him when he’s sleeping. I’d never be able to leave if he were awake.
With shaky hands, I pull the letter out of my cloak and tuck it against his side. He doesn’t stir, doesn’t try to stop me as I back away.
Tears blur my vision as I reach the stable door. My hand trembles against the rough wood as every part of me yearns to run back to him and curl into his warmth.
But I can’t.
A sob catches in my throat, and I hold my hand to my mouth, muffling the sound.
I’m so sorry, my love.
But I have to do this.
For Emerin.
For our people.
For you.
Chapter Fourteen
Annora
