“You’ve really got the bedroom eyes technique down pat in this second section,” I murmured, trying to think of when I’ve ever been so embarrassed.
“I had a lot of time to think when I was out in the wild alone,” he said, closing the book and handing it to me. “About you. About us. About how I’ve acted this summer, and since waking up.”
Lorcan inches down the bed and rolls onto his side, head propped on one hand. “Zosia, I’m so grateful you gave me one more chance.”
As if I weren’t embarrassed enough already.
“You were really thinking that about me?” I blurt out, meaning the sex sketches, because of course that’s what I would focus on. The corners of his eyes crinkle.
“Constantly.”
The heat crawled down my neck and across my chest. Lorcan chased the telltale pink flush with the tip of his finger, trailing down between my breasts. It’s not as though we haven’t been sharing a bed—not chastely—for the past six weeks, and well before that, too. I still turn shy at the thought of tomorrow night’s significance.
“I think about you that way too,” I whispered, then instantly wished I could take it back. I don’t know why; it’s not a secret. When you’ve had to hold everything in since you were a young child, talking about feelings becomes harder than it should be.
Easier to show than tell.
I scooted down and rolled half on top of him, pushing Lorcan to his back. He didn’t hesitate to strip me of my nightshirt. I relieved him of his, too, admiring the play of muscles beneath marked skin. The story of a journey undertaken without fully understanding the import, etched onto his body forever.
To get here, to me.
I love every healed wound. I am humbled by the way my hands catch wherever I touch him. Everywhere except the hard ridge beneath me. I rocked my hips against him. A single layer of fabric between us. I brushed back his hair and bent to kiss the mark left by the wound that came so close to taking him away from me forever.
“One more night, knight,” I whispered.
He groaned, clutching my hips and rolling me along his erection. I grabbed the headboard and sucked in a harsh breath as he did it again, harder, nearly hard enough to make me come. I followed the motion. Pressing hard. Not letting up. Lorcan’s blue eyes bored into mine, bright slivers beneath a cage of lashes.
The last thing I saw before he flicked his thumb over my clit and brought me down mercilessly. Using my body, racing toward completion, as a tight pulse of pleasure forced a strained moan out of me. My movements would have stuttered had he not kept driving me hard until wetness soaked the cloth between us and we came to a slow, shuddering halt.
Lorcan urged me aside and kicked out of his soiled pants. He pulled me into his arms. Naked, we pressed close together, sharing kisses, sharing breath.
“One more night,” I said, again. “You’re on notice.”
He chuckled sleepily.
“Don’t worry, Princess, I’m more than ready.”
FRUIT
CHAPTERTHIRTY-THREE
Iwas still mostly asleep when Lorcan rolled out of bed, kissed my cheek and whispered, “See you at the Temple, Princess.”
I fell back to sleep. Never been a morning person, not even on the day of my own wedding.
Eventually, one of my new maids ventured into the bedroom to rouse me. From there, the day was a blur of activity with an inordinate amount of time devoted to the grooming processes I tend to neglect when left to my own devices.
“Clever of you to tap Arya and Scarlett as reporters,” Rya complimented me during the carriage ride to the Temple Plateau. “Gives my daughter something productive to do.”
“That reminds me. Make sure we get pictures of her new Converse. I have an idea.” I tapped my lower lip with one finger and scanned the lengthy checklist lying on the vanity table. Ifran was kind enough to have one hauled up here into the vestibule behind the statue of the Goddess.
Right now, our newly minted royal guards were clearing the last of the mourners from the Hall of Ancestors, where a display has been posted for the past week for anyone to come and honor their lost loved ones. Flowers and sketches are piled higher than my head against the mausoleum wall. We finally moved Cata into the square with my parents, and carved all three names on the stone closure. Together for eternity.
I wished they could be with us today. In one sense, they are.
Lorcan and Tovian were using the secret laboratory below to prepare.
Raina didn’t come. It’s too close to her due date, and she hasn’t quite forgiven Lorcan. Or me. Hallie and Laila are here, though.
