“It’s gotten a little warm at night,” Her voice was just as foreign as my own. Her cheeks were stained pink in the low lighting and I wondered if they tasted as good as they looked.
My brows pulled together as her words registered. “It’s almost winter. Our first snow is right around the corner.”
The stupidest words I could have ever said. Her bright lavender eyes flicked away from me to the ground as she took a deep breath and I knew I screwed it all up.
She closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip again and I was a puddle, a big sopping, stupid puddle. She could have told me to impale myself on my own sword and I would have done it. There wasn’t a single thought in my head that made sense and before I knew it was in front of her, brushing her hair behind her ear, tracing the curve of her jaw.
“I’ve thought about you like this more times than I could count,” I leaned forward and ran my lips across her neck. “Every night you’ve invaded my dreams. My thoughts. You’ve consumed everything and I don’t know how to get back.” Her pulse was erratic under my touch. “All I want to do is pleasure you.”
CHAPTER NINE
JUNIPER
A tingle raced down my spine and I didn’t know how I was still standing at his words. One of his hands was buried in my hair while his other was slowly tracing my body on the outside of my nightgown.
Sita had been right but victory was the last thing I could think of when Ryven’s lips met the side of my neck. With every touch, I was on fire. My knees trembled as I fought to stay standing. If it hadn’t been for the wall behind me, I would have gone down to the ground the moment his sword had. The look of devotion on his face was enough to bring down an army. Every wall he’d tried to put up between us crumbled to nothing. At least I hoped it did. Those thoughts meant nothing as his tongue and mouth continued to descend down my neck to the top of my nighty.
His heated gaze flicked up to mine, as if he was asking for permission and I was gone. Everything that I thought this was, everything I imagined this night to be was nothing. Nothing could have prepared me for this moment. When his rough fingers skimmed the edge of my thigh, I nodded frantically. I wanted him. I wanted the kind of pleasure he promised. When his lips found my skin again I was done for. A moan slipped frommy lips and my breathing intensified. This was it. Everything I’d read in Reva’s books was about to come to life.
When his fingers brushed over the most sensitive part of me, my legs buckled. In seconds, he was up, and had my legs wrapped around his waist. The pillows from my previous home were still scattered about on the floor and he wasted no time spreading me out on them. The little bit of fabric I wore hiked up my thighs and Ryven missed nothing. He was back covering my body with his before I could think to utter a word. As much as I hoped he would kiss me, I wanted him to touch me even more. When his hands grazed the inside of my legs once again, I was a mess. I bit my lip to keep myself from crying out.
“I want to hear every sound, I want it imprinted in my memory forever. When I think of you like this, with my hand on myself, I want your cries of pleasure in the back of my mind.”
My mouth fell open at his words and only fueled the fire burning through my veins. No one had ever spoken to me like that before and it did nothing but make me want him even more. He pulled away from me to yank his shirt over his head and I thought every thought had gone right out of my head when he’d touched me. No. I would never be able to recover from the way his body made me feel, the way it looked, and the way it felt pressed against me. If this was to be a simple fling, I would hold onto it for the rest of my days. The memories would keep me comfortable and warm at night.
His lips quickly found the side of my neck again while his hands did quick work of his leather pants. I was dizzy with it all. I didn’t know what to do with myself. This was all so new and intoxicating.
When his lips finally found my own, I knew what the heavens felt like. His lips were slow and curious against mine as his hands trailed along my skin. Every nerve ending in my body was alight. His mouth was gone from mine too soon and quicklytraveling down the side of my neck and then to the top of my nightgown. His bright eyes begged for consent and I nodded it against the pillows. Before I knew what was happening, his mouth was covering one of my nipples and gently tugging it between his teeth. With the friction of the thin material and the warmth of his mouth, I didn’t know how anything could feel better than this. Nothing could feel better than this until his fingers slipped between my legs and stars danced behind my eyes.
Whimpers and moans filled the space between us and echoed around the room but I was too far gone to care about the way I sounded or the way I looked writhing beneath him. He chuckled against my other breast and my stomach clenched with pleasure. His fingers continued to work against me and I didn’t know how anything could get better, I didn’t know how I could possibly continue until… I couldn’t.
Colors, sounds, and euphoria exploded behind my eyes and I felt like I was flying. I rode wave after wave as Ryven continued to lick and suckle at my skin. He placed a kiss on my heaving chest and leaned back on his knees. His eyes were still dark and the evidence of his lust strained against his untied pants. His lips were curled in satisfaction but I didn’t know how he could possibly be sated. I hadn’t hardly touched him, he’d be so focused on me and my pleasure. I sat up and reached for the rest of the laces on his pants, not exactly sure what I was going to do, but willing to figure it out. It was only fair.
He shook his head before raking his fingers through his hair. “That won’t be necessary.”
I frowned. “Do you not want me to take care of you?”
His chuckle was low and sensual and started up everything all over again. “I would love nothing more but I know if we continue down this path, I won’t be able to stop and for right now, I need to stop.”
I leaned back against my elbows and nodded my head. I didn’t understand but if he wasn’t ready, I wouldn’t push. I wouldn’t want anyone to treat me in that manner. He pressed a chaste kiss to my lips and rocked back onto his feet and all I could do was sit there dazed. What did this mean?
The next morning,my body felt renewed, refreshed, and somewhat different. More than anything I wanted to run down to Sita’s shop but I knew I couldn’t. That would give everything away to Ryven and I wasn’t so sure I was ready to kiss and tell.
I didn’t know what I expected as I rolled out of the warm bed, but it wasn’t an empty home. Ryven wasn’t in his quarters and Alric wasn’t here either. Which didn’t seem right. The night before, Ryven was quick to excuse himself into the bathing chamber and I fell asleep quickly waiting for him to come back. He didn’t come to my room and I didn’t know why I thought he would. Just because we shared something physical didn’t mean it was more than that, right? There was a spread of fresh pastries and roasted meats on the table in the kitchen but they were cold. He must have left early. I swallowed back my sadness and tried to eat quickly.
When I yanked the front door open, Alric was leaning against the wall on the other side. His eyes slowly roamed my body from head to toe. “I was told not to enter the home in case you were indecent.”
I blinked slowly. What did I say to that? Under his scrutiny, my cheeks heated. His grin was lazy and knowing. What did Ryven say to him? Obviously enough.
“I am decent,” was all I could mutter, too afraid I would give more away.
“What I’m trying to figure out is why he would warn me of such things. I didn’t realize you made it a habit to go around someone else’s home exposed.”
“I wasn’t exposed,” The lie sounded wrong coming from my lips because I had been. I’d been so very exposed. There wasn’t much to the imagination with that gown and I loved it. It felt freeing, invigorating, and empowering. I’d never looked in the mirror and loved what I saw but watching Ryven love what he saw did something to me. It changed me. I cleared my throat nervously as I waited for my friend to say anything but he simply kept staring at me like he could see through my lies and maybe he could being the Spy Master.
He hummed in the back of his throat. “Where are you off to?” I honestly didn’t have any plans. I wanted to get out of the house, that was for sure but I didn’t know where I planned to go. Honestly, I would have been happy to go anywhere. “Thought you could sneak off, did you?” He didn’t seem upset with this question, merely amused like always.
“I’m dying to train again,” I prodded.
