Chapter Fifty-Seven
Aeri
The Northern Pass, Khitan
I’m lying on a soft fur as snow falls gently all around us. I stare up at the billion stars and the waving haze of the Night Rays of the Sun King.
And, best of all, Royo is on top of me.
He kisses me, savoring my mouth while he cradles my neck in his hand. He’s taking his time, whereas I’ve been on a mission to get his clothes off. My legs are wrapped around him, but we’re both sadly still fully clothed.
I sigh.
Finally, he gives in. A little. He slides off his jacket and then a vest that contains a shocking number of knives.
For the first time since I can remember, I don’t think about stealing a weapon. I don’t think about anything other than him.
Royo takes his shirt off, and I do as well. But I leave on my camisole, so I don’t scandalize him just yet.
He stares down at me. “Ten Hells, you’re beautiful.”
His compliment flushes through me, and then his weight is on me again. I run my hands over the broadness of his back and shoulders. His skin is scarred but so much softer than I expected. I’m savoring every place I get to touch, every bit of him that he’s allowed to be exposed. And yes, fine, I’m also trying to push his pants down. In fairness to me, though, I’ve thought about this a lot .
But I get distracted by his touch. His rough hands roam over me—my arms, my breasts, and my waist. He’s trying to be gentle, but his touch claims every inch of me. I make sure not to flinch or recoil, and he doesn’t graze my amulet again. I really don’t care about time right now, though. All I want is more of this.
All I want is more of him. Yet even though his desire presses into me, he doesn’t try to undress me.
I take it back—he’s killing me. I’m aching for him. The throbbing between my legs is intolerable.
I slide my pants down, and he stops kissing me and pulls back, away from me.
Oh no. Gods. My stomach flips. I could not have ruined this again. Embarrassment makes me want to curl in a ball. He pulled away again. I should’ve taken things slower, just allowed them to unfold.
I am the court jester of trying to get Royo to bed me.
He sits on his knees, then reaches into the tent. His hand comes out with the other blanket, and he lays it over me. It’s the brown fur one he wrapped around my shoulders after he saved me from drowning.
“What’s this for?” I ask.
“I didn’t want you to get cold.” His face is so pure and thoughtful. My heart flutters. It literally feels like a caged butterfly.
“Come keep me warm, instead.” I push the fur aside. I’m naked except for my camisole, so I take that off, too.
He groans, and his eyes change. Something in him, that last shred of reserve, breaks. We’ve finally kicked off our boots, and he slowly takes down his pants and his underwear.
Worth. The. Wait.
He slides his body over mine, but instead of kissing me he makes a trail down the center of me. Each place his lips hit leaves my skin feeling aflame. It’s nearly the same sensation as when I’m furious—a burning at my core, racing through me, until I feel like I’ll ignite. But this time it’s so pleasant. All the sensation converges between my thighs, molten and waiting.
This isn’t my first time, but it’s my first time wanting someone so desperately. He’s made it down to the pit of my stomach when I start shamelessly begging.
“Please, Royo.” I moan. “Please.”
He smiles, looking up at me. “Please what?”
I groan. Terrible man. He knows exactly what I want.
“I’m going to pass out and explode at the same time,” I say.
Royo laughs and shakes his head. And gods, that smile. “Impatient little thief.”
He shifts my leg, bending it up, then kisses by my knee. I grab at the blanket as his lips tease the delicate skin of my inner thigh. I’m going to pull every piece of fur out of this if I’m not careful. I shake from anticipation, my hips arching, begging.
“You’re ruining me,” I say.
He stares into my eyes. “I’m about to.”
Then his mouth is on me, and I gasp, seeing stars.