Chapter 52
Mora
Mora’s breath caught in her lungs, her heart stalling. Could Eris feel the way she trembled in his arms?
His lips brushed against hers, soft and warm, and so gentle.
Part of her liked it.
Part of her needed it.
When she closed her eyes and kissed him back, Eris groaned, his hand dropping from hers to wrap around her waist and pull her harder against him. He took a step back while Mora stumbled over his discarded clothes and followed. A moth to his flame. Ready to burn.
Visions of golden leaves fluttered behind her eyes, a path of gilded daisies paving the way to him. The Fae waited for her beneath the giant tree, caressed in its gleaming aura, his hand outstretched, gold veins pulsing along his arm when her fingers grazed his.
It’s only us, Little Witch.
Mora softened at the sound of that voice, pressing further into Eris’s touch. His kisses slowed, his tongue meeting hers in a languid exploration, and she inhaled his delicious scent. It was like a breath of crisp winter air, blending with the remnants of mint on her clothing.
“I’ve imagined this night since we met,” Eris said against her lips, as if he were afraid to pull away, unwilling to lose the warmth of her body.
A flush flooded every part of her when Eris’s hand wandered down her lower back to cup her rear, tugging her against him so she could feel his every hard inch.
Dear gods.
Mora shuddered. Though, Eris didn’t notice the way she paused.
How her hand hadn’t drifted from where he’d placed it against his chest. His lips feathered her jaw, trailing lower until he ran his tongue along her throat and nipped.
She gasped at the sting—echoes of pain throbbed beneath his teeth, azure flashing in her mind.
“No!” She hadn’t realized she said it out loud, but Eris pulled back, his dark brown eyes softening.
“I’m sorry. I’ll keep my teeth to myself,” he murmured before brushing a delicate kiss over the spot he’d bitten—a gentle apology. Like he somehow knew she needed it.
“Thank you,” she said hoarsely. “It’s just...”
That I’m broken.
Those words died in her throat. Mora didn’t want him to be on her mind. To ruin this moment. To play a role in her life or any of her gods damned decisions.
“It’s been a while,” she offered, grateful she wasn’t Fae. That weaving a lie was as easy as breathing, so long as she remembered to keep her emotions off her face—she’d grown better at that since the day she was cursed.
Tonight she deserved something soft. Something that would help her forget. Something that was hers.
Her own fucking choice.
“Where’d you go?” Eris cupped her cheek, guiding her to look back into his dark eyes.
“I was lost in the labyrinth of my mind,” she said, unable to hide the bitterness. “Do you really want to know why I came here tonight?”
His lips thinned, but he couldn’t help the way they tipped up at the corners. “If it wasn’t for this, I’ve greatly misread things.”
Her fingers brushed over his tattoo. “I want to forget.”
“Forget what?” Eris purred, the warmth of his hand against her cheek so soothing she closed her eyes and leaned in.
“Everything,” she whispered, nuzzling his palm.
Eris dipped low, resting his forehead against hers. “You’re vaguer than I was with the snake.”
“And you’re going to let me get away with it.” When she looked up at him, he saw a challenge etched in glowing amber. A knowing. A fire that would burn everything around them before she shared another broken piece of herself.
Kissing the tip of her nose, Eris sighed. “You’ve seen right through me.”
“You didn’t exactly try and hide.”
“No, I suppose I didn’t.” Dragging his thumb over her plump bottom lip, he stared intently into her eyes. “If you want to use me, sweet Princess, you can. Whenever you’d like. For as long as you’d like.”
Mora sank her teeth down on the tip of his thumb, ever-so-slightly, the sting of pain surely less than what she’d cause him in the long run. Whether this was simply tonight or something more, they had no future... unless Eris enjoyed the idea of becoming a queen’s secret paramour.
“What’s in it for you?” She tried to step back, but his other arm still wound around her waist, holding her close.
“Oh, I’ll enjoy every second, Vicious Thing. That I promise you.”
“As long as you’re pleased.”
Rolling his hips, he reminded Mora of the hardness he hid beneath that thin strip of cotton. “I’m pleased enough seeing you so close to my bed. It’s your pleasure I’m interested in.”
“Show me,” she breathed, hating the sweat coating her palms. Praying he didn’t notice it when she slid her hands up to his shoulders.
“Gladly.” His lips crashed into hers, the kiss desperate this time. Hungry. Pulling her so firmly against his chest she melted into him.
Mora hadn’t noticed how he walked them toward his bed, too caught up in the feel of him. In the way those strong arms wrapped around her. In how he was somehow demanding and gentle all at once.
Then they were falling.
She squeaked when they hit the furs, the world spinning while Eris rolled her beneath him. His weight came over her, those steely arms resting on either side of her head. Caging her in. Mora pressed further into his bedroll, fingers curling, nails digging into his shoulders until he hissed.
“Careful, darling,” he muttered against her lips.
“I...” Pain lanced through Mora’s lungs, the air growing thin. Sweat slicking her skin while her pulse thundered. “Not like this. Please.”
Eris stilled, a worried gleam in his eyes. Then his weight lifted away and the air rushed around Mora and filled her lungs. She pressed a hand to her chest, curls slipping over her brow as she watched him settle by her side.
“You can have me any way you want me, sweetness,” he murmured, smoothing his hand along wrinkled furs.
They watched each other in silence, but for the thrum of her heart, its pace slowing with each steady breath.
Eris’s focus never leaving her face. “If you’d prefer to spend the night admiring me, I’m not opposed. ”
Gods, he was handsome. And so blatantly aware of it.
Mora laughed through her nose. “I’m afraid to inflate your ego any further.”
“It’s too late for that.” His abs flexed when he adjusted himself, rolling onto his back, hands rising to rest behind his head. “The moment I realized you were here, looking at me with those hungry eyes, my ego developed a life of its own.”
She swatted his chest. “I had no such look in my eyes.”
“Mmhmm.” A quiet chuckle rumbled between them, his low laugh curling around her, eliciting a giggle of her own.
She bit her lip, an idea brewing in her mind. “Don’t move, okay? And, no matter how much you want to, don’t touch me. Not until I say you can.”
Eris winced. “Oh, that’s torture.”
Her voice flattened. “Then I suppose I should go.”
“I never said I wouldn’t do as you asked.” A satisfied grin grew on his face. “But I’ll be eagerly waiting for your permission.”
Tension in her shoulders eased, her fingers uncurling. Control. That’s what she wanted. Needed.
Mora stood, and Eris whimpered, pouting pathetically while she snickered.
“I’m not leaving, I just don’t exactly need these.
” She took her time tracing the curve of her thighs, snagging the hem of her oversized tunic, the plush fabric sliding up her legs.
Fingers hesitating when she reached the seam of her leggings.
Mora couldn’t bring herself to look at Eris, afraid she’d lose her nerve, so she focused on the bed.
Eyeing those inviting furs. Wondering what they’d feel like on her naked skin.
Heat darkening her cheeks. How long had it been since she’d chosen someone?
Since she’d lain with a man because she wanted to?
She was tired of feeling broken. Sick of wondering if she could be with someone again. It was time to take a chance.
Mora peeled her leggings off slowly, tugging them down until they pooled around her feet.
“Dear gods,” Eris breathed, his voice guttural, his hungry eyes sliding over her naked thighs and admiring every whisper of warm, brown skin. His hand slipping down the hard planes of his stomach, and lower still.
Kicking her leggings aside, Mora decided that was all she wanted to remove, for now at least. Blankets dipped beneath her knees as she settled back on the bedroll. “No touching, remember?” she said, lightly slapping Eris’s hand away before crawling over him and straddling his thighs.
“Of course, Vicious Thing.” He tucked his hand back behind his head, mussing his messy black hair. “Come here,” he pleaded, tipping his chin up, lips swollen from their kisses. Eager for more.
She shook her head, opting instead to trace the muscles on his stomach, following the path of his touch. “You’re good at taking orders.”
“I’m a King’s Guard, Princess. One might say I was trained especially for you.”
She huffed a quiet laugh. “I doubt my mother had this in mind when she selected you.”
A splash of red bloomed beneath Eris’s cheeks, his gaze tearing away from hers to watch the forest’s shadows sway on the blue canvas ceiling. “I used to stare at your paintings in the castle halls, wondering what you were like. If I’d ever meet you. What you’d think of me if I did.”
What must it have been like for the guards while Mora was...
missing? There were so many questions swirling in her mind.
Questions she might ask one day, when she felt brave enough.
Tonight, however... “You have me now,” she said, pressing a kiss to his chest, lips grazing the snake’s head.
A quiet attempt to soothe the pain etched into his skin.
He tipped his head back, a slow exhale. “In a way I never imagined.”
They were more alike than she realized, betrayed by those they’d trusted. Those they’d loved. It soothed a broken part of her, knowing she wasn’t alone, and that maybe tonight they could heal. Together.