Chapter Fifteen #2
He kissed up her neck then down to her collarbone, his hands reaching down, down, down to her wet pussy.
The back of her shoulders met the hard wall as he pressed against her, his finger sliding over her slick opening.
Teasing her. Aoife bit her lip, clinging to him, her fingernails digging into his broad shoulders.
For one intoxicating moment, he looked into her eyes.
The lust in them made her wild. She undulated her hips onto his hand, begging him to have his way with her.
He obliged. Slipping inside her, he finger fucked her.
Again. Again. Again.
Aoife’s groans were raw and guttural as she came, wet hot passion exploding inside her. She panted and shook in his arms as the aftershocks of the orgasm rocked through her. Shadach kissed her neck, holding her close.
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
Aoife jerked at the unfamiliar voice. A priestess with eyes the colour of rain-stained earth and hair wilder than Aoife’s own stood just inside the room.
“Do you need more time to worship?” she said.
Aoife glanced at Shadach. She was still hot. Still ready for him. From the looks of things, so was he.
“We do have quite a lot to get through, though,” the priestess said, her voice trailing off at the end.
“Get through?” Aoife struggled to pull her gaze from Shadach. He was looking at her with such passion. Such hunger.
“The lessons. On disguising yourself as a priestess.”
The lessons. The priestess lessons. Shite. She needed to be responsible now, didn’t she?
“You must be Tara.” Aoife struggled to get her robe back on, helped by Shadach, though it seemed to physically pain him to cover her body. She mouthed “sorry” and he mouthed back “later.” Aoife flushed hot at the thought of what “later” might entail.
“Nice to meet you, Aoife.” Tara nodded to her. “Emperor.” She nodded to Shadach. He stepped back, discomfort flitting past his gaze.
“I’m not the Emperor, yet,” he said.
Tara shrugged. “By the way, Aoife, the Head Priestess told me about your interest in the Gates.”
Aoife’s chest went tight. What was Tara doing? Talking about the Gates out of nowhere. She didn’t want Shadach knowing about the Gates. He would think she was insane … or that she was trying to make sure she had an out. An escape. Leaving him to deal with this mess himself.
“I thought,” Tara continued, “you might—”
“We can talk about that later,” Aoife blurted out.
Tara hesitated. Glanced at Shadach. “Of course.”
Shadach looked to Aoife. “What Gates?”
Aoife looked back at him, feeling small.
What Gates. Oh, don’t worry darling, it’s only the Gates of Desire.
The Gates I walked through to find my soulmate.
Which may or may not be you. No, no, I promise your life isn’t in the hands of a silly airhead searching for true love.
But also, no pressure on that true love thing.
Oh, and let’s not forget that I might need to make a quick get away back through the Gates if Aristen finds us and I want to live.
You’ll be fine on your own, right? The thought of escaping through the Gates without Shadach twisted Aoife’s stomach … and her heart.
“It’s …” Aoife glanced around, trying to think of the right thing to say. “A game. The, uh, the priestesses told me about.”
A game? What sort of idiot cover story is that?
Aoife had no justification. She’d panicked.
A slight chill ran through her at the thought of an invisible Shadow seeping into the air because of her lie.
Did a ridiculous lie create a more ridiculous looking Shadow? Once it was old enough to be visible.
“A game.” Shadach’s voice was curious. A bit strange. He glanced at Tara. “Really?”
“Certainly,” Tara said. “From Xana history. Aoife and the Head Priestess were discussing it.”
The priestess’s face was cool and calm, her smile as she lied impeccably natural. Aoife couldn’t help being impressed. Without missing a beat, Tara had turned Aoife’s ridiculous lie into something seemingly legitimate.
“And I wanted to know more,” Aoife said, trying to channel Tara’s ease. “It’s silly, you wouldn’t be interested.”
“You never know,” he said with a cautious smile. “I might be.”
“Really. It’s silly. I’ll see you later?” Aoife said in a hurry.
“Yeah … sure.” Shadach reached for the door. Glancing back at Aoife, he said, “If I’m not busy.” Shadach left and Aoife felt as if she’d been slapped.
If he’s not busy? What did that mean? Were they not going to pick up where they’d left off a moment ago? Aoife looked to Tara as if she could tell her what had happened, but Tara was busy digging a couple books from a bookcase Aoife hadn’t even noticed earlier.
“You two make lovely worship.” Tara said, flipping through one of the books.
Aoife blushed. “T-thanks.”
“It will be a pity when you have to stop.”
“Yes, I—” Aoife paused. Replayed Tara’s words. “What do you mean ‘have to stop’?”
“Well, perhaps the princess will be open-minded, but most aren’t. Even if it’s about worship.” Tara swept across the room and handed Aoife one of the books.
Aoife took it with numb fingers. “What princess?”
“The one the Emperor will marry.” Tara floated back to the bookcase, biting on her thumbnail as she searched for the right volume. Finding the one she was looking for, she said, “Everyone’s best guess is Princess Yala of the neighbouring Kingdom of Tears.”
Aoife felt as if shards of ice were needling their way into her heart.
Of course. That made sense. Didn’t it? An emperor was royalty.
Royalty married royalty. Shadach didn’t talk much about becoming Emperor.
It was easy to forget that was why they were in this mess.
Feeling faint, Aoife sat in a nearby chair.
Of course. What did she think was going to happen?
She hadn’t thought. She’d just been feeling.
Aoife could hear Mum tsk-ing in her head.
She hadn’t thought about the future. About what happened when they left the Temple of Lust. About what happened if Shadach really did become Emperor.
She’d just been thinking about Shadach and sex and the way he made her feel.
You thought you were going to be … what? An Empress? Mum’s voice chided.
“But,” Tara pulled up a chair beside Aoife, “you know what they say about all good things. Now.” Tara tapped the book in Aoife’s hand.
She was saying something. Aoife knew Tara was speaking, but Aoife could not hear the words.
The sound of ice stabbing into her heart, the organ cracking and bleeding, was too loud.
Was that why he’d suddenly pulled away? Had Tara calling him ‘Emperor’ reminded him of his future? Of reality?
Reality. Aoife needed to get back to reality.
“The Gates.” Aoife cut Tara off mid-sentence.
Tara blinked as if trying to figure out what odd word-association game Aoife was playing. Then, she nodded. “Ah, the Gates of Desire.”
“What did you find out about them?” Aoife’s voice sounded like it didn’t belong to her. Like it wasn’t coming out of her throat.
“I found an incantation. Old, very old.” Tara reached into a small pocket in her robe and pulled out an even smaller scroll. “I wrote it down for you, in case you were interested.”
Aoife took the tiny scroll in her hand. Her fingers shook. She rolled the scroll open, revealing its contents. The words weren’t right. This one was too short to be the incantation she’d used before.
“Will we continue with the lesson?” Tara said.
Aoife looked to the book in Tara’s hand. Her future here in the Kingdom of Shadows was one of danger. Of good things coming to an end. Either naturally when Shadach became Emperor or violently when Aristen found them. What lovely futures those were. Aoife looked to the scroll.
Perhaps, there was more than one way to summon the Gates.