57. Riggs
RIGGS
No way in hell am I leaving Esemeray alone with these murderers.
As Riggs snuck toward the women’s quarters, he kept a careful eye on the stationed guards, ensuring he wasn’t spotted. Three were standing near the dining hall, their bright feathers swaying. And another two posted across, their gaze sweeping intently.
Shit.
With Dungeons of Secrets and Lies tucked tightly to his side, he sprinted into the shadows, keeping his head down, and moving silently. Good thing they had the book shelved in the room he was staying in, along with a few others. He figured Esemeray would like something to keep her occupied.
One step at a time. He swiped a flower from a nearby vase. Another step. Swiped another flower. And another.
Reaching the corridors, he turned the corner, blowing out a breath of relief.
Thank the gods. Riggs pinned his gaze on the door ahead, his heart and legs surging.
He hoped Esemeray was well after the insane night they had.
He’d never say it aloud, but he was glad for Killian taking care of her when he couldn’t.
Should I knock?
Don’t be a fool.
With slick palms, Riggs turned the handle, and the breath escaped his lungs. The moon’s glow shone through the windows, beaming along Esemeray, sleeping.
Safe.
The pale shine amplified her beauty, and right about now, he wished he had his sketchbook. What a sight.
He closed the door behind him, locking it, and placed the book and flowers down on the table next to her.
Softly stroking her cheek, Riggs whispered, “I love you. Sweet dreams.” He admired her for a moment longer before he sank into the chair across the room and kicked off his boots. He sighed, his tension easing. Now I can relax, and finally sleep.
“Who’s there?” Esemeray’s voice trembled through the dark.
Riggs froze, heat blooming across his neck. “It’s me, Riggs.”
Brilliant. Lurking in the dark like a creep.
“What are you doing all the way over there?” She patted the bed. “Come here.”
Riggs sank onto the edge of the mattress. “I didn’t feel right leaving you alone after tonight.” He reached for the book and gently placed it on her lap, his knuckles skimming silk. “And I wanted to bring you something in case you grow bored or need to take your mind off things.”
Esemeray smiled, tracing her finger over the title. “How thoughtful, thank you.”
“How are you holding up?” Riggs asked, rubbing his knees, needing to do something with his hands.
“Better now that you are here.” Esemeray placed the book back on the night stand, adjusting the comforter over her waist. “Did you know Izara has powers?”
A shiver ran down his spine at the mention of Izara. “I did, yes.”
“Exactly what can she do?”
“How do I explain this?” Riggs blew out a breath, looking toward the ceiling as if it held the answers. “She can take over somebody’s mind.” Riggs stiffened, meeting Esemeray’s gaze. “Some people say she holds the highest power in this temple.”
“Is that why she kissed you? Were you under her control?”
Riggs shook his head, his heart plunging into his stomach. The room was far too dark to glimpse her features, too dark to read her body language.
Fuck.
Is there a candle in here?
“Riggs?”
“Sorry.” Riggs explained with a sideways smile, “She claims she never used her power on me. Truth is, I’d never truly know if she has or not, but tonight, I was conscious…
of the kiss. I—wasn’t paying attention. I had been so focused on you, I hadn’t seen her coming.
” He huffed, reaching for her hand, and rubbed his thumb over the smoothness of her skin.
“But it’s not an excuse, and I am truly sorry that happened, Esemeray. I take full responsibility.”
Esemeray’s eyes fell to the bed, her breathing increasing. “Oh…I had figured as much.”
Riggs' stomach dropped. “Esemeray, nothing I say will take back what happened, but I love you, and I?—”
“I forgive you.” Esemeray palmed his cheek, sending a shock through his body. Riggs wrapped his arms around her and kissed her once.
Twice.
Thrice.
He didn’t stop after that, not as he planted endless kisses on her mouth, on her cheek, her neck. Esemeray giggled, squirming beneath his hold. “Okay, okay. Let me go!” But he only held on tighter.
“I will never let go. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not in a million years.” Riggs came up for a breath, and said, voice rough, “You are the only woman I want to kiss until the day I die.” And he meant it.
Esemeray tucked her hair behind her ear. “Is that so?”
“It is,” Riggs admitted, his stomach somersaulting.
Esemeray pulled in her lips, smiling. “I did not ask about Izara because of what happened tonight… I simply asked because my shadows were interested in her.”
Riggs arched his brow. “Oh, yeah?” He had seen the shadows, then in a blink, they disappeared.
“If I tell you something, please don’t think I’m crazy,” she murmured. “It’s been on my mind since it happened.”
“I’d never think you’re crazy,” Riggs said.
“The shadows talk to me,” Esemeray declared, her tone laced with uncertainty, and fear.
“You hear voices in your mind?” Riggs asked, taking in the information.
“Yes.” Esemeray tangled her hands together.
“And tonight, I spoke to them.” Riggs listened intently to every word.
“They spilled from my hands, and I demanded they return to where they came from.” She went silent for a moment.
“They did as I wished.” She shrugged, her voice trembling, “I don’t know what I am. I’m really scared, Riggs.”
Riggs leaned in, stroking her hair. “I’m going to research all that I can. We will get answers.”
“What if you cannot find anything?” Esemeray huffed in his chest, her warm breath seeping through his garment.
“Me? Riggs Whitlock, not find something?” he teased. “Oh, I will find something, princess.”
“Did you just speak about yourself in third person?” Esemeray chuckled, pulling out of his hold.
“Do you have a problem with it?” Riggs cocked his brow, grinning. “I’m the tallest, and the smartest in Aldmoor. Do not underestimate me.”
Esemeray rolled her eyes. “You are so full of yourself.”
“I have gold medals to prove it,” Riggs said with a lazy smile.
Esemeray tapped his shoulder so gently it felt like a feather. “You do not.”
“I do.” Riggs leaned forward, and said with a smart-ass smile, “I’ve won many medals.”
Esemeray hummed. “Sure.”
“You think you’re so funny mocking me all the time.” Riggs tickled her side, and she jolted. “You will pay.” He tickled her harder. Esemeray let out a hearty laugh, sprawling her hands out in front of her.
“Stop! It tickles!” Esemeray squirmed beneath him, kicking her legs. “Riggs!”
“I’m not stopping until you believe me.” Riggs gravitated toward her belly, applying the perfect amount of pressure. Esemeray snorted, unable to speak. And he had never heard a silent laugh until tonight. Riggs cracked up, slightly easing up on her.
“Okay, okay! I believe you!” Esemeray shrieked, still trembling uncontrollably.
She’s ticklish here. Riggs smirked.
“Please!”
Riggs raised his hands up. “Okay, truce.”
Esemeray laughed, catching her breath, and rested her head on his shoulder. “Truce.”
Riggs' heart warmed. “I love your laugh, Em.” His voice was a murmur, his fingers running down her back, getting lost in her hair.
“And I love yours,” Esemeray said with a sigh, her chest rising and falling quickly.
“I sort of love everything about you.”
Esemeray’s breathing fell silent. “Everything?”
Riggs nodded, pressing a kiss on the top of her head. “Everything, princess.” He smiled. “I love your eyes. They remind me of the most perfect chocolate truffles.” He kissed each lid.
Esemeray chuckled softly. “Chocolate truffles?”
“The sweetest kind too.” Riggs rubbed his thumb over her mouth, tracing each curve.
“And gods, your lips… I never want to stop feeling them on mine.” He smiled wide.
“I love that you love animals.” His face softened, eyes full of awe, and said slower, “I love that you can become any animal…” Riggs huffed a quiet laugh.
“Don’t be shocked when I want to run experiments on you. ”
Esemeray’s mouth fell wide open. “Riggs!”
“What?” Riggs shrugged. “I’m searching for a cure, give me a break.”
“You are not sticking needles in me.” She shook her head. “You have lost your mind.”
“I haven’t lost my mind… I am just lost in my mind.” His fingers gravitated toward her chest, his thumb skimming beneath her collar bone. “I am undeniably the biggest fool for you.”
Esemeray’s features softened. “Riggs…I love you.”
“As do I,” Riggs murmured. “My shadow, shifter princess.”
Esemeray beamed, fixing her stray hairs. “Speaking of my shadows, they seem to like you.”
“How so, princess?” Riggs swallowed hard. At least they don’t want to kill me.
He’d take that as a win.
“When you touch me…I can feel them beneath my skin, as if they want to touch you, too.”
A halfway grin curved his lips, his hands roaming down her spine. “Well, tell them I say hello.” His voice was a low rumble.
“Okay—” Esemeray yawned, snuggling on his chest. “I will.”
He brushed her arm. “I do wish the sun would rise already.”
“I thought you like the stars,” Esemeray whispered.
“I do, but I would sacrifice them so I can see you. It is far too dark in this room.”
Esemeray’s expression softened. “There is a candle on the vanity.”
Oh, thank gods.
Riggs wasted no time as he lit the wick.
A yellow glow spread throughout the room, illuminating Esemeray so beautifully.
Her hair was down, curling over the gown, and gods help him, he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself, not with her looking like that, not with her nipples pebbling through the silver silk.
Fuck.
“I see they gave you nice pajamas.” Riggs cleared his throat, motioning to his garments. “They gave me these.” He grinned. “I know, I know… I look ridiculous.”
“You look handsome in anything you wear,” Esemeray murmured, running her hands over the gown, over the places he longed to touch. “Want to trade? I’d rather be wearing long sleeves anyway. I’m quite cold.”
“Cold?” Riggs inched closer to her, straining to keep his distance. “We don’t want that.”
She slowly shook her head, her voice dropping to a whisper. “No, we don’t.”
“What are we going to do about it?” Riggs asked, climbing into the bed, wrapping the blanket around them, his eyes never leaving hers.
Esemeray’s breathing hitched, goosebumps spreading down her arms. “I don’t know. What are we going to do about it?”
Riggs smirked, his heart pounding. “I have a few ideas.”
Her fingers ever so gently curled into his tunic, pulling him closer, a shy smile spreading across her face. “Tell me, how do you plan on warming me?”
He pressed a kiss to her neck. “One, I could hold you.” His mouth lowered, hand rising to her breast. “Two, I could kiss every inch of you.”
Esemeray rasped, skin flushing, “And three?”
His cock twitched.
“Three…” His eyes danced with desire. “I don’t think you’re quite ready for three.”
“What if I am,” Esemeray murmured, toying with the neckline of her gown. Her hands trailed lower, sliding past her hips, bunching the silk higher in her palms. “We are alone.”
Riggs released a raspy breath, his eyes darkening as he took her in beneath him.
“Oh, princess.” Slowly, he slid the straps of her gown down, exposing her breasts, and pressing a kiss to her chest before he placed her nipple in his mouth, and sucked.
“I do not wish to cause you pain, only pleasure.” Esemeray arched into him, making his cock desperate for friction, desperate to be buried inside of her.
“I want you tonight and forever.”
A silly grin plastered across Riggs' face. “Forever is a long time with a goof like me.”
Esemeray shook her head, her features slackening. “Forever is not long enough.” She cupped his cheek, her legs spreading beneath him. “Riggs… If not now, I fear we won’t ever get the chance.”
“There is no rush…”
“I know…” Esemeray spread her legs further.
Brushing her face, Riggs said, “I do not demand this from you. I can wait for however long, or never if you choose. I will still love you all the same.”
“Riggs…”
His eyes fluttered shut from how she whispered his name with so much need, so much longing. “I do not wish to hurt you.” He buried his face into her neck, breathing her in, engulfing himself in lavender and something else. Vanilla?
Esemeray gripped his chin, forcing him to meet her stare. “If pain is the cost of loving you, then I will gladly pay.”
Riggs' chest tightened. “But I only have three flowers.”
“I do not need flowers.” The beautiful, delicate column of Esemeray’s throat worked. “I need you. Do not deny me.”
“I would never deny you.” Riggs searched her eyes, and then pressed his lips with hers.