Chapter 56
I wake next to Varrik, marveling at the presence of him. At the comfort I feel with him beside me. He’s still asleep, his expression relaxed and open, sated and serene. I let myself bask in it, keeping my head on the nook between arm and shoulder.
As if he can feel my wakefulness, his eyes open, his palm sliding possessively over the curve of my ass and squeezing. We haven’t dozed long, maybe only a couple hours, but I feel renewed.
Though I’m not sure I can credit the sleep.
I realize then that I’m . . . messy. I can feel the evidence of our coupling upon the inside of my thighs, cooled and caked to my skin.
His hand comes up to brush against my cheek. “A blush?” His voice is rough with sleep and all the more enticing. “After what we just did? Tell me what has you so scandalized.”
“Nothing.”
His eyes fill with mirth and he presses a thumb into the dip of my side, hitting a ticklish spot that makes me jolt. “Stop!”
“Tell me.”
I squirm in shyness. “Well, it’s your fault.”
The corner of his lips lift. “My fault?”
“Yes! You left a mess when you . . . finished.”
He makes a low hum that sounds more like a growl of pride. “Did I?”
He releases my ass in search of the spot between my thighs. Panicked, I slam my knees together, trapping his wandering hand before he can reach it. “That’s high enough!”
His expression turns wickedly indulgent. “Not nearly.”
I roll my eyes, though my cheeks are now burned to a crisp. “It’s not polite to . . . talk about the mess, let alone try to feel it.”
I’m mortified. Can’t believe I even have to say such a thing. Theo never liked messes. He finished, pecked a kiss to my cheek, and left to clean up. Not once did we . . . cuddle. Certainly never fell asleep in each other’s arms.
Then again, he never brought me pleasure like that either. Just thinking of it, of the utter rapture that Varrik lured from my depths . . .
“Now what are you blushing about?”
“Nothing!”
I try to move away, but he yanks me up his chest until we’re face-to-face. He leans forward and bites my lip, but I keep my mouth clamped closed.
He narrows his eyes. “Open.”
I shake my head adamantly, solely to rile him up.
“Either part these lips or I’ll ruck up these sheets and devour the lips between your legs instead.”
I stare at him wide-eyed, shocked.
Thoroughly aroused.
“Well . . . that’s not polite either.”
He laughs, and I swear to the Fates, I will never tire of that sound. “On the contrary. I think it’s very polite.”
I continue to gape at him, which earns me a smirk. “I can see we’ll have to move slowly with the thorough debauchery I plan to bestow upon you.”
“That sounds unholy.”
“Downright sinful,” he drawls. “Now kiss me, or I’m going to pin you to this bed and tongue your cunt, sucking your clit until you—”
I slam my hand against his mouth to stop the profanity from pouring out. I don’t think my heart can take it. “Okay!” I squeak. “I thought you’d be better behaved after spilling inside of me.”
He chuckles against my palm, and then I lower it, noting the sharp victory coming from his feral grin.
“You’ll see that now you’ve let me between your thighs, I’m going to be more deviant than ever.”
A thrill shivers down my spine, and I can’t help but smile. “Oh. Well . . . good.”
His grin widens.
Before he can do anything else, a small meow sounds right outside the door. “Oh, it’s my cat!” I try to leave, but his hold won’t relent. I scowl down at him. “Varrik.”
“A kiss,” he commands.
Smirking, I finally lower myself and kiss him, and he holds the back of my head, tilting me in just a way that he can take my mouth that much deeper. His strokes against my tongue make heat pool between my thighs so that when he pulls away, I’m a panting, needy mess.
“There. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
His arrogance makes me arch a brow. “No, but you are.”
He groans as I rub over his length, just as another mew comes from the door. I move fast, spinning away and purposely slamming my butt against his groin, right on top of that very hard piece of him.
An oomph bursts out and then a deep groan as I drag myself over his cock before I pop up to my feet. “Blight.”
Laughter bubbles out of me as I pad across the room.
“Come back to bed. Right now.”
“Can’t,” I chirp, turning to face him. “I hear my cat.”
He’s braced on one elbow now, watching me like he’s calculating exactly when to pounce.
And I’d let him, because he looks good enough to eat.
His muscles and smooth skin are on display, and I can’t help but trace every chiseled line with my gaze. The way his skin molds into a V that points down toward his groin, the way his biceps bulge and his hands rest with a quiet strength pumping through the veins that root up to his arms.
His sculpted body is a mastery of lust.
When his eyes sparkle with intent, excitement bolts right down into my bones, blood and all.
I quickly turn and unlatch the door before I turn to jelly, opening it just enough for my cat to slink in before closing it after her.
I crouch down, scratching her fluffy head.
“You’re such a good kitty, aren’t you?” I ask, and I hear a whispered curse behind me that is extremely gratifying, fully knowing he’s looking at my ass, feeling emboldened that I’m the one who makes him feel such desire.
I’m in shock that I get to have this. Even more desperate to keep it.
The cat mews, sounding a bit cranky, and then trots away to jump onto the chair in front of the hearth, before coiling into a circle as she settles in for a nap.
“I guess she got tired out too,” I muse as I straighten up.
“You’re not nearly as tired out as you can be,” Varrik rumbles from the bed. I look over as his fiery gaze drags over my nude form. My hair is in tangles, the ends hanging around my hips, and it’s the only thing giving me any sort of cover. His voice goes rough with hunger. “Come here.”
Temptation rings through my muscles, but I shake my head. “I’m going to bathe. No more of your debauchery, sir.”
His eyes flare at the title, and I grin, body bracing for a chase when his lips curve. The spot between my thighs warms, even as it aches from being so thoroughly worked. But I want him again. He looks so delicious propped up on my bed and the sheets tangled up around his hips.
Just as I start to take a step toward him, a knock sounds on the door. I freeze and then cast a frantic look at the state of myself. At our clothes scattered on the floor and the scent of sex in the air.
There is no doubt what we’ve been up to in this room.
I snap my head toward him with wide eyes, only to see he’s still grinning.
“Go answer the door!” I hiss.
He lifts a shoulder. “Can’t.”
“Piper.”
“Blight,” he purrs.
“You’re horrible,” I growl as I run and yank up my linen dress from the floor. I hurriedly tug it over my head, but it snags on my horns in my rush, trapping me as I desperately try to pull it down.
I jump when Varrik’s hands appear, hearing his muffled chuckle as he takes pity on me. He helps me tug at the fabric until he successfully pulls it down over my head. “There.”
“Thank you.” I turn toward the door as I shove my arms through the sleeves and quickly try to finger comb my hair. I grip the knob and then pause, shooting him a glare. “Put your pants on!” I whisper-hiss.
He chuckles again but turns, and I’m stuck staring at the flex of his ass as he walks. He picks up his trousers and slips them on. When he looks up, he catches me ogling him and his eyes dance.
My face burns, and I wrench my head around to face forward again and quickly pull open the door. “Yes?” I falter. “Oh, Wend.”
The servant eyes me with a pinched expression. “I’ve brought your supper.” She looks me up and down with such judgment that even my bare toes curl. I don’t dare tell her that Varrik sent up an early dinner and that I already ate. That wouldn’t go over well at all.
“Thank you.”
With a stiff nod, she passes a tray and then turns to leave. I watch her for a moment before closing the door again.
Varrik’s trousers hang low at his hips, and he arches a brow. “More dinner?”
“I did work up an appetite,” I say with a shrug. “Let’s eat a little something and then I’ll bathe.”
We move aside the other tray of food, and Varrik pulls me onto his lap.
The tray isn’t as filling as the one he had sent up, but it’s good to snack on.
And thankfully, it doesn’t appear to be prisoner gruel.
There’s fresh bread with sliced meat, and a piece of honey cake that he keeps feeding me with his fingers, eyes flaring each time my tongue darts out to lick my lips.
The rain starts to ebb as night sets in, and once we’re done, Varrik builds up the fire while I bathe.
He combs my hair afterward, as I sit in front of the flames in a robe, my skin tingling at his gentle touch.
It feels so intimately domestic, lulling me into a sense of comfort I never thought possible.
When another knock comes at the door, my cat mews in irritation before shoving her head farther into the cushion.
“Cranky thing,” Varrik says as I get up. I tighten my robe and tread across the room, hoping it’s not Wend again as I pull open the door.
I pause, finding Lacera there.
“Oh, Lacera. Hi,” I say haltingly.
Varrik makes a noise behind me, and Lacera’s gaze jumps past me, spotting him. I look over, seeing what she sees: his chest still bare, nothing on but his trousers slung low at his hips.
My face goes up in flames.
She clears her throat. “I couldn’t find you, so I came to see if you were here talking to the fiend. I can see I was only half right,” she mutters.
I step aside as Varrik comes over. “What do you need, Lace?” he asks with an edge of irritation.
She dips her hand into her pocket before thrusting out a letter. “Your messenger arrived. Said this was for you. It’s from Hamelyn.”