Chapter 12
Chapter
Twelve
Aiden almost didn’t catch Riona as she swayed and started to sink to the floor. His arm shot out just in time, and he pulled her back up.
“Riona,” Aiden said as he gently shook her. She was practically asleep on her feet, and their return trip through the portal hadn’t helped.
“That was worse than last time,” Riona mumbled and then leaned against him heavily.
“No more portals for you any time soon.” He wasn’t about to put her through this again. Seeing Riona in discomfort bothered him more than he cared to admit.
His eyes traveled to the songbook that somehow was still safely tucked in the crook of her arm. He carefully took it from Riona and set it on the kitchen table. Ava hopped up and sniffed it and then shot him a look of admonishment as if she were scolding him for Riona’s current state. Thunder crashed outside. She would be a lot worse if they’d flown.
Aiden scowled at Ava. She ignored him and sauntered over to the edge of the table to watch the portal from the Unseelie Court fade.
“I think that might be a good idea.” Riona slumped in a chair. Her fingers ran over the leatherbound book gently. Ava butted her head against Riona’s hand who stopped touching the book and began to tiredly pet the cait. Her hand stilled after a minute.
“Let’s get you to bed.”
Riona let out a strangled sound, and her cheeks flushed. “I should not have acted the way that I did tonight.”
“All forgotten. It was your first time at the revels, and you got caught up in the moment. I did a lot worse at my first revel.”
Riona rose unsteadily from the chair. Aiden didn’t think, he just swung her into his arms, ignoring Riona’s sound of surprise.
“It would just be easier if I carried you.” She nestled her head against his shoulder in acquiescence.
“I won’t argue. My feet are killing me, and my head is spinning from the portal.” She reached out and plucked the songbook off the table.
Aiden carried Riona to her room, with Ava following in their wake. He tried the door but only managed to fumble with it. A little paw pushed on the door, and it swung open. Aiden shot Ava a grateful look. Having a cait did have its benefits. She trotted off down the hall instead of going into Riona’s room.
He sat her down on the bed gently, and Riona wiggled on the mattress with a happy sigh. Very carefully, he took the book from her and set it on the table beside the bed. She smiled up at him. Her eyes were clearer. The portal sickness was waning, but she still didn’t look great.
“I’ll be right back.” Aiden left Riona’s bedroom and made his way into the kitchen.
He pulled out a mug and then got to work preparing a remedy that always helped him after a revel. As he dropped in the final ingredient from a small vial, the blue liquid in the cup began to bubble, and Aiden smiled. The tisane would help Riona immensely.
Riona was lying on her bed, still fully clothed, when he returned. She hadn’t moved. Her eyes fluttered open when he neared the bed. She accepted the mug and took a sip. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she took another sip. A silver halo encased her briefly. Her skin began to lose the sickly paleness and returned to normal. Her green eyes regained their sparkle too.
“What is this?” Riona asked.
“An old pixie remedy I learned a long time ago. Kills pretty much any common ailment brought on by a revel.”
“This is magic. I feel like myself again,” Riona said, draining the cup.
Aiden smiled in response. It was good to see her no longer in pain.
“Thank you.”
“I’m not sure you should be thanking me.”
“Yes, I should. I should be thanking you for many things and not just the drink. Because of you, I learned so much about my mother. I’m no fool. There is no way the queen would have spoken to me if I’d somehow managed to bumble into the court on my own. She wouldn’t have given me the time of day.”
Aiden refused to meet Riona’s eyes. She stood up and placed her hands on his shoulders. “I know you asked her to talk to me and promised her a favor if she did. Thank you.”
One of her hands left his shoulder and touched his cheek. He looked at her and saw how brightly her eyes glowed with admiration. It scared him. He wanted to run away from her, but a bigger part of him wanted to make sure that she never stopped looking at him like that.
“For you, I’m starting to realize that there isn’t much I won’t do.”
Riona didn’t respond, but hope flared in her eyes. Aiden took her hand from his cheek and kissed it. She closed her eyes and sighed.
“I don’t want to hurt you. That’s the last thing I want to do.” The confession surprised him, but he meant every word.
Riona pulled her hand away from him. Her expression was clouded. “But what if you do?”
“What if I don’t?”
“Do you want this?” Riona asked. Her eyes were searching.
“Yes,” Aiden whispered. He wanted Riona. But he didn’t just want her body. He wanted her smiles. Her laughter. Her anger. Her tears. Her heart. He wanted everything she was willing to give.
“So do I.” Riona pulled him towards her, and then she kissed him.
Her lips were soft against his, searching. He let her explore for a moment, and then he took over. He deepened the kiss, and she let out a little moan. The velvety softness of her lips was almost too much for Aiden. He wanted to devour her. He grazed his teeth against her bottom lip, and she let out a moan. Her hands dug into the fabric of his shirt. Their tongues tangled, and their bodies pressed together. With a growl, Aiden broke the kiss, and she looked up at him questioningly. There was a small amount of hurt in her eyes.
“Did I do something wrong?” she asked.
“No. You did everything right.”
“Then why did you stop?”
“I’m worried that this is too much too fast for you. Tonight was—” Riona cut him off with a laugh.
“Tonight was wonderful and terrifying at the same time. But it’s not over.” Riona fisted his shirt in her hands and lowered his face toward her once more. Then their lips met again. This time, the kiss wasn’t gentle. Their teeth clicked together with the force of impact, but Riona’s only response was to slide her tongue into his mouth. Aiden’s eyes glazed over with pleasure. He buried his fingers in her hair and deepened the kiss. She let out a moan that sent his cock throbbing in desire. Aiden came up for air.
“Riona, are you absolutely sure you want this?”
“Yes! Do you want me to beg?” The idea of Riona on her knees made Aiden’s cock even harder.
“Not this time.” He smiled wickedly at her, and then his hand slipped her dress down her shoulder. She helped him by tearing at the other side. The dress gave, and she pulled on it until the top of her body was bare. She stopped. Her hands twitched like she wanted to cover herself, but she looked up at him almost defiantly instead.
His fingertips traced the line of her body until they stopped at her hips, where the dress had banded. “May I?” he asked.
She nodded wordlessly.
His fingers slipped against her flesh, and he pressed the dress down further until it fell to the floor with a silky whisper. He took every inch of her in. Committed every line to memory. He never wanted to forget this moment. Never.
“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” His fingers brushed against her cheek whisper soft. He guided her toward the bed until the back of her legs hit the mattress. Never breaking eye contact, his hand pressed against her chest, pushing her down until she sat on the edge of the bed. Aiden spread her legs apart. She looked up at him questioningly. Without breaking eye contact, he lowered himself down between her knees. His hands spread her thighs further apart to accommodate his broad shoulders, and she gasped when he started trailing kisses on her thigh.
She smelled spicy and sweet and absolutely delicious. He wanted a taste. His tongue traced the seam of her pussy, and she gasped. Delicious, but it wasn’t enough. He delved his tongue deeper, and Riona’s gasp turned into a moan. Each stroke of his tongue took in her essence. When he pressed his tongue on her clit, Riona bucked against him. He smiled to himself and licked the sensitive little nub over and over. She rubbed against him with each lap of his tongue. When his fingers thrust inside of her wet cunt and she almost flew off the bed, Riona grabbed his head and wrapped her legs around him.
Every little moan and movement went straight to Aiden’s cock. His fingers and tongue worked her over until she let out a scream, and her body pulsed with an orgasm. He licked her one more time, and her body twitched. The only noise filling the room was their harsh breathing. Aiden stood and stared down at Riona. Her wide eyes met his, and then she sat up.
“Your turn,” she said. “How do you want to come?” Her expression was clouded with lust. Aiden wasn’t sure how, but his cock got even stiffer.
“Inside of you.”
Riona got up on her knees and pulled his shirt off. His fingers were already working at the ties of his pants. He tore them off and kicked them across the room. Riona sat on the edge of the bed, watching him. Her wet cunt glittered in the moonlight, an invitation he wasn’t about to ignore. He grabbed her legs, and her body fell back onto the bed. He rubbed his cock against her, and she opened her legs even wider. He pressed his cock into her. She was so tight he had to go slow, but he didn’t stop. He pushed into her inch by inch. Unyielding.
Pain flickered across Riona’s face, and Aiden paused. He started to withdraw.
“Don’t stop.” She tilted her hips upward, giving him deeper access, and his cock slid in further. Her wetness gripped him like a vise.
“As my lady wishes.” Inch by inch, his dick sank deeper inside of her. She was so damn tight it almost hurt. She squirmed against him as he filled her until he bottomed out. Her body slowly relaxed, adjusting to his size. He withdrew and slid back inside of her. She was so fucking wet. He thrust again, and she met him, her pussy clenched around him. She took everything he gave her and gave back. Soon, they found a rhythm. He spread her legs wider and began to fuck her harder. Her hands clawed at the bed.
Each thrust threatened to send him over the edge, but he wasn’t ready to come yet. He continued to pound into her until Riona let out a cry, and her body arched against the mattress. She came hard around Aiden’s cock. Her muscles squeezed around him so tightly it almost hurt. Almost.
Feeling Riona come brought out something primal inside of him. He wanted to fill her up until she overflowed with his cum. His grip dug into her thighs, and he started to pound into her. She keened as his body drove inside of her, and soon she was having another orgasm. This time, Aiden came with her. Hard. Exploding with a feral growl.
Their bodies locked together, Aiden shuddered with release, until he disengaged and fell beside her on the bed.
Aiden gasped for breath. It had never been like that before. He’d never felt such a connection or need to be with someone like he did with Riona. He looked over at Riona. Her eyes were wide and unseeing. Her chest rose and fell rapidly in the aftermath of their coupling. Her skin glistened, and her hair fell around her wild and untamed. She was so beautiful it hurt Aiden’s heart.
Finally, her dazed eyes met his. There was fear there. It didn’t take magic to know she was afraid of what happened next. He reached over and pulled Riona against him. He held her until both of their breathing eased, until she fell asleep. He lay there afraid. A voice inside of him told him to run, but he didn’t listen. Instead, he lay there holding Riona, and for the first time in a very long time, Aiden was at peace.