Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 109477 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109477 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 547(@200wpm)___ 438(@250wpm)___ 365(@300wpm)
He stiffened. Then she felt it. A pulse. Subsonic movement, a push from unseen forces.
He pulled back, the gold running around his pupils catching the light and sparkling like a real substance. A small crease formed between his eyebrows.
She started to shake. She couldn’t help it. She couldn’t stop it. He looked down at her body, seeing it.
“You didn’t see that thing charging,” she said in explanation, embarrassed.
“Don’t—” He placed a hand on hers where it had stopped in the middle of his stomach. He gave a smile, of all things. “The last thing you want to be is embarrassed about this reaction. I’ve seen battle-hardened warriors piss themselves when that thing comes around. It takes a team of powerful Celestials to bring one down. Few usually escape when it sets its eyes on them. And you had to brave it all alone.”
“Ah, but…” She shrugged, grinning, trying to get around the magical fear that had again taken hold of her body. “You were standing by.”
He barked out laughter and then groaned, leaning forward into her. “More like leaning by. By the time I reached my feet, I didn’t know how I’d take a step without passing out. Thankfully, you were able to save yourself.”
She threaded her fingers through his hair, tucking a strand behind his pointed ear. Her fingertips softly drifted down his cheek, over the stubble. His forehead rested against her shoulder, his hand still over hers.
“How do you feel now?” she whispered, wanting to tilt his head up and taste him again.
Hearing her thoughts, he straightened, and she could tell the movement took a toll.
“Not great,” she surmised as his gaze stamped her lips.
“Better.” His deep voice had reduced to a murmur. “It went from drowning me to merely consuming me. The plant helps, though it’s not a miracle. It does work on humans, by the way. Let’s put some on you.”
“Nah.” She leaned forward and touched her lips to his. He tilted his head, allowing for more contact. Their lips fit together like puzzle pieces clicking into place. “I’ve got a handle on the pain.”
His tongue swiped through her mouth before circling hers. She fell into it, her control wobbling. Her desire swept away rational thought.
He sucked in her bottom lip before backing off again. “Your turn. With that darkrend roaming around, we can’t do much but sleep, so let’s make sure we get some genuine rest. Minimizing the pain will help with that.”
“What if you need more, though?”
His grin was soft. “I guess I’ll have to go out and get some, hmm?”
He moved around her slowly, laboriously. With the bowl in hand, he inspected her back and then her side where she’d been in contact with him. His touch was warm and delicate, giving her goosebumps when he spread the cool gel. Almost immediately, the dull ache minimized if not subsided, working down into her body and quieting the pain.
She closed her eyes with a sigh and, when he’d finished, leaned back against his chest. He set the bowl down, and his arms fell around her, drifting down her stomach and back up, staying in safe areas. She didn’t want his hands in safe areas, though. She wanted to feel him where it counted, his kisses all over.
“Not tonight, little dove,” he whispered, his lips against her cheek. “We need to sleep. Tomorrow we have half a day’s walk before we can ride. Besides, we’re in a bubble of safety and teamwork after some hard battles. We still currently have a mutual goal: to survive. You’re forgetting the reality of your situation. As soon as you come to your senses, you will have regretted my touch.”
She could hear the traces of pain in his words. The call back to what had happened with his first—and only—love.
“I don’t regret your kiss,” she whispered.
He paused, his hands stilling on her stomach. “Because you assume you’ll kill me and free yourself from my influence?”
“Obviously. Until then, it feels good.”
“And taking my body into yours won’t make it harder to kill me?”
She tilted her head to look up at him. “Do you know me, like, even a little bit? If there is a choice between myself and my captor, I’m not going to decide I’m the one that should go. Would you?”
He studied her for a moment as a smile budded. His gaze slipped to her lips. “Obviously not. We seem to be the same sort of creature. Sadly, one of us is still very much in pain and trying not to show just how difficult it is to sit like this. I’m no good to you right now, which is a real pity, because once we get to my kingdom, you’ll no longer want me like this.”
“You’re so sure of that?”
“Yes. Now c’mon. Let’s get some sleep while we have the luxury of safety. We won’t always.”