He presses his palm to my heart, and it occurs to me I’ve left the thread open between us, my insecurity spilling through. Maybe yesterday I would’ve cared that he heard it. Maybe tomorrow I will. But like he said, tonight, we will just simplydo.
I nestle against him, and he kisses my neck again, weakening my knees. His teeth graze my throat, and I remember what it was like to have them pierce through. For him to drink me down. It’s so easy to become lost in this male.
“Keep thinking like that, and I’ll drag you back to your room before dinner.”
His hand slips up the slit in my dress as he puts pressure where I’m aching. Wilder drives two fingers deep, and I lose my breath.
“We can’t do this right now.”My fingers make a mess of his hair, tilting his crown when he shoves me against the wall, kissing the center of my throat.“We’ll be surrounded by Fae, with all your Fae senses making it impossible to be discreet.”
“Who says I’m trying to be discreet?”He pulls his fingers out, holding them between us and licking me off slowly.
“Wilder.”My cheeks burn up as he grabs the back of my neck and presses his lips to mine.
I’m drowning in what he does to me. There is no comparison. No hope. Simply my heart on this altar, and I want him to take it before it is no longer mine to do with as I wish.
Instead, he pulls back, keeping his hands at my hips with a grip that says he doesn’t want to let me go.
“Maybe we should just go back to the room,” I offer.
But he shakes his head. “No. You’re so pretty in this dress; I’m going to show you off. And then, when you can’t stand it anymore, I’m going to spend the rest of the night messing you up.”
“Can’t stand what?”
My toes begin to buzz. A warm brush of magic caresses my calves. It winds up my legs, kissing my skin with every inch. Wilder doesn’t take his eyes off me. He doesn’t move his hands. He stares into my eyes while his magic sends a vibration over my body.
I’m buzzing with need as his magic cascades through me.
Pleasure only he can give.
But instead of easing my ache, he takes a step away, kissing the back of my hand. “Wouldn’t want to be late.”
“Of course not,” I grumble, frustrated as I lift off the wall. At least my braids are still somewhat in place, even if I feel like a mess now.
Wilder grins, enjoying every bit of my irritation. He leads me down the hallway hand in hand. There’s not a guard in sight when they usually line the doorways.
“Callum wasn’t lying. You made it so no one could enter this wing of the palace?”
“Notno one. Just no one that shouldn’t be here.”
“A little overprotective, don’t you think?”
He smirks, his eyes cutting to me. “If that’s what you want to call it.”
“What else would I call it?” I tap my lip with my finger, and it pulls his attention to my mouth. “Possessive?”
“Hmm, I think I like that better.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“Wasn’t it?” His magic pulls me to his side. “I’m possessed by you; it’s only fair if it goes both ways.”
Silence falls between us as that settles in. I’d sacrifice anything to be possessed by him.
Except my home.
It’s possible the people on Alyssium are already gone. I could be fighting for an island that has been swallowed by the sea and the monsters that surround it. Or I could be the only person left who cares about the last humans in Lyrichia. Either way, I refuse to leave them defenseless.
The hall widens the farther we walk, and I cling to Wilder’s side. Leaning my head on his arm and focusing on his heartbeat. The steady pulse is haunting. Mortality thrums in both of us. All the magic in both realms can’t prevent some things.