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“Why didn’t you?” she challenged, her lust winning over her words and thoughts.

He gave a dark chuckle, pressing a kiss to the space below her ear. “Baby, you know why.” Yes, she did, but she didn’t want him to stop talking about that night—the details he had never given her before. “You weren’t ready for that. But you made me so fucking horny, I had to take care of myself after.” His hand quickened between her legs, fingers dipping in and out. In and out. “I thought about you the whole time. Your gorgeous face. Your perfect body.” He pushed both fingers in deeper. Moved them faster, her inner walls fluttering with every movement. “That smart, beautiful mouth. I came so hard, baby, I saw stars—”

Her orgasm ripped through her, and Darien covered her mouth with his, carrying her through the throes of it with swift, brutal movements.

And then he lifted her up and set her down on his cock this time, and she cried out in pleasure as he pushed her right down to his base.

“Tell me what you thought about that night,” Darien breathed, gripping her by the waist and bobbing her up and down. Up and down. The friction was so good, she couldn’t stop panting, every upward thrust of his hips striking her deep. “In the dining room. I want that sweet mouth to finish me off.”

“I thought about you fucking me,” she admitted, barely able to get out the words as another wave of pleasure began to crest. She gripped his thighs, fingernails digging into muscle. “I fantasized about how your face would look between my thighs.” Darien swore, moving faster now, as deep as he could fit. “And…” She wet her lips with her tongue, biting down on the lower one, her expression darkening Darien’s stare. “I fantasized about what you would look like when you were coming—”

“Fuck.” He moved her even faster. Lifting her up and down, slamming into her all the way to the hilt, her breasts bouncing with every thrust. Water splashed around them, and a few minutes later, she felt his cock throbbing inside her, and he barked out her name, the warmth of his release shooting deep and dripping out of her.

“Like that,” she panted, watching as that mouthwatering expression lingered on his face, his eyes a shining black. “Even better than I imagined.”

“You’re even dirtier than I thought,” Darien crooned, still bobbing her up and down, movements gradually slowing. “My filthy fucking girl.”

She leaned in to capture his mouth with hers, biting and sucking on his bottom lip. “You are insatiable,” she mumbled against his skin. She swept her tongue out, tracing the curve of his mouth and making him groan. Pulling back slightly, she whispered, “But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Darien gave a little smile and kissed her—softly this time.

And then he lifted her up, pulling out of her. But instead of letting her get to her feet, he set her back in his lap. His arms came around her from behind, holding her against him.

Hugging her. Once upon a time he’d told her he wasn’t much of a hugger, but gods was he good at it. “I love you,” he told her, burying his face against her damp shoulder, his wet hair dripping on her skin.

“I know,” she teased. When she felt him lift his head, she tipped hers back so she could see his face.

He scrunched up his nose.

She scrunched hers in response.

And then his tongue darted out, licking the tip of her nose.

She shrieked and laughed. “Did you just lick me?” She lifted the back of her hand to her face—

“Don’t you dare wipe it off.” His bass voice echoed in the big bathroom.

She froze. “Staking your claim, are you?” she snickered.

“I staked my claim the minute I met you,” he said, his heart still beating heavily against her back, their sweat-slick skin stuck together. “The minute I killed for you.” It was amazing how that one decision had led them here.

“I’m glad you showed me—the memory, I mean.”

“I’ll show you anything, all you have to do is ask,” he said, smoothing a strand of wet hair off her cheek and tucking it behind her ear. “Speaking of the day I killed for you…” A smile pulled at his mouth, showing off the dimple she hadn’t seen in a while. “There’s this place I’ve been dying to show you since I got here.”

“What is it?”

“You’re not going to believe it, but they’ve got a street just like the Avenue of the Scarlet Star.”

98

The Avenue of the Waning Moon

YVESWICH, STATE OF KER

Darien wasn’t joking when he’d said there was a street in Yveswich just like the Avenue of the Scarlet Star.

They were in an apothecary called Harriet’s Spells and Things, waiting for the witch who stood behind the counter to finish bagging their items. Loren was stocking up on some extras—teas, essential oils, contraceptive tonic. Of course, Darien paid, but she didn’t really have another option, since no one had packed her wallet. It was funny to look back at everyone’s behavior, now that she knew the truth—how Jack had told her Darien was her wallet. He, for one, hadn’t lied.