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“Mmmm,” he murmured as my eyes whipped open. He looked up and licked me from one end to the other. Then with a devilish smile, he began to flick his tongue against me, likely knowing that I was so close to exploding.

“You are unbelievable,” I managed. Even if I wanted to hang on, I couldn’t. But Rowan did not stop. Not as I screamed his name. Not as my legs shook.

He did stop when I finally caught my breath.

Leaping from the bed with the grace of an Aetherian, he removed his belt and breeches. Relaxed in the after-effects of release, I was still able to take in the thick, muscled thighs and a readiness for me that was most impressive.

He was above me in a heartbeat. Leaning down, Rowan captured my mouth in a searing kiss as his hands explored. I did the same, wanting to touch every bit of him. When his thumbs ran across my nipples, hard and ready, I arched up, telling him I wanted this now. Instead of granting my silent request, he had the audacity to chuckle against my mouth, playfully circling my tongue with his.

In a mass of tangled limbs and fervent kisses, we explored each other until finally, mercifully, Rowan pressed one finger inside me. Finding it slick with need for him, he replaced it, the head of Rowan’s cock now where his finger had been a moment earlier.

But instead of pressing into me, he pulled up. Halted our kiss. Implored me with his eyes, though said nothing. If he were waiting for me to stop him, I’d not do it. When he finally guided himself into me, my head fell against the pillow. By the time he was fully buried inside me, I had no inclination to move slowly. Apparently, neither did Rowan, because a few quick thrusts later, he was filling me so completely and without abandon that I wondered how this time could be so different than any other.

But it was.

Our pace matched each other’s perfectly. It wasn’t a soft or gentle one, but one born from frantic need. I held onto his shoulders as Rowan’s hand moved between us, finding the sensitive spot that assured I would come again. Already, it was building, the sight of him, when my eyes peeked open, reminding me that he truly was as perfectly formed as I remembered.

We kissed, his tongue matching the rhythm of our lovemaking.

You are extraordinary, Nerys. And deserve no less than to be revered.

That was the reason it felt so different. Rowan promised to worship me, and that was exactly what he did. With his mouth, his body, and the care he took in pleasing me.

“Please,” I begged, tearing my lips from him. I wanted to see him. Look at him. “Rowan…”

“Go ahead, Nerys,” he said, my name on his lips just one more sweet pleasure. “Let go. Give me all of you.”

That’s precisely what I wanted to do. I held back nothing, my fingers squeezing his shoulders, telling him I was close.

“I cannot wait to release myself inside you, Nerys.”

That was all it took. Thrusting my hips into him, I held on and looked into his eyes, showing Rowan how right he was about enjoying this. In response, he buried himself full hilt, his mouth opening as we called each other’s names.

It had been frantic and wild, perfect in every way. As I shuddered around him, holding on tight, I tried to catch my breath. Rowan collapsed on top of me, holding himself back enough as not to crush me.

I buried my face in the crook of his neck, sighing against it. In response, he did the same, clearly contented, as I was. And despite the afterglow, shivers running from my shoulders down to my toes, I knew one thing for certain.

This had been a mistake.

23

ROWAN

“There it is.”

We stood in front of a water-smoothed stone house adorned with carvings of waves. Arriving in Maristhera by canal and scapha boats, Nerys and I had avoided another summons by the queen thus far today. But after what she told me last eve, I expected one sooner rather than later.

Last eve.

When everything, and nothing, changed. She’d left late into the night and this morning, when Nerys came to my door, though I’d been tempted to pull her into my bedchamber, I took my cue from her. When she’d asked if I was ready, I’d said simply, “Aye,” and followed her from the palace.

No mention of the night before.

As soon as we’d left the palace walls, Nerys told me what the queen had said. Since then, we had spoken of nothing else but that topic.

Before we could approach the door, it opened.

Aneri was exactly as Nerys had described. Halfway between thaloran and vaelith, her many years on Elydor were etched in fine lines on her face. The kindness in her eyes offset the severeness of her gray hair, pulled back into a tight bun.