Page 25 of A Kiss of Healing & Honor (Darkstone Academy #4)

Returning from the Duke and Duchess of Espola’s welcome dinner for our group, I paused in the lush, walled palace gardens.

The sweet scents of jasmine and night-blooming flowers enveloped me, a welcome change from the assorted ship-smells that had permeated every breath for the past week.

We’d be on our way south to the Dragon kingdom tomorrow, but for tonight, I planned to enjoy sleeping in a real bed again. And without three other people sharing a small cabin.

The stars twinkled overhead, a dazzling tapestry against the velvet sky. I searched for familiar constellations. My eyes found the outline of the Dragon, and thoughts of Jacinthe flooded my mind.

A sour taste filled my mouth as I recalled the cramped quarters of our voyage. And the damnable lack of privacy.

I clenched my fists, pushing down the surge of frustrated jealousy.

Staying away from Jacinthe this past fortnight was my choice, I reminded myself.

Jacinthe’s other soul-bonded companions had all found opportunities for intimacy during the voyage to Baleares.

But I wanted my first time with her to be special. Not some hurried tryst below decks on a crowded ship.

Familiar doubts slithered through my mind in like serpents. What if I can’t please Jacinthe the way her other soul-bonded companions do?

The bond I shared with her was both a blessing and a curse, tormenting me with glimpses of the ecstasy Jacinthe experienced with her other lovers.

How can I possibly measure up to Boreas? Or Gwydion? Or Tama?

Each of the others was extraordinary. While I was just an ordinary human with a modest gift for the healing arts.

I kicked the gravel of the path, sending a spray of tiny pebbles in every direction.

Please, I prayed to the Divine Mother of All. Let her love me. And let me be enough for her.

I turned, preparing to head back to the luxurious rooms I’d been given.

As I approached the garden gate, my breath caught in my throat. There, against the wall, sat Jacinthe on a stone bench. Bathed in silver moonlight, her braided hair gleamed like burnished metal, but her usual radiance was dimmed.

She looked miserable. A roil of anxiety drifted through the strange bond we shared.

“Jacinthe?” I called softly, approaching with care.

Her head snapped up, wide hazel eyes finding mine. A smile broke across her face, chasing away the shadows. “Ilhan!”

I felt her relief and happiness as I settled beside her, sitting close enough to feel her warmth.

“What troubles you?” I asked, yielding to the urge to take her hand.

To my pleasure, she laced her fingers through mine. Her skin felt feverishly warm, just as it had ever since her Fire magic had awakened.

Jacinthe sighed. “Watching Duke Ramón and Maksim this afternoon,” she confessed. “It made me wonder…” Her voice trailed off.

“Wonder what?” I prompted gently after a moment.

She turned to me, vulnerability etched in every line of her face. “How the domina-regent—my grandmother—will react when we arrive in Neapolis Capitola. Did you know the dominus and domina threatened to imprison Mama when she got pregnant with me? And they wanted to execute me.” She shuddered. “All because I’m only half-human.”

I felt a surge of protectiveness and put my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as if I could shield her from the world’s cruelty.

“Jacinthe,” I said, my voice low and fervent, “I want you to know that I will stand by you, no matter what happens when we reach the capital. Whatever challenges we face, whatever the domina-regent does—I’ll be at your side. Always.”

Her eyes widened, a glimmer of hope sparking within them. “I know. You came for me when the Duke de Norhas held me prisoner.”

She squeezed my hand. “I’m glad you’re here with me.” Her voice dropped into a softer, more intimate tone. “I’ve been looking forward to spending some time with you. Just us.”

My breath caught in my throat. Is this it? The moment I’ve been longing for?

“Have you?” I managed. My voice sounded embarrassingly husky.

Jacinthe nodded, her eyes never leaving mine. “There’s so much I want to share with you. Without… without the others around.”

I held perfectly still, afraid that any movement might shatter this fragile, perfect instant.

My heart thundered in my chest. I was acutely aware of every point where our bodies touched—our clasped hands, and our thighs pressed together.

The night seemed to hold its breath around us, waiting.

Jacinthe raised her free hand to my face and laid her warm palm against my cheek. Her hazel eyes glimmered in the starlight.

Then she leaned forward, and her lips met mine in a soft, almost shy kiss. My world narrowed to that single point of contact.

Jacinthe’s kiss sent a wave of warmth cascading through me.

Through our soul-bond, I felt a surge of emotions that weren’t my own.

Desire, nervousness, and a deep, abiding affection washed over me.

With a start, I realized Jacinthe wanted me just as badly as I wanted her. And despite her greater experience, she was feeling just as shy and uncertain as I was.

“Jacinthe,” I murmured against her lips, emboldened by this revelation. I deepened the kiss, tentatively introducing my tongue. This, at least, was familiar territory.

I’d kissed girls before, and then there was that heated moment with Gwydion…

A vivid memory of his mouth on my cock flashed through my mind, adding fuel to the fire building within me.

Jacinthe responded with enthusiasm, her lips parting to welcome me. Her hands came up to grip my hair, pulling me closer.

Through our bond, I felt her arousal pulsing, mirroring my own. The feedback loop of sensation was intoxicating.

When we finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, I couldn’t help but grin at her. “I’ve been waiting a long time to have you all to myself.”

Jacinthe laughed, a low, throaty sound that sent shivers down my spine. “So have I.”

I captured her mouth in another heated kiss.

My hands had been resting chastely at Jacinthe’s waist. Now, I let them roam newfound boldness. The silk of her gown was cool beneath my fingertips, a stark contrast to the heat radiating from her skin.

My gaze dropped to her décolletage, where her breasts were pushed up enticingly by the tight bodice of her gown.

“May I?” I whispered, my voice hoarse with desire.

Jacinthe nodded. “Please,” she breathed.

I leaned forward, pressing my lips to the tops of her swelling breasts. The taste of her skin, mingled salt and sweet perfume, intoxicated me as I trailed kisses along the edge of her bodice.

“I want more,” Jacinthe murmured, guiding my hands to the laces of her gown.

With trembling fingers, I helped her loosen the bodice. My breath caught as her breasts spilled free.

I’d seen her naked many times before, when she lay recovering from a near-fatal wound infected with a death curse.

But it felt very different now.

Jacinthe took my hands in hers and cupped them around the sweet, smooth-skinned weight.

“Like this,” she said, guiding my thumbs to her nipples, which hardened under my touch.

“Oh yes,” she sighed. “Just like that, Ilhan.”

Her responses, both physical and through our soul-bond, were driving me to distraction. I could feel her arousal building, mirroring, and amplifying my own. It was maddening, exhilarating, and terrifying all at once.

But above all, my desire felt like Dragon fire, threatening to consume me. My cock strained against my breeches, achingly hard.

“Jacinthe,” I groaned, overwhelmed by sensation. “I should tell you, I’ve never—I mean, this is my first time—”

She silenced me with a tender kiss. “Then let me show you what to do. I promise I’ll make it good for you.”

I nodded, trying to calm my racing heart as Jacinthe stood.

She gathered up her voluminous skirts, then turned to settle herself on my lap, her knees framing my hips. The weight of her on my thighs, her warmth seeping through my breeches, nearly undid me then and there.

“Now,” Jacinthe said, her voice low and throaty, “let me show you something else.”

She took my hand in hers, guiding it beneath her gathered skirts. I gasped as my fingers brushed the bare skin of her inner thighs.

“Here,” she whispered, urging my hand higher, guiding it to the hot, soft folds between her legs. “Feel how wet I am for you, Ilhan.”

I groaned at the slick warmth coating my fingers. “Gods, Jacinthe…”

“Now, like this,” she instructed, showing me how to tease her folds and bud. “And here…” She guided two of my fingers inside her, teaching me how to stroke and curl them just so.

I followed her lead eagerly, drinking in every gasp and whimper that fell from her lips.

Through our soul-bond, I could feel her pleasure building, spurring me on.

“Yes, oh yes. Don’t stop.” Jacinthe rocked against my hand, chasing her fulfillment.

I marveled at the sight of her, head thrown back, lips parted in ecstasy. Knowing I gave her this bliss filled me with a heady mix of pride and desire.

“Ilhan,” she gasped, her inner walls fluttering around my fingers. “I’m close… I’m going to…”

I redoubled my efforts, stroking her bud with my thumb as I plunged my fingers deeper inside her.

Jacinthe cried out, her body shuddering and her inner walls rippling around my impaling fingers as she found her release.

The force of her climax echoed through our bond, nearly overwhelming me.

As she came down from her peak, Jacinthe rested her forehead against mine. “That was perfect,” she panted.

A wave of relief and confidence washed over me.

Jacinthe’s eyes, still hazy with pleasure, locked onto mine. A slow, sultry smile spread across her face.

“Your turn now, my brave knight,” she purred, her voice sending shivers down my spine.

She wriggled off my lap and urged me off the bench and down onto the soft grass.

I lay on my back, cool blades tickling my neck as Jacinthe kneeled beside me, her skirts billowing around her like a cloud. My heart thundered in my chest, a mix of anticipation and nerves coursing through me.

“Jacinthe, what should I—?” I started, but she silenced me with a tender kiss.

“Shh,” she whispered against my lips. “Let me take care of you.”

Her fingers danced along the buttons of my breeches, each light touch sending jolts of electricity through my body.

I held my breath, praying to all Twelve Gods that I wouldn’t embarrass myself by finishing before Jacinthe got started.

Her fingers closed around my aching length and freed it. I nearly came undone right there.

A strangled groan escaped my lips. I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting for control.

“You’re flattering me,” Jacinthe said, laughter in her voice. She leaned in close, her breath warm against my ear. “Don’t worry about anything that happens, Ilhan. We can take all the time we need.”

I opened my eyes to find her rising above me, her skirts billowing like a cloud as she straddled my hips.

My breath caught in my throat at the sight of her, silhouetted against the starry sky. She looked like a goddess made flesh.

“Are you ready?” she asked, her voice soft and husky.

I nodded, unable to form words.

With agonizing slowness, Jacinthe lowered herself onto my straining cock. The sensation of her hot, slick passage enveloping me bit by bit was indescribable. I groaned, long and low, as she sheathed me to the hilt inside her.

“By the Twelve Gods, Jacinthe,” I gasped, my hands flying to her hips. “You feel incredible.”

She smiled down at me, a mix of tenderness and desire in her eyes. “So do you, my love.”

Jacinthe braced her hand on my shoulders and began rolling her hips in a rhythm that sent waves of pleasure crashing through me.

I was overwhelmed as she rode me, lost in a sea of sensation. My eyes feasted on the sight of her bare breasts, jiggling enticingly with each movement.

“You’re so beautiful,” I whispered, reaching up to cup her face.

She leaned into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed. “Ilhan,” she breathed, my name a prayer on her lips.

Something primal awakened in me then. I gripped her waist firmly and thrust upward, meeting her movements with my own. Jacinthe’s eyes flew open, a gasp of surprise and pleasure escaping her.

“Yes,” she encouraged, “just like that.”

Emboldened by her response, I continued, driving deeper and harder. Through our soul-bond, I could sense her growing pleasure, her approval of my assertiveness. It spurred me on, chasing both our climaxes with fervent determination.

“Jacinthe,” I panted, feeling my control slipping. “I’m close—I can’t—”

“Let go,” she urged, her own voice thick with need. “I’m right there with you.”

With a final, powerful thrust, my release crashed over me like a tidal wave. I cried out Jacinthe’s name as ecstasy flooded every fiber of my being. Through our bond, I felt her second climax explode, our shared pleasure amplifying the experience beyond anything I’d ever known.

As our shared ecstasy slowly ebbed, Jacinthe gently disentangled herself from me. I watched, still breathless, as she produced a delicate handkerchief from some hidden pocket in her gown.

She cleaned me with tender care, her touch both reverent and practical, then tucked me back into my breeches.

“Here, let me,” I murmured, reaching to fasten them.

She shooed my hands away. “Allow me.”

Her fingers deftly worked the buttons.

Once we were both presentable, I pulled her close, relishing the way she nestled against me. We reclined on the soft grass, gazing up at the tapestry of stars above us.

“That was perfect, Ilhan,” Jacinthe said softly. “I couldn’t have imagined anything better for our first time together.”

My heart swelled with emotion. “Truly?” I asked, unable to keep the hint of insecurity from my voice.

She propped herself up on one elbow, her hazel eyes meeting mine with unwavering sincerity. “What we share… it’s unique. Special. I hope you know that.”

I pondered her words, feeling a newfound confidence blooming within me. “I was I worried about measuring up to the others. But now…”

Jacinthe’s hand found mine, our fingers intertwining. “Now?”

“Now I see I don’t have to compare myself to them,” I said, the realization dawning as I spoke. “What we have is ours. And that’s enough for me.”

She smiled, and it was like the sun rising. “Exactly,” she whispered, leaning in to press a soft kiss to my lips.