Page 24 of Grounded (Convergence #1)
Rinna Jass had never been so jealous in all her life. Not of who Liria had but of how she had him. Liria's Aethari was at her feet while Rinna's Aethari wasn't even hers.
Grimacing, she strode into the dining hall alone.
Yet another irritation. She didn't want to eat with the twittering female chiefs.
Yeah, they were her friends. And yes, she twittered with the best of them.
But she couldn't stomach it that morning.
Because they'd be twittering about her—asking her how it went with Larocran. The asshole.
Why did Laroc have to be so funny? And so good in bed?
And so sexy? He was a dickhead! How dare he be that attractive and act so into her, and yet, when she gave him the line she was hoping he'd reject, he took it.
Sure, it was their first time together, but she had felt something more for him than she did for a normal one-nighter.
She thought they had a real connection. But wasn't that just a female thing to think? How fucking pathetic.
Even worse, Laroc wanted to keep seeing her.
Correction: he wanted to keep fucking her.
And she wouldn't say no because she wanted it too.
But this was gonna hurt. Rinna knew that every time with him would make her fall a little more.
And Larocran Ader wasn't about a long-term thing.
Not that she hadn't known that to begin with.
It was written all over his face—all over his wings.
And then there was that horrified look on his face when Rennux had talked about Liria.
He couldn't even conceive of one of his people wanting one of hers for more than sex.
The fucking asshole!
Rinna grabbed a tray and plopped a plate onto it.
Food on the plate. Coffee in the mug. Utensils.
All the stuff. Glowering at the sustenance, she avoided the chief section and went right out of the dining hall.
Finding a window bench was easy enough. She sat down, went sideways on the bench with the tray propped on her crossed legs, and ate.
It didn't take Rinna long to finish. She set the tray down and leaned back against the wall with her mug in hand.
Outside, the training yard was empty. Too early for that shit.
Staring at the targets and rows of lockers made her feel just as empty.
She couldn't do this anymore—going out every night to drink and fuck away the horrors she saw here. It was wearing her down.
Or maybe it was just Laroc. The motherfucker had gotten to her. There was something about the way he touched her. How he looked at her. Even the way he said her name.
“Rinna.”
Yup, just like that. Hold on.
Rinna looked over to find the object of her lust and fury standing beside her. Schooling her features, she turned on the bench and set her feet on the floor. “Hey.”
“Good morning.” Laroc glanced around at the soldiers going to and from the dining hall, then lifted his wings to give them some privacy. “How are you?”
“I'm good.”
“Why are you eating out here?” He glanced at her tray.
Rinna shrugged. “Felt like being alone.”
“Oh.” Laroc leaned back. “Sorry.”
“No, I'm done.” She stood up. Then she noticed the way his face twitched. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, of course.” Big smile. “I'm fucking fabulous. So, uh, later?”
“What later?”
“Us. You said I could see your room.”
And just like that, her anger dissipated. “What is it with you and my room? It's just four walls bound by a ceiling and a floor.”
“But it also has a bed.” He leaned close again. “At least, I'm assuming it does, you know, since I haven't seen it yet.”
Rinna laughed. “So, it's my bed you want to see?”
“Well, you naked in it, but yes.”
A shiver ran through her, and she couldn't help leaning into him, letting him feel her breasts and hips. A swift inhale from Laroc was her reward.
“Woman, I'm about to turn you around, bend you over this bench, and take you right here. I don't give a fuck what's going on behind me.”
Another shiver, this one going full body. Yeah, Rinna could be down with a little public demonstration. Of course, it would get them both into deep trouble. But worth it. Totally worth it.
“I get off at 4,” she whispered in his ear and moved to slide under his wing and arm.
But Laroc grabbed her by the waist and hauled her into a kiss.
A thorough, curl-the-toes, forget-the-world-and-the-fucking-Netheren kind of kiss.
When he eased back at last, he nuzzled her ear and then whispered, “Wrong, baby.
You won't be getting off until my tongue is working your clit. That will be around 4:05, depending on how long it takes to get your clothes off.”
With that, Laroc folded his wings, turned on his heels, and walked away, nodding at a few people he passed. All while Rinna panted and gaped after him.
“That fucking asshole!” She grabbed her tray, slapped her mug on it (sloshing the remains of her coffee onto the tray), and headed back to the dining hall to drop it off.