Page 50 of Inked in Emeralds (Inkbound #3)

“ M uch better, if I do say so myself.”

Molly stood back and admired her handiwork, her fingers tugging my chin this way and that to get the full view before she let out a low whistle.

“Damn, I’m good.”

I pulled away and turned to look in the last remaining shard of the broken mirror behind me.

“You really are,” I agreed.

Once we’d eaten all there was to eat, and celebrated our reunions, reality had begun to set in with exhaustion hot on its heels.

Freya and some of her people helped each group find a place to lay their heads for the night while her wards, Logan and Essie, led me and my crew to the Queen’s quarters.

Most of the furniture had been destroyed, but they’d salvaged what they could, and it was more than enough.

A room fitted out for each of us to have a pallet to sleep on, swept clean and free of vermin, as far as I could tell.

Duncan, Billy, and Hook had gone to their rooms to take advantage of the basins full of rainwater so they could wash up, and I’d finished doing the same when there had been a knock on my door.

I’d been thrilled to see Moll standing there.

“You have the bone structure to carry off the shorter hair, but I’ll be glad when it grows out.”

I couldn’t agree more, although she’d done a fine job trimming the uneven tufts and making the best of a bad situation. Especially given the fact that she’d used my dagger to do it.

“Maybe you should see if some of that fresh magic works on hair?”

I grinned at her and stood, flipping my head upside down to shake off the trimmings.

“As much as I’d love to try, I’m doing my best to store it all up for Almira.

When we battled her and the bookworms in Oz, I watched her get weaker and weaker the more magic she used, until she couldn’t even anchor herself to the page anymore.

She just…disappeared. I need to conserve, at least until I know what I’m doing. ”

She scrunched her face and nodded. “Yeah, I mean, I guess if you think that’s the priority…”

We both broke into a fit of laughter and she handed me back my dagger before dragging me in for another hug.

“Part of me wanted to kill you when I saw the Jolly Roger pulling away without me on it,” she whispered. “But…thank you.” She stepped back with a sniffle. “Taking care of these kids has been the joy of my life. If I hadn’t been so worried about you, it would’ve been like paradise. And Xander…”

Her cheeks went pink and I grinned. “He’s a real peach. I can see why you love him.”

She drew back like I’d cuffed her upside the head but then she nodded slowly.

“Yeah. Yeah, I guess I do love him. And he loves me, too. Harm…” She gripped my hands, her cornflower eyes alight with sudden urgency, “This has to work. We have to figure out a way to defeat Almira and save these people. They deserve a little happiness. We all do...”

The sour taste of fear flooded my mouth, and I let out a low groan. “I know, Moll, and I’m going to do my best?—”

“Including you,” she interrupted, lifting her hands to cup my face.

“Most of all, you. I’m not telling you this to add to the burden.

I’m telling you this, so you don’t lose sight of the fact that you have something to fight for, too.

Not just for me, Xander, and the kids. Not for the O’Donnellys.

Not even for C’an Saas. That’s all amazing, and you’re my hero for putting everyone else above yourself.

But don’t lose sight of what you have to gain here.

Bringing this beautiful palace back to its former glory.

Getting to know your mother and father through your people.

Maybe even taking a chance on love. It’s not selfish to want those things.

Instead of thinking about everything you have to lose if you fail, focus on everything you will win when you succeed and let that drive you. ”

I blinked at her, mind spinning like a top.

“Who are you and what have you done with my Molly?” I asked when I finally found my voice.

She let out a snort-laugh and gave my shoulder a shove. “Right here, dummy. Having other people to take care of has given me a new perspective, is all.” She narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously. “Why, did that sound real good and mature and stuff?”

“It did. It sounded perfect, actually. Exactly what I needed to hear.”

“Yeah, well, luckily, I decided to give up on the whole ‘vow of silence’ thing, or I might’ve had to take those nuggets of wisdom to the grave with me.”

I winced at the very mention of graves and was about to tell her to strike the word from her vocabulary until after the battle with Almira when there was a knock at the door.

“Yes?”

The door opened and Hook stepped inside. “Can I have ten minutes of your time when you two are finished?”

“We’re finished now.” Molly released me and stepped back, shooting him a quick smile. “I have to go tell the kids a story or they’ll never go to sleep. See you tomorrow?”

“See you tomorrow.”

She headed out of the room, patting Hook on the shoulder as she passed him and then closing the door.

“You look pretty.”

Heat crept up my neck as I lifted a hand to my hair. “Molly gave me a little touch up.”

“You always look pretty.” He padded towards me, his gaze never leaving mine.

I wanted so badly to make a joke to break the sudden tension in the room, but with him looking at me like that, all I could manage was a whispered, “Thank you.”

“I came to tell you that the pretty boy, Billy, and I had some ideas for the battle.”

He was on me now, we were toe to toe.

“O-okay.”

He lifted his hand and ran a fingertip over my jaw in a featherlight touch that left me breathless.

His voice was low and gruff when he spoke again. “I came to tell you that we deployed the falcons as you said, and they’re already bringing word of your return to the furthest reaches of C’an Saas in hopes of getting more fighters here in time.”

I wet my suddenly dry lips and nodded “Perfect.”

“I came to give you support, and words of encouragement.” He shook his head slowly as I melted into the silky darkness of those onyx eyes. “But now that I’m here…all I want to do is touch you.”

My nipples pebbled and it took everything I had not to abandon all thought and plaster myself against him.

"Is it because you think we're going to die and you want to go out with a bang?"

His mouth twitched as he shook his head. "Nope. It's because I've been dreaming of you since I can remember, and I can't live one more day without knowing what it feels like to be inside you."

A low ache settled between my thighs. "That's a decent answer," I croaked, suddenly lightheaded.

He closed the last of the distance between us and rested his hand on my hip. "In fact, for the first time ever, the thought of dying doesn't seem like a reward."

"W-why is that?"

He shrugged, his gaze holding mine. "Because I'd never get to see your face again."

I let out a shuddering breath and laid my hands on his shoulders, as much to feel those glorious muscles as to steady myself. "For a guy who's usually short on words, you're doing pretty good right now."

"Yeah, well, I've spent a lot of time fighting it, and tomorrow is promised to no one. If you still want this?—"

I mashed my lips against his on a groan.

That was enough talking. If tonight was our last, I didn't want to waste another second of it.

His tongue swept out to meet mine as he dragged me even closer, until I could feel the thick, hard weight of his cock against my belly that left no room for doubt.

He wanted this as badly as I did. My heart hammered like a wild bird in my chest. It was finally happening, after countless nights spent dreaming of this very moment.

His mouth never left mine as he guided me backward until the back of my knees hit the wooden bedframe. I sat as he pulled away and began to undress me.

He lifted the hem of my shirt inch by inch and I hissed as the cool air brushed my skin, making me shiver. When the shirt finally slipped over my head, his eyes roamed over my exposed flesh reverently.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, his voice gruff.

My cheeks burned, white-hot as I fought the urge to cover myself. He was the only man who'd ever seen me this way. I wasn't buxom like Moll, or?—

A gasp exploded from my lips as the tip of his tongue found the sensitive hollow at the base of my throat, leaving a trail of searing kisses lower...lower...

"James, I?—"

He cupped one breast gently, his thumb brushing over my nipple until my back bowed.

I plunged my fingers into his hair and pinned him against me as his mouth closed over my nipple, sending sparks of pleasure skittering through me.

My hips bounced as heat pooled low, the ache between my thighs growing with every passing second.

"James, please..."

"Ah, Princess,” he whispered huskily against my skin, "I'll do anything for you, but I won't be rushed. Not this first time." He sucked and nipped, pinched and teased until I was trembling like a leaf in a storm.

When his deft fingers finally drifted to the waistband of my britches, they traced patterns on the soft skin of my belly before slipping beneath the fabric. My breath caught on a hiss as he tugged my pants and underwear down my thighs in one motion, the anticipation nearly driving me mad.

He pressed me onto my back against the bed, spreading my legs and then standing back for a moment to stare down at me.

"I'll not forget this sight for as long as I live," he vowed, his face a mask of something between pleasure and pain as he took in every inch of me, from head to toe, before meeting my gaze.

"No matter what happens tomorrow, know this.

I love you, Harmony Fallowell MacInnes, Princess turned Queen, and I've loved you always. "

My heart sang and my vision blurred as I tried to give voice to the emotions rioting inside me.

He loved me. James Tyler Hook fucking loved me...