Page 84 of Lady of the Drowned Empire

“You were the one who owed me,” he said. His breaths grew heavier, louder, like he wasn’t controlling them anymore. And then, at last, he growled.

I moaned in response, circling my center again, gasping, my hips lifting and falling, my muscles tightening. I could feel a crescendo building, my pleasure increasing in a way it never had before—not even close. It had never felt this good before by myself or with anyone else. Anyone but Rhyan. He’d almost gotten me to this place that morning, and then in the temple, in the cave….

Every time, I had been so turned on by him, I could feel myself getting closer and closer to the edge. And every time, we’d been interrupted.

For the first time, we were going to finish. Gods, this was really happening. The sensations I felt as I listened to him move, breathe, and moan were intoxicating. We weren’t even in the same country, and yet I’d never felt closer to him, never more vulnerable. That alone was going to make me explode.

I gasped and gave a strangled cry as I hit another wave of pleasure.

He groaned. “Are you close, Lyr?” His breathing was rapid and shallow. “You sound so fucking close.”

“Yes,” I cried, moving faster. “Yes.”

“Move the stone down between your legs,” he barked.

“What?”

“Put it between your legs. I want to hear it. I want to hear how fucking wet you are. I want to hear the sound your fingers make as they slide through your cunt.”

By the Gods, I was going to come right then and there. For a second, I hesitated, nervous. Then I pulled down my underwear and Rhyan’s pants, slid them off my legs, and placed the vadati on the bed right between them.

Staring down my body, I could see my bared skin, Rhyan’s sweatshirt pushed up against my exposed belly, the golden chain across my waist where the stone had been, my hand working furiously over my center, and my hips thrusting into my palm…all glowing in the blue light of the vadati.

“Gods, Lyr. So good.”

I threw my head back, adding a second hand, sliding a finger inside myself, moaning and gasping and thrusting until…until….

I cried out. My feet slid out, and my knees shook, as my hips lifted one more time before I collapsed on the bed, my legs splayed.

“Rhyan,” I gasped, chest heaving.

“Fuck, you sound pretty when you come.”

I reached down for the stone and laid it between my breasts, watching it rise and fall with my breaths, imagining him on the other side, his eyes hooded, sweat curling his hair, his biceps flexing, hips thrusting. “Now you. Come for me, Rhyan. I want to hear you come undone. I want to hear you moan as you take your pleasure. And I want to hear my name on your lips when you explode.”

“Fuck, where did you learn to—” He gasped. “FUCK!” he roared. “Lyr! Lyr!” I could hear every stroke, every forceful huff of his breath. “LYR!”

I swallowed, my core tightening again. I was still trying to collect myself, to catch my breath.

We were both silent for a moment, the sounds of our heavy breathing coming through the stone as we settled back down.

“Partner, you okay?” he asked.

“Just remembering how to breathe. You?”

“Same,” Rhyan said, laughing. “Gods. That was…you were…I mean, I knew you had a mouth on you, partner, but Auriel’s fucking bane.”

“That was okay?” I asked, unsure.

“That was the best thing I’ve ever heard. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. I loved it.” He took another deep breath and laughed again. “Shit, Lyr, you’re not even here, and you still managed to get my sheets all dirty again.”

“Oh, Gods,” I said, biting my lip, half ashamed, half…absolutely loving the effect I had on him. I never would have expected to say all the things I’d just said or to do…this. My chest felt so warm, and for the first time in a week, it was warm in a good way—not from the Valalumir or my contract. It was warm from Rhyan.

“Good thing I’m coming home tomorrow,” he teased. “Too cold to do laundry out here.”

“Good thing,” I said, unable to stop myself from grinning.

“Do me a favor, partner?”