Page 63 of Poisoned Kingdom (Secrets of Dagome #1)

I felt something flutter in my chest and reached up, stroking my fingers through his dark hair.

Gripping the silken strands, I pulled him close, my lips trailing over his ear.

‘Thank you, Rey. For finding Tova, for escorting me here . . . even for the apple crumble, you thoughtful, magnificent brute of a man,’ I said, kissing his sensitive earlobe.

I shouldn’t have done it, but Tova’s near-death experience, the eruption of my magic, and Irsha’s words made me reckless.

Too soon, we’d return to Truso, and he’d once more become the king, and I, his servant.

But here and now? I wanted to feel him, to know what could have been if our worlds weren’t so far apart.

‘Kiss me . . .’ I whispered. ‘Please.’

He grasped my braid, pulling it until my spine bowed, exposing my throat. His nose trailed over the pulsing artery in my neck as he inhaled deeply, teeth grazing my skin. Even through his tight leather trousers, I could feel the strength of his affection.

‘I can’t,’ he groaned, his mouth leaving a trail of fire that burned with the most exquisite torment, stealing my breath away. ‘I won’t be able to stop if I do.’

‘I won’t ask you to stop . . . not today,’ I breathed, pulling him closer and pressing his mouth just above my collarbone, where his breath travelled down my gown, reaching the sensitive skin of my breasts.

‘Gods help me. I want more than a day. A lifetime won’t be enough to savour you,’ he muttered, sliding my nightgown off my shoulder, exposing more skin. I arched under his touch, giving myself to this ruthless man who became gentle for me.

Reynard’s mouth captured my nipple, tongue swirling around the sensitive peak, making me moan.

‘Do you like that, my light? You are so fucking perfect,’ he murmured, sucking it into his mouth, then grazing his teeth over my flesh, causing my stomach to clench with a jolt of pleasure.

Rey’s hand drifted upwards, calloused fingers trailing along my inner thigh. My grip tightened in his hair, pressing him closer, encouraging him further while whimpering softly from my building excitement.

‘Are you in pain, little healer?’ he teased, a playful smile ghosting over his lips while his hand wandered under my chemise. ‘Is it hurting here?’ he asked, fingers brushing my folds so gently I barely felt it.

I rocked my hips, pushing into his hand, but he withdrew.

‘Tell me you want this, Sanika, that you need my touch. I could never live with myself if I ever saw that look in your eyes again. I would rather die than force myself upon you.’

His voice was so raw that I opened my eyes. I met his gaze, only now realising how my accusation from that night must have hurt him.

‘Please, Rey, touch me. I want you.’ I guided his hand between my thighs, the heat of my desire pulsing beneath his palm as I moved against him with aching need. ‘I want you so much. I’ll beg you if I have to . . . please.’

With each word that came out of my mouth, the uncertainty faded from his gaze, replaced by searing desire. The civility he wore like armour crumbled, those luscious bow-shaped lips curving into a dark, wicked smile.

‘That’s not how you beg, my light. I’ll teach you how to beg properly, how to form the words with my cock deep in your throat,’ he said, hand pressing to my sex, covering it completely. ‘But not today. Today, I’ll take my fill.’

He nudged me onto my back before kneeling in front of the bed. ‘Spread your legs, Sanika,’ he commanded gently, pressing on my knees. A shiver ran down my spine as my legs parted, giving in to his demand.

‘Such an obedient little Viper,’ Reynard murmured, caressing my thighs. His hand slid up, fingers parting my folds, and I arched, crying out from the pleasure. ‘And soaking wet for me.’

‘Rey, please,’ I begged, reaching towards him. I wanted more—so much more. ‘Stop tormenting me.’

‘Tormenting?’ He bent lower, his breath drifting over my skin.

‘Torment is your scent robbing me of sleep.’ His tongue trailed along my sex, then swirled around my sensitive bud.

My back arched as bliss set me ablaze. ‘Torment is seeing another man make you smile.’ Another long lick that wiped my mind clean of any other thoughts but him.

‘That’s the real torment. This is just a taste of what I’ll do to you, Roksana.

So find something to bite because I’m going to make you scream my name. ’

I’d barely grabbed the pillow when he started, his mouth hot on my sex, tongue lashing viciously, expertly wringing every drop of pleasure from my body.

Reynard alternated between long, languid strokes and harsh flicks before sucking on my clit while I cried into the pillow, muffling the sounds he forced from my throat.

The tension built to impossible heights. This man, this berserker, owned me with his tongue, demanding my bliss as if he knew exactly what I needed. My pleasure crested in a release so powerful that my body shook, muscles tensing, forcing tears from my eyes.

I fell apart under him, uncontrollably sobbing as I realised nothing would ever be the same. I felt him move onto the bed and lift me up before he cradled me in his arms, stroking my hair.

‘Why didn’t you . . .? You’re still hard,’ I said when I could control my voice, his shaft beneath me a stark reminder he’d denied himself.

‘Because you haven’t accepted me yet. Your body has, but deep in your mind, there is still a barrier I must conquer, and I won’t take you until every part of you welcomes all of me,’ he replied, kissing my forehead.

I opened my mouth to protest, but he placed a finger on my lips.

‘I don’t mind it, my light. I like a challenge. ’

‘So, what was this?’ I asked quietly, confused.

‘A promise, a sample of my prowess and a small payment for all those nights I couldn’t sleep, wondering how you’d taste.

Now, when you go to bed, you can touch yourself while thinking of me,’ he said with a mischievous grin.

He playfully nipped my neck before straightening my chemise.

‘Also, you needed a distraction. You were too tense, and I can’t think of a better way to release the tension. ’

‘Oh, you’re a bloody menace.’ I laughed, smacking Rey’s shoulder and pushing him onto his back before straddling his hips. ‘I’ll show you prowess,’ I said right before the door creaked open.

‘Irsha told me you’re awake, so I came with—Lada’s tit, Roksana! Why are you riding the king?’ The words preceded the draft from the corridor. ‘I thought you hated him!’

Tova stood in the doorframe, his eyes as big as saucers, holding a steaming mug in his transformed hand, and I realised two things.

First, I was indeed riding the king, straddling his hips like a bloody stallion.

Second, as Tova’s voice trailed down the corridor, there was more than one person who now knew my little secret.

‘Master Orenson, you have an ill-begotten sense of timing, so please give me one good reason not to send you back to M?ot,’ Rey said, grinning like a fool as I scrambled off him, muttering quiet, colourful curses.

‘I told you she likes apple pie—it seems to have taken you places. Besides, if you want to stay in my drah’sa’s good graces, you won’t lay a hand on me,’ Tova said with a shrug, coming closer.

I gasped, looking at Reynard, but instead of anger, a mischievous smile lifted the corners of his lips as his finger dived into the warm centre of the pie.

‘Bold words, Master Orenson.’ Rey smirked, licking the sweet, warm filling with the same gusto he’d used on me a moment ago.

‘I’ll forgive you this time, as it did give me the chance to bring this radiant smile back to her face.

’ His gaze challenged Tova to comment on his wordless statement.

Tova’s mouth gaped open, and I groaned when he understood the meaning behind it.

Someone please get me a shovel so I can bury myself and my embarrassment, I thought before taking control of the situation.

‘Get out, you dreadful duo. I need to dress.’