Page 33 of Straw and Gold (A Realm of Revelry #2)

He dipped my foot into the water, beginning again.

“Two years later, I thought that if I hid Sorcha, she’d discover my name and fulfilling the bargain would mean Céad could no longer haunt me, and my power would return.

” Patting my foot dry, he began the same treatment, his voice falling.

“We were careful, Morella. We snuck around, meeting at inns or her family’s estate.

We planned our future in private, but it wasn’t until we slept together that Céad came.

” He nodded toward his bed. “I found her there one morning, her blood pooled in the sheets, her body cold as I tore the blankets back to see that I had caused yet another woman’s death. ”

He finished wrapping my foot and sighed. “Another woman I loved.”

He dipped the rag into the water, lifting my muddy skirts to my knees and began washing my legs, splattered in filth.

“I didn’t know,” I said softly. “That the other Changelingfae who were to discover your name…were your lovers.”

He nodded. “When you arrived, I was angry. I’d forged our contract so many years before, certain you’d get yourself out of it.

” His strokes were light along my skin, brushing away what grime was left.

“And then you showed up to our wedding in red.” His eyes lifted and he dropped the rag.

“I hated the color. I couldn’t see it and not think of blood-stained sheets… until I saw you.”

My lips trembled and a half sob, half laugh came from my chest.

“You were so beautiful and free. I knew right then that I couldn’t keep you.

I couldn’t risk even knowing you. I didn’t trust your life with my foolish heart.

” He shook his head and laughed. “When you pulled your trunk into this room that night, I thought you were mad. I should have turned you away. I know I should have forced you back to your room, but I couldn’t.

A stronger man would have, Morella, because I knew what you were doing.

I saw that you wanted a marriage. You wanted to fall in love and I should have stopped you right then.

Before I discovered more about you. Before I memorized your smile—before I knew the little things.

What you like on your toasted bread, what your steps sound like as you cross barefoot through a room…

what curse words you prefer when you’re angry or making a point. ”

He dried my legs and chuckled. “And you’re right.

I am a liar. I’ve been lying to you for weeks.

I do love your kiss on my head each morning as you join me for breakfast. I do love listening to your songs as you spin, and I love waiting for the sound of your steps down the stairs.

” He pounded his chest. “It grips me here every time I hear them. I love irritating you, just so I can hear what you’ll say.

I love your clever thinking and ease into your Changelingfae heritage and the language of your people.

I love teaching you. Touching you. Tasting you.

But your kisses, Morella, those I love most. Each day I’ve lied, but each night I’ve been the most selfish of men.

Because those are my truth. But I cannot have them.

I cannot love you as I want just to lose you to her. ”

“Killian,” I whispered, reaching out, touching his cheek and wiping the tear I found there. “Moh Dhóches,” I added, “I didn’t know it was Céad. I didn’t know it was your lovers she killed. If you’d have just told me, you’d know by now that she cannot hurt me.”

“She can.” He hung his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. “She will.”

“No,” I urged, lifting his head in my hands. “A Goddess of the Veil cannot hurt the child of another.”

He frowned, his voice firm. “Morella, she has killed every woman I’ve loved after we shared a bed.”

“No, dammit, listen . The Goddesses—they have a bargain together. ‘ None will harm one and none will harm any with the blood of the other. ’ They made this pact to ensure their bloodlines would live on forever.” I smiled softly, brushing my thumb across his cheek.

“She cannot hurt me, Killian. She cannot take me away from you.”

Pain shifted across his face. “What are you saying exactly?”

“I’m saying that you are free to love me as your wife. She cannot kill me, Killian .” I kissed his lips softly, reassuring, “She cannot.”

He swallowed hard. “She’ll find a way,” he whispered. “She’ll take you from me somehow.”

“ Listen to me ,” I ordered, my voice steady between us.

“If she herself harmed me or orchestrated such a thing, she would perish. The pact the Goddesses made is strong. Their combined power fuels it. It’s part of why there are not many children of the Goddesses.

They do not fear their children’s death, for their children are Goddessblessed by each of the thirteen. ”

He closed his eyes and I felt the weight of the fear he carried roll off him as his shoulders slumped. His arms wrapped around my waist and I brought his head to my chest. “She cannot hurt me, Moh Geràdah. She cannot take me from you.”

“I’ve been so afraid,” he whispered. “I can’t just let that fear go. I…I don’t know how.”

I ran my fingers through his hair. “It will take time. It will take trust. But we have everything we need right here. I love you. I want you. I’ll do what it takes to have all of you.

All of you, Killian. Give me your fears and I shall soothe them away.

” I kissed the top of his head. “Give me your pain and I shall help you heal.” I lifted his chin, watching him break—all reservations gone in an instant and I smiled with relief in my heart.

“Give me your nightmares and I shall weave you new dreams.”

“ Morella ,” he breathed, lifting himself to kiss me, pulling me out of the chair and into his arms. I wrapped my legs around him as he held me, carrying me to my bed and setting me on top of the sheets.

“Are you sure you’re alright?” he whispered as I lifted his shirt up over his head, feeling my way down his arms.

“Yes,” I answered breathlessly, taking more kisses from his mouth.

“I want you in this bed.” I pulled my dress down my shoulders, shivering at the heat of those eyes on my bare skin.

“If you’re ready to stay with me.” I shimmied out of my soiled gown, naked and baring my heart before him. “But if you’re not ready to?—”

“Lie back, Moh Dhóches.”

I obeyed immediately, melting in the grip of his hands wrapping around my thighs as he pushed my legs apart, staring at me.

“The only good dreams I’ve had since you arrived were of this.” He lowered himself onto the bed, smoothing his cheek across the skin of my thigh, kissing right where he had that first night we’d done this weeks ago.

He opened his mouth, and I moaned in the heat of his tongue tracing over me. “I’ve pleasured myself to this, Morella.” Another kiss, another long drag of his lips. “And yes, I’ve imagined your mouth replacing my hand.”

I watched him lick and suck his way across my clit and when he added his fingers, curving them up to that place he’d once found, I cried out, begging for all of it.

“There’s so much more to teach you,” he said, replacing his mouth with his thumb. “And you’re such a quick learner, Moh Dhóches.”

“Please,” I begged, “teach me more.”

He withdrew himself and I whimpered, replacing his hand with my own. Watching in growing hunger, he stepped out of his pants, curling his hand around his stiff cock. I slipped two fingers inside myself, finding that place as he taught me and moaning, letting my head fall back onto the pillow.

He knelt on the bed, taking my fingers and bringing them to my mouth. “Taste it, Morella. Taste how good and ready you are for me.” I closed my eyes, licking over my fingers and he groaned. “Good girl. You listen so well, Goldling.”

I reached out, pulling his hand away and stroking his hard length. “Please, Killian,” I begged, my other hand coaxing him closer, pulling him down on top of me.

His lips met mine as his hand roamed over my chest. He trailed down my neck, reaching the peak of my breast and pulled a nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue in a circular motion, coaxing even more begging from my lips.

He readied his cock, leaving just the head at my entrance. Brushing my hair back from my face, he whispered, “What is my name, Morella?”

“I-I don’t know,” I breathed. My hips lifted, pushing more of him into me.

Air left his lungs quickly and he shook his head. “You do. You do know it. Intimately.”

“I can’t?—”

“You can,” he finished, kissing me hard and slipping in a little more.

“What is my name, Goldling?”

“I don’t know, Killian, please!” I wriggled beneath him, his cock only barely inside me, but I needed all of him. I needed to feel all of my husband, filling me completely.

“You do,” he added, slipping further inside. “You do, Moh Dhóches.”

A little further and he sucked air between his teeth.

“Moh Geràdah.”

My love.

I shrieked as he slipped in further, breathing hard, going slow, helping me stretch over him.

“Moh Bheren.”

My wife.

I gasped as he withdrew, sliding back in instantly. “Lorgair mi d’ arin, debheren.”

I will find your name, husband.

“Agus bid mi a’ fuck mar a brehb tu.”

And I will scream it as you fuck me.

A laugh, deep and low, came between us. He rose onto his knees, digging his hands into my hips and holding me steady. He began to thrust, slow at first, letting my body adjust until his cock hit that place inside of me and I cried out.

“There,” he cooed. “Look at you, taking me so perfectly. I knew you would.”

His body picked up speed and I struggled to stay with him, losing myself into mindless pleasure as he fucked me faster and faster, each thrust sending me further into moans and cries of pleading for more.

“That’s it,” he growled. “Open up all the way for me, wife.”

I did as he instructed, widening my hips, gripping his forearms. “Like this?” I breathed in reply.

“Perfect,” his face tightened as I felt myself letting go, squeezing his cock as my release began to ripple through my body.

He moaned, and bent forward, hovering over me, taking my mouth with his. “So fucking perfect,” he breathed before pressing his tongue to mine as the rest of my body shuddered, holding him as close as I could.

“ Morella ,” he gasped, pumping hard, extending my own release into something sharper, bringing me to clarity. “ Morella ,” he called again, slowing, breathing heavily, both of us completely spent.

I wrapped my arms around his back, keeping him with me, kissing him deeply.

As our lips parted, he stared into my eyes. I saw the turmoil there. I saw the love.

“No,” I reassured. “This wasn’t a mistake. You did nothing wrong. I will be right here with you in the morning and the morning after that. I am safe. You will not lose me.”

He brushed his hand across my cheek. “I love you.”

I nodded, sliding my hand over his, grinning like a fool. “I feel it, husband. I love you, too.”