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D evrix responded. His hands moved to my sides, careful of my slung arm. He pulled me against him, deepening into the embrace.

The kiss started as a tender exploration, learning the curves and suppleness of each other’s lips. The smoothness of his mouth traced over every corner of mine.

“You want to stay?” he asked.

My heart leaped against my ribs. “Yes, I don’t want to waste this moment,” I whispered. My future was uncertain at best, and Devrix had become the brightest spot among it. I wanted to make the most of our time together. “You bring me happiness and hope. I feel safest when I am with you.”

Upon hearing my words, Devrix let go of his restraint, kissing me with renewed fervor. I couldn’t get enough of it. His tongue was soft and warm as it swept across mine.

He moved lower, kissing a path down the side of my neck, sparking a flash of heat through my body. My fingers hooked tightly in his silky locks.

He paused, eyes meeting mine. “No one will notice your absence?”

I shook my head. “The wards prevent my escape. No one even bothers to check.”

I pulled him back to me. With only one hand to explore his body, I dropped my fingers from his hair and slid them down to his collar, pulling at the fabric.

His broad hands fell to my hips, then around to my backside. The blanket slipped from my shoulders and lay forgotten on the floor. I could feel the warmth of his palms through the thin cloth of my gown.

In between passionate kisses, I worked the top button of his shirt, opening it and flattening my palm against his solid chest. “I’d like to stay,” I said.

His voice was low and gruff when he met my gaze.

“Nothing would make me happier.” He gathered up the long fabric of my gown before his grip tightened on my backside, and suddenly I was lifted, my legs parting around his hips.

My breath hitched at the hard press of him between my thighs. A deep groan rose from his throat.

I basked in the dizzy sensation awakened by our closeness and breathed him in—wood-smoke and sage. I kissed him on the jaw and neck as he carried me to his bedchamber.

The room was dim, lit only by the candlelight flicking in from the main chamber. Devrix leaned forward, laying me down onto the soft mattress. He pulled back enough so our eyes could meet, his hands spread on my hips.

“You’re all I can think about,” he confessed. “I left, only to find myself counting down the days until I could return. If I didn’t know better, I would think I was under a spell.”

“Then I think it’s affecting both of us,” I replied.

“Glad I’m not the only one. But you are the one in control of this spell.”

A smile spread across my lips. “I’m in control?”

He nodded. “Completely.”

“Then kiss me,” I demanded.

A soft chuckle tickled my neck as he lowered his lips to my skin. His right hand feathered over my left shoulder and down my arm, which was secured in the sling. He paused and lifted his head. “Is the medicine helping?”

Devrix’s concern was sweet, but unwanted at present. “Yes. It’s only a dull ache at the worst of times.” It may have been more than that, but it wasn’t bothering me at the moment. In fact, the only thing that bothered me was that he had stopped kissing me to ask.

He flashed a knowing smile and pressed his lips to mine. Moving his right hand away from my sling, it lowered to my hip. His other hand skimmed up to my waist.

Passion built between us, the kiss intensifying as he opened the button on the front of my gown. His mouth moved over my neck, then trailed kisses across my shoulder. I basked in the attention.

His large hand slid beneath the fabric, sending a jolt of heat to my core. With my skin exposed, he cupped my breast and ran a thumb over my nipple. I arched into his touch. All of my senses ignited. My heart beat wild behind my ribs.

With one arm still caught up in the sling, I fumbled with my free hand, trying to undo the buttons of his shirt. A tinge of frustration sparked at not being able to use both of my hands.

He paused, tilting his gaze up to me. “Having trouble?” he teased.

“I could use some help,” I shot back in a playful tone.

He let out a rough laugh and sat up. As he undid one button at a time, he kept his gaze locked with me, lips curved in a roguish grin. The shirt was tossed aside.

Even in the dim light, I was left ogling—his physique was breathtaking. My eyes traveled freely over his flesh, stunned by the beauty of his broad chest and muscular arms, wishing there was more light to study him by.

Compelled to touch him, and as if to make up for my useless left arm, my right hand traced up and down, mapping out the muscles of his shoulders, his chest, his abdomen.

Stopping at his navel, I admired how the crest of his hips formed a triangle that disappeared beneath the waistband of his trousers.

My breath stilled when I saw how the fabric below was strained from his arousal.

Catching my gaze on his body, he leaned in with a heated stare, hands smoothing over my calves. “I knew you were trouble the first time I passed you in the hall.” He positioned my legs wider around him.

“I remember. You were the first Ashlora I encountered, and I thought you were very impressive .” I swallowed, feeling shy about my confession. A flush appeared in his cheeks.

Hands sliding up, his fingers brushed past the curves of my inner knees, lifting the fabric of my nightgown as they trailed higher.

His touch danced over my thighs and stopped; my night gown bunched at my waist. Two fingers curled below the line of my underwear.

Devrix paused, looking up at me for approval.

I lifted my hips, granting him permission. Slowly, as if to torture me, he pulled the undergarment down. The fabric skimmed across my skin, passing over my knees and off my legs.

I propped myself up on an elbow. Vulnerability and arousal warred with each other. I lay exposed before him, baring myself willingly.

He stayed at the end of the bed and lowered himself. Lifting my foot to his lips, he placed a feather-light kiss on my ankle, then moved up to my shin ... my knee. When he reached my inner thigh, a shuddering breath escaped me.

Peering up, adoration filled his silver eyes as he kept the press of his lips to my skin.

The moment was overwhelming. That I was in his bed, sharing this intimacy with him—it was a joy I doubted I would experience again. I let myself become lost in his affection.

A flood of desire pooled between my thighs as his palms drifted up and opened my legs wider. When he lowered his head, my eyes fluttered closed from the sensation of his mouth near my most sensitive area. I was lost, burning from the contact of his lips as they trailed inward, inch by inch.

He moved to my center, taking his time, at first soft and teasing. Tasting. When his tongue reached the bud of nerves, my body bowed into him.

Finding my most sensitive spot, he worked in a rhythm, soft, yet firm, creating a perfect tension. My hips rolled; hand clenched in the bedspread as the sensation built.

When he slid two fingers inside me, I lost control of my hips, and rolled them with his tempo.

His name slipped from my throat. The tension grew higher and tighter with every stroke.

One final press of his fingers and I broke.

Wave after wave of pleasure crashed over me, drowning me. Over, and over, and over.

The sound of my panting filled the space. Blood roared in my ears as the world came back into focus.

Devrix kissed my inner thigh one last time before rising. A radiant smile shone all the way to his eyes.

“I was right … very impressive,” I breathed. Pulling him up and closer to me. I tasted myself on his lips. My hand roamed over his bare skin, then lower to reach for the button of his pants. I was eager to see him come as undone as he had done to me. My desire for him burned hotter than ever.

But his hand wrapped firmly around mine, halting me.

“You want me to stop?” I asked, confused.

“The furthest from it.” He let out a sigh, but didn’t release my hand.

“But not here. Not until you are free. I want to enjoy our first time, and I don’t want it to be within the walls of this fortress.

” He nodded to my arm wrapped tight near my chest. “I also want your shoulder healed. There are many ways I would like to enjoy our time together, and I don’t think we can do them justice with your shoulder like that.

” One of his eyebrows lifted with a devious flare.

“But—” My protest was paused as he put a finger to my lips.

“Another time,” he whispered, placing a kiss on my brow.

He shifted, laying on his side next to me. His fingers brushed across my cheek before threading into my hair. He pulled my forehead to his. “We will have time again, my love.”

After a lingering kiss, he leaned back and cocooned me in his arms.

How can he be so sure we’ll have more time? The words didn’t reach my mouth. Instead, I tucked my head against him, wishing time would stop moving so I could stay here, safe in his arms, forever.