Page 45 of The Dark Mage

S upper was delicious. Fael explained that the rich stew was made from wild deer native to the region. Her toes curled in her shoes every time their eyes met across the table. The way he licked his spoon clean was enough to make her squirm and clench her th ighs.

The serving girls wouldn’t meet their eyes, though they peeked curiously from behind the bar.

Each time they refilled the couple’s glasses, they scampered back, giggling and blushing.

Ren’wyn’s cheeks burned as she realized they hadn’t been as quiet earlier as she’d thought.

But Fael’s longing gaze banished any hint of re gret.

They shared a bottle of sparkling white wine, growing pleasantly tipsy as they exchanged slow, lingering glances full of new promises and sec rets.

When the younger serving girl approached with a tentative smile and asked if they wanted dessert, Ren’wyn blushed as Fael replied smoothly, “No, thank you. I think we’re all set.”

His hand, resting low on her back as they climbed the stairs, felt as hot as a b rand.

As soon as he shut and locked the door, Fael dropped to his knees and lifted her skirt. His strong hands gripped her thighs as he pressed her against the wall. In one fluid motion, he pulled her underwear down and draped her right leg over his shou lder.

He had her gasping and crying out his name in less than a minute as his tongue weaved a pattern against her that she couldn’t resist. When he finally released her, the wall was covered in streaks of frost, and dark mist pooled at their feet.

“You too,” she begged, breathless, her body tremb ling.

Rising, he lifted her in one smooth motion.

His skin burned hot beneath her fingers, his strength making her dizzy.

He didn’t bother removing her dress—he bent her over the dresser, his hands firm and possessive as he flipped her dress up to expose her hips.

She let him lay her flush with the wood and clenched tight around him as he pushed into her body, loving every powerful thrust of his hips.

As he climaxed, Fael braced one hand on the dresser to steady himself, his breath ragged, his skin covered in those tiny, orange flickers of magic. Then, in a gentle contrast to their intense love-making, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed.

He laid them down and pressed his head against her chest. “I want more,” he murmured against her collarbone. “But I can’t—not yet.”

Ren’wyn ran her fingers through his hair, smoothing the dark waves, and let her hands drift down the muscled expanse of his back before removing his shirt.

She held him close until his head rested against her breast, his arm draped protectively over her stomach.

The scars on his skin shone light and shiny against his tan complexion, and she traced each one, mapping his body beneath her h ands.

“There’s time for more,” she whispered as he relaxed under her touch. “I promise you—there’s more of me to give.”

They let go for just long enough to undress. Fael’s eyes remained fixed on her, his gaze approving and hungry as her dress slipped away, baring her curves to him.

“I might have lied to you,” Fael admitted as he settled beside her.

Surprise and fear caught her off guard. “ What?”

“I pretended I didn’t remember waking in Sicen,” he confessed, his voice tinged with amusement.

“But I do. I woke in a haze and saw every inch of your delicious legs, your backside, and most of your breasts bare and just within reach.” His smile was devilish.

“I thought maybe I’d died of fever and gone beyond the Void to paradise.

And... I might’ve said some rather foolish th ings. ”

Finding herself laughing and unashamed, Ren’wyn asked, “And now? Does this live up to your h opes?”

“Now I know what paradise truly is,” he murmured as his fingers trailed up her thigh and over her rounded stomach to her bre asts.

She bit her bottom lip in pleasure at the compliment. Heat flared as he touched her, tiny flames licking across her skin in gentle, tickling care sses.

In return, she devoured him with her eyes, enjoying his toned muscles and tracing the lines of his scars. They kissed and touched each other slowly, savoring and enjoying their connec tion.

When Fael began to drift, Ren’wyn snuggled against him, resting her head where his shoulder met his chest. His heartbeat was steady, and his skin was warm beneath her cheek, and only contentment followed them into sleep, wrapped in each other’s arms.

The morning maids rolled their eyes, convinced the evening staff had exaggerated what they’d heard from the upstairs room. But when they brought the bathtub up, curiosity got the better of them. The girls lingered near the door, hoping for a glimpse of the notorious co uple.

To their disappointment, the maids found only a woman brushing her hair in front of the mirror and a man gazing out the window, seemingly lost in thought.

They filled the tub with heated water, curtsied awkwardly, and scurried out as Fael shut the door behind them.

The click of the lock sent them into fits of giggles as they rushed downstairs, eager to speculate on the truth of the ru mors.

The tub was a tight fit for two, but Fael knelt and pulled Ren’wyn into his lap, pouring water over her shoulders and hair.

The warm water soothed her pleasantly sore body.

He washed her hair with lavender soap, his nimble fingers massaging her scalp.

Laughing, he awkwardly dunked his head beside hers to rinse himself off.

When his hands drifted low, tracing the curve of her waist, the hard length of him pressed into her back.

“Do you ever get tired?” she teased, letting her head fall back onto his shou lder.

He made love to her in the tub, her soft cries of ecstasy floating toward the ceiling as darkness swirled under the water like ink. She clutched the edge of the tub, arching into his strong embrace as her orgasm burned her from the inside out.

Satisfied and relaxed, she turned to wash Fael’s chest and back as she straddled his lap.

He sighed contentedly, his eyes closed, and she softened further, loving the sound of his pleasure.

When they were clean, Fael held her close, kissing her shoulders, neck, and mouth until they were both dazed and sense less.

They dressed leisurely and ordered breakfast to the room.

The maids who brought the food avoided making eye contact with Fael, who smiled shamelessly, the picture of satisfaction.

His own shout had been loud enough for the maids to know exactly what the two lovers had been up to during their bath.

Ren’wyn felt a deep swoop in her stomach—part embarrassment, part pride—at the look on his face, knowing she was the reason fo r it.

After finishing their meal, they headed out for the dress shop. The innkeeper and staff gaped as they left, while the wide-eyed guests whispered behind raised h ands.

The seamstress had worked wonders overnight.

Ren’wyn tried on a dress with a boned bodice in a deep amethyst, another in soft gray, and a set of traditional Luremalan clothes in petal pink with delicate embroidery.

She also tried on black and brown leggings and charcoal gray tunics perfect for everyday wear.

“They’re perfect,” Ren’wyn told the seamstress, smoothing her hands over the soft fa bric.

“Wouldn’t your husband like to comment?” the seamstress asked in her honeyed ac cent.

Ren’wyn remembered the local customs and smiled. “Of co urse.”

She stepped out of the dressing room in the amethyst dress, feeling like an exotic flower. The fabric set off her pale skin and dark blonde hair beautif ully.

Fael’s eyes widened as he took her in, his gaze traveling from the cinched waist to the curve of her bust and up to her face, which glowed with del ight.

“May I have a moment with my wife?” Fael asked the seamstress courteo usly.

“Certainly.” The seamstress smiled knowingly and slipped into the back room.

Fael crossed the distance faster than Ren’wyn thought possible, pushing her firmly into the curtained dressing room.

“How am I supposed to let you out of this store?” he growled, his hands gripping her backside as he rolled his hips into hers.

“Fael!” she gasped, half protesting, half laughing. “We’re in pu blic!”

With a reluctant groan, he released her and stepped back.

“Spin for me, beautiful,” he said, twirling a fi nger.

Ren’wyn spun for him, a coy smile playing on her lips as she watched the way his mouth tightened in frustration. His hands rested on his hips, and his gaze smold ered.

The seamstress returned and immediately fretted when she saw Fael’s expression. “Oh no—does it not please you, sir?”

Fael’s face broke into a broad grin. “It’s exquisite. Almost enough for the woman wearin g it.”

Ren’wyn flushed hot, wondering how her entire body hadn’t burst into flames. The thought of Fael’s fire on her bare skin made her blush ha rder.

The seamstress beamed. “Yes, she has the perfect figure for a structured bo dice.”

Fael leaned closer, whispering loud enough for Ren’wyn to hear, “I’m thinking I shouldn’t let her out on the street at all.”

Ren’wyn caught his wink in the mirror, and the seamstress laughed before shooing her back into the dressing room.

Ren’wyn changed into the pink outfit and stepped out to show Fael. But as she caught her reflection, a cold wave of memory swept over her. She was suddenly back in Erst’s manor, standing helpless as he leered at her in her wedding gown. Her feet falt ered.

Fael was at her side in an instant, his arms wrapping securely around her waist as her vision blurred. The seamstress needed no instruction to give them space and stepped quietly away.

“Ren’wyn,” Fael asked, his voice low with concern. “What i s it?”

She shook her head, her body trembling. “A bad memory,” she whispered. “Of trying on dresses… for Erst.”