Page 72 of The Gathering

She sighed into him and pointed to one at the bottom of the page, written in the old language.

"This one. Will you read it in the old language?" she asked of him.

Nadir cleared his throat comically, and she almost rolled her eyes. But he settled his arm around her, holding the book in one hand as he read, the other hand caressing her side. The words flowed lyrically from his lips, the noise of the old language coming off his tongue as smooth as wine pouring into a glass. She didn't know what he'd just said, but it made her blush nonetheless, even if it wasn't supposed to. And when he finished speaking, she shifted her thighs, wondering if he could feel how wet she'd become just by hearing him speak.

"I think I need a minute," she said with a deep breath.

"Why?"

"Because words are not supposed to sound that beautiful."

"I think that's precisely what words are supposed to do," he countered.

She sat her chin on his chest, gazing up at him. "What does it say?"

"Flowers beneath our feet. A wind on the sea. You are the night. And I am the trees," he breathed.

The words, as vague as they were, brought a smile to her lips. "Do you know what I think, Commander?" she asked.

He huffed under his breath, smiling softly. "What's that, Princess?"

"I think you bring this book with you just to make women swoon," she replied. "How many others have you cuddled with and spoke such words to?"

He hung his head, chuckling. "Actually, only you."

Her lips twisted. "Lies."

"Truth," he argued. "I'm an honest guy. You'll find very few lies from me."

"Says the one born of the Honest," she mocked. "Are all of you so truthful as you say?"

Nadir chuckled. "Not at all. I'm impressed you actually believe me when I say it."

"I still don't understand why Lovi chose to call you all the Honest," she admitted.

"He thought the word represented the purity and innocence he thought necessary for an immortal life."

Nyssa sat up on her forearm, face scrunched in bewilderment as she stared at him. "That ship has clearly sailed," she mocked.

He feigned hurt, laying the book over his chest as though covering up a wound. "What are you talking about? I'm the epitome of those words."

"You are the furthest thing from innocent I have ever met," she countered.

A slow grin spread on his lips, and he grasped her bottom in his hand. "Says the Promised Princess who has every person in this kingdom fooled into thinkingsheis the epitome of those words."

She almost laughed but instead shrugged her shoulders. "It's a gift," she mused.

The softened smile he gave her then made her chest ache. A brief moment of smiles, his nose nudging hers before softly taking her lips against his. The familiar restless ache threaded over her skin. He quickly moved the book to the bedside table before rolling her on top of him. Her eyes closed when his lips pressed to her cheeks, to her jaw, and then down her neck, his hands splaying over her backside and gripping her firmly in his grasp. He spread her cheeks with the grip and spanked her hard. Warmth pooled between her legs, and she wondered if he knew how much wetter she became when he did that.

“Again,” she managed between kisses.

Nadir smiled against her lips and did as she asked, his other hand moving up and threading in her hair enough to pull it. He pushed her up on his stomach and felt his moan vibrate her mouth when her spread pussy landed on his abs.

“Do you know what you’re going to do right now, Princess?” he asked as he spanked her again.

She could only groan in response, unable to contain herself at the grasp of his hands.

“You’re going to spill over my stomach… and I’m only going to touch your ass and your throat.” He tugged her chin down for her to look at him. “Use me, Princess. Use me for your end.”