Page 24 of To Dwell in Shadows (Shadows of Aurelia #2)

“ E ww, what is that?” Selene said to herself, peering at a book covered in pulsating green goo. It was wedged behind a bookcase so rickety it looked like it would disintegrate if she breathed too hard.

Since she had started cleaning up the Underworld’s library, she’d faced a constant game of picking her battles.

Some sections just needed the dust swept away, while others had surfaces that required vigorous scrubbing.

The gooey book fell into the no way am I touching that category, so Selene avoided that corner, and continued stacking books by category and condition.

Zetta napped on a pile of crumpled pages nearby, snoring out puffs of smoke with every exhalation.

Since had Selene decided she needed a project to keep from going stir crazy, Zetta rarely left her side.

They had settled into a daily rhythm. Each morning, Selene helped Ogrin feed the hellhounds, despite the demoness’s constant grumbling.

Then Zetta kept Selene company in the library.

Even with the occasional icky moment, working amid the dust and decaying tomes of the library was an introvert’s dream: quiet, peaceful, and without distractions.

Zetta also seemed to enjoy the break from her cage and the noise of the other dogs.

Selene picked at the flecks of disintegrated book bindings clinging to her dress.

She was wearing the most utilitarian thing Prickles could find—a blue Victorian-inspired, high-necked frock with tight sleeves that didn’t get caught on everything.

She had asked for pants or something resembling a simple T-shirt, but so far Prickles hadn’t delivered.

After setting down yet another battered book on war strategy, a hardback titled, Lonely Nights and Magic Delights caught her eye.

She flipped through it, hoping it was the type of erotica Sam liked.

It turned out to be a crumbling manual on sleight-of-hand tricks.

She tossed it aside and tried not to let her thoughts drift to how much she missed Sam.

Or wonder why it had been so hard for him to make time for her.

In Aurelia, when she and Sam had talked about coming to the Underworld, Selene had naively pictured them exploring the realm together.

Sam would act as her tour guide, and they would both get reacquainted with his parents over family outings, shared meals, and whatever else demons liked to do for fun.

So far, the only meal she hadn’t eaten alone in her room occurred on the night of their arrival.

Prickles brought her trays of food like clockwork, but the imp didn’t like to stay and chat.

Playing with Zetta and the dogs helped ease her loneliness, but she couldn’t help feeling a little abandoned.

Selene had barely even seen Queen Thema since learning how to scry and shield.

“Selene? Are you in here?”

The question startled her. It came from a voice that sounded like Sam’s, but she held back from answering. Was this another trick? Had Drath or another demon sensed she was thinking about Sam and come to torment her?

She covertly peered around a bookcase. Sam—or someone who looked like him—stood near the library’s entrance, surveying the space with a scowl. There were dark circles under his eyes and his shoulders were slumped, but when he caught sight of her, his face brightened.

As he came toward her, Selene held up a hand. “Wait. How do I know you’re really Sam?” Quickly, she imagined the pyramid slamming down over her mind and thoughts.

His forehead creased. “What do you mean?”

“I need to know you’re real.”

Sam stared at her for a moment, then said, “I’m real.”

“Prove it.”

“How?”

Selene looked him up and down, considering. “Tell me the name of the Harpy I sang a song to in Iriswood.”

“Pydiana,” he replied without hesitation.

Selene exhaled with her entire body and rushed toward him. “Oh, thank god.” But right before she reached him, she stopped, remembering how filthy she was. “I’m dying to kiss you, but I’m covered in dust. What are you doing here?”

Wordlessly, Sam pulled her into his arms, dust and all, and crushed his lips to hers.

She threaded her fingers through his thick hair, sinking her nails into his scalp.

His hands cradled her face so he could take her mouth hard, undulating his tongue against hers.

His scent, the wetness of their mouths, and the nearness of his body made her blood spark with fire.

From the corner of her eye, Selene saw Zetta wake up long enough to let out a soft whine as she yawned, then fall back asleep.

After several blissful minutes of kissing, Sam pulled back. “Why did you think it wasn’t me?”

“I had a bad experience recently. I’ll tell you later.” She laid her cheek against his chest. His clothes smelled funny, like wet stone and rusted iron, but she didn’t care. His heart thumped beneath her ear. “I’m just so glad to see you.”

“What bad experience?”

“It’s nothing. How have you been? ”

Sam grasped her shoulders, forcing her to meet his eyes. “What bad experience? Tell me what happened.”

She bit her lip. “I’m afraid of how you’re going to react.”

“Were you harmed?”

“No. Well, not physically.” When Sam growled, Selene cupped his jaw and said, “I’m fine, I swear. I’ll tell you, but you must promise not to storm off and do vengeance.”

Sam sigh wearily. “I don’t think I could if I even wanted to right now. But yes, I promise.”

Slowly, Selene explained how she’d been spending her days and what happened with Drath in the tunnels.

Recounting the story made her more emotional than she expected, especially remembering how happy she had felt seeing Cass at first. With every word, Sam grew more tense.

When she finished, she watched his irises flash from black to red then again.

Quietly, he said, “I will deal with Drath. Rest assured. He will know pain and fear like he’s never experienced before. But that can come later.” He pulled her close again. “I’ve missed you. I hated being away from you so much.”

“I missed you, too.”

“I tried to come back to you early every night, but there was always an interruption. I’m sorry.” He looked around the library again. “I hate that you’ve been spending your time in a place like this.”

“Oh no, I like it. It’s so satisfying to bring order to chaos. I’ve made a lot of progress.” She gestured to two bookcases of neatly stacked books in the corner. “That section is for books on plagues, the other is for confessionals, and I’m starting one on war strategies.”

Sam nodded and Selene noticed a slight tremble in his hand as he raked it through his hair. “You seem a little off. What’s going on?”

The look he gave her was stark. Raw, unfiltered emotion. “I just faced Zaybris.”

“You what ?” Selene cried.

“I faced him where he’s being imprisoned and I… I gave him vengeance.”

Selene gaped at him. “And? How do you feel?”

He didn’t reply, just pulled her into another kiss—harder this time and laced with urgency. “I don’t want to talk. I just need to feel you.”

Between kisses she said, “You’re sure? It’s a lot to process.”

“I’m sure.” He covered her breast with his hand and whispered, “We should go to our rooms.”

“We could, but no one ever comes down here,” she whispered back. “We could… ”

Without a word, Sam lifted Selene against him, pulling both her legs around his hips. He set her on the nearby table, then swept away the piles of books with his arm.

The ferocity of the gesture made her giggle. “You just ruined three days of work,” she cried. Sam looked panicked, but Selene pulled open his pants and said, “Worth it.”

When she curled her fingers around his length, he hissed out a breath.

He leaned further into her touch while pulling her skirts to her waist. He slid his warm palm up the delicate skin of her thigh, while his other hand thumbing her nipple through the fabric.

He began feeling around for a zipper or set of buttons to undo, but the dress was corseted. Tricky to remove.

“I have to feel more of you,” he growled against her ear. “Do you want to keep this gown?”

“Yes, don’t tear it. It’s the best one… for working,” Selene panted. The feel of his fingers stroking over her panties made it difficult to form complete sentences.

He looked frustrated, but then said, “Lie back. I want to try something.”

She did as she was told, anticipation already soaking her panties.

Sam loomed over her for a moment with his hands bunched in her skirts.

Then he closed his eyes and went very still.

Just as she was about to ask what he was doing, a dark shape darted out from a corner and slipped under her dress.

She yelped in surprise as something cool and tingly swirled over the bare skin of her stomach.

Sam’s look of concentration deepened until she felt the sensation glide up over her rib cage—then her breasts—dancing and skimming around the sensitive skin, twisting and pulling at her nipples until she gasped.

It was strangely wonderful, and deliciously wicked.

“Sam… what are you… how?”

“The shadows,” he said. “A Lust demon gave me the idea. Do you like it?”

“I-I… love it.”

He chuckled softly. “Lift your hips.” She complied, and in an instant, her damp underwear went fluttering to the floor.

While the shadows continue to sweetly torture her on his command, Sam dropped to his knees.

Roughly, he draped one leg over his shoulder and pushed her other leg aside so she was completely open to him.

Although she could tell he was coiled tight with desire, he didn’t pounce right away.

The intensity of his gaze made her squirm as he stared at the most intimate part of her and murmured, “So beautiful.”

Then he set upon her wildly. Licking and sucking as though he were a starved beast. His claws extended, digging into her thighs in a way that was sure to leave marks. She moaned and pressed herself closer to his mouth.

The unhinged way he devoured her made her briefly think of how her ex-boyfriend Kevin never went down on her. He claimed it “hurt his jaw” or he “didn’t know how,” despite all the times she had tried explaining that she didn’t want a masterful technique—passion and enthusiasm went a long way.

How lucky I am that Sam has both.

With the shadows driving her wild beneath her dress, Selene reached down to stroke Sam’s horns.

She had quickly learned he loved this, especially when she did it to give him feedback.

Telling him “a little to the left”—and pulling him in that direction with his horns— only seemed to amp him up further.

When he slipped his fingers inside her, she couldn’t help but buck her hips.

With his lips sucking her clit and his strong fingers pumping in and out of her wet sheath, she felt herself unraveling.

Knowing he would stay on his knees for hours if she let him, she said, “Stop, baby. No more. Come inside me. Now, Sam.”

He shot to his feet. In one swift motion, he plunged into her, pulling her hips to him so he could sink in deeper. She locked her legs around his waist and arched her back, meeting his thrusts.

This caused the shadows to writhe and pulse around them both. Selene watched Sam motion to them with his eyes. Then she felt the mist undulate down between her legs, brushing against her clit as Sam pounded into her. His expression was anguished. Desperate.

So good.

She couldn’t hold out a second longer. Driving her head back, she let out a moan as waves of pleasure crashed over her again and again while she called his name. Seconds later, he went over the edge too. Groaning and gasping, then plunging into her as hard as he could.

“Selene,” he cried, then collapsed over her, his head resting on her chest. They were both panting and sweaty. Sated.

Together again.

“Ahem,” said a voice from behind them. “Um… pardon the interruption.”

To Selene’s horror, she turned to see Vanthee standing in the library’s doorway.