Had he lost weight since last night?
“All right,” Lessia whispered, and damn if those words didn’t threaten to break his fucking heart.
He had no idea how Merrick did it. How he stood there tall beside this female as she once again fought for her life. Despite the fire, Kerym’s body went cold, and it was all he could do to open his arms, pulling this brave half-Fae against his chest and holding her there until Merrick shifted before him.
“Don’t let him boss you around too much.” Kerymtouched her cheek as Merrick dragged her back. “And don’t worry about the rest of us.” He made himself wink at her. “It’s our turn to be heroes now. I have to show my future wife over there what a strong, brave soldier I am.”
A low giggle left Lessia, and while Merrick rolled his eyes, Kerym could tell his friend appreciated the attempt to make her laugh.
None of them said anything as one of Rioner’s old soldiers brought over a large mare with a glossy golden coat and a mane and tail so white they mirrored the sun rising over the horizon behind them.
After a quick nod from Merrick, who got on the horse first, and then a small wave from Lessia as Merrick helped her up and settled her against his chest, the horse cast her head upward, and they were off, galloping through the gardens as the fire flickered to their left and the sun sparkled to their right.
Kerym stared after them for a few moments, an unwelcome sense of loneliness sweeping through him that had the warrior wrap his arms around his own chest. He didn’t move as soft footsteps approached him, but when a hand whispered over his back, he finally spun around.
Pellie’s hair shone like the fire roaring behind her, and while her green eyes were glossed, there was something determined in them, something that caused a pull in Kerym’s gut.
Her hand dropped to her side as he let his eyes travel over her, and he sensed she was debating whether to step back or just fly into his arms.
“Can we stop pretending this isn’t something we both want?” Kerym whispered when her fingers twitched by her sides. “Just… for today.”
Pellie’s lips trembled for a moment before she nodded.
Thank fuck for that. He didn’t know what he would have done if she had also left him.
Then she was in his arms, and he groaned as she stood on her toes to kiss him.
Fuck, her lips were as incredible as the rest of her.
Kerym slipped his hands under her ass, and he lifted her so she could wrap her legs around him, moving them under the tree he’d stood beside, letting the branches fall around them to hide them from the outside world. Pressing her back against the bark, he ground against her, grinning into her mouth when she yelped at how hard he was already.
Her sweet scent joined the smell of grass and salty sea, and he kept one arm around her to hold her steady while finally using the other to explore her alluring curves.
“So fucking soft,” he groaned as his hand played with her swelling breasts, dipping into the dress she wore with ease and dragging his palm over her hardening nipples until she moaned.
His lips crashed against hers, his tongue playing with her hot one as his other hand slipped beneath the dress and?—
“Fuck.” Kerym panted as he pulled back, and he was about to spill in his breeches when she gave him a lazy grin and declared, “I don’t like to wear undergarments.”
“As if I needed another thing to love about you,” he rasped before capturing her lips again, his hand moving to cup her already dripping pussy.
She stiffened—only for a second—but he pulled back immediately.
“Do you want to stop?” he asked hoarsely.
Her eyes moved between his, and she shook her head. But…
“Are you sure?” Kerym leaned his forehead against hers. “We can wait. I am in no rush.”
He tried to pretend his aching cock didn’t think otherwise.
“No,” she whispered, her voice becoming needy, causing his dick to twitch. “I want this. I want you right now.”
Kerym nodded slowly, somehow feeling like he was missing something, but she whined again, rubbing her bare fucking pussy against his trousers until her scent whirled all around them, and when she whispered “Please,” he growled and pushed her up against the tree again.
Her wetness coated his hand when he slipped it between them once more, and he wound his other one into her long hair as he dipped a finger between her folds, heat surging within him when it slid into her so effortlessly it felt as if it belonged there.
Kerym pulled her hair back when she cried out, using his teeth to tease her slender neck as he started driving his finger in and out of her, adding another one when her slick pussy squeezed him.
