Controlling the pace, I steadily ride him. “I want to make this as good for you as you made it for me.” I gently nip the edge of his ear. “Tell me what you want, what you like, and I’ll do that.”
Nico pulls me into a kiss that’s more passion than finesse. “I already said. I want you.” He wraps his arms around me, almost possessively. His fingers dig into my back, and yes, there will be bruises. I don’t care. This is toogood. “Watching you come apart, hearing you moan was perfect. Founder, I’m so close.”
I increase my pace again, pressing my lips against Nico’s ear as I ride him hard. “Then come. Come for me, now.” I raise up again, slam my hips down, and Nico bellows loudly, gripping me even tighter as his orgasm tears through his body.
Chapter 8
A Delicate Extraction
Smiling, I collapse onto the bed, pulling Nico with me. I’m drained but sated, like I’ve just finished a particularly intense training session. Nico sprawls across the mattress, one hand resting on his chest, the other above his head on the pillow, half-closed eyes staring at the ceiling. His hair is a tangled mess of curls, his lips are kiss-swollen, and a thin sheen of sweat covers every inch of him. He’s absolutely gorgeous, and I wouldn’t mind doing this again sometime.
Shocked, I put an immediate stop to that line of thinking. I barely know him. And this is quick, no strings attached sex. Nothing more. We’re not on Earth, where I might be able to consider a repeat. This is Amagi. And in addition to the very real danger of who he is, there are things I need to accomplish. Things that will eventually put me back on the list of targets for the entire Guild.
But I’m also no longer a pawn to be told what, or who, to do.‘...whatever you’re willing to give.’And if things weredifferent, I might consider giving Nico something more. But they’re not.
He rolls onto his side to face me. “That was incredible.” He rests his hand on my thigh and smiles dopily, warming every part of me. “My brain is still fuzzy.”
I push away the sappy sensation trying to settle in my chest. “It would seem we’re quite compatible sexually.”
Nico props his head in his palm and traces the tattoos on my chest. “Are you able to tell me about any of these? Or is it all secret?” His voice is rough and quiet, almost hypnotic, full of intimacy far beyond the sex.
I keep my voice low, unwilling to break the mood even as I tell myself I should get up and leave. “Some are just pretty pictures. Others signify personal things. A few relate to the Guild, and those I can’t talk about. Which one interests you? If I can share something about it, I will.”
Nico drags his fingertips over the tendril of smoke inked down my side and across the front of my left hip. “Tell me about this one.”
“Purely decorative. Other than drawing the eye along my beautiful body, it’s there to remind me that I am mist. Felt but not seen.”
He traces the tattoo over my solar plexus, an unbroken line of looped ovals, drawn like the points on a compass set over a large circle. “This is easy. The witches knot. For protection.” I hold my breath as his gentle touch moves higher to trace the tattoo over my heart. He carefully outlines the two crossed daggers, one composed of intricate linework, beautiful but deadly, and the other black as pitch and dripping with onyx blood. Silently, I urge him to moveon, but he doesn’t. “This one… what is this?” I grip his wrist to stop his fingers, shutting my eyes, fully intending to say nothing. The mattress moves as Nico sits up and tries to pull his hand back. “I am sorry. It is not important. Please, forget I asked.”
I force a smile and pull him down onto the mattress, gently nipping at his plush mouth. “I need to have some secrets, otherwise you’ll get bored.”
He relaxes against me, accepting my teasing excuse and letting the awkward moment pass. “I doubt you are ever boring. But I am too content to argue the point.” He pulls me into his side and wraps an arm around me, caressing my bicep with his fingertips. “I am happy to lie here with you and float in post-orgasmic euphoria.”
I chuckle and close my eyes, enjoying the unhurried touch of another person. I’ll stay for a few more minutes and then go. That’s my last thought before I slip into that hazy place between awake and asleep and let my mind and body drift.
When I finally open my eyes again, I’m still pressed against Nico’s side. His muscular arms are wrapped loosely around me, and our legs are tangled together. Glancing out the window, I try to guess at the time. I should get up and leave, if for no other reason than it’s safer to move around the city while it’s still dark. At least in my current circumstances. But I’m warm and comfortable and have no desire to move. Then Nico stretches with an accompanying groan, and my nice comfy cushion turns into hard angles and flexed muscles. I move to give him room, butNico tightens his arms, holding me in place, sleepily mumbling into my hair. “No sneaking away.”
“I know you’ll miss me, but I really should leave.” I stroke his jaw, glancing over his beautiful face, memorizing every feature before kissing him softly. “How does the saying go…‘Another time, another place’?” Nico raises an eyebrow, and I wince internally. Fucking hells. I need to stop using Earth idioms. At least this one’s easily understood.
I move to the opposite side of the bed, swinging my legs to the floor. We shouldn’t see each other again. He’s a Medina. And I have a mission. I rub a hand across my face, trying to find the motivation to stand. With effort, I force myself to my feet and pad over to pick up my pants from the floor.
Nico clears his throat. “You are working on something right now. But if you ever want to do this again…” I turn to see him gesturing between the two of us and the bed. “I am sure you can find me. It will be alright if you do. But I will understand if you choose not to.”
I step into my pants, yank my shirt over my head, and pick up my boots. Sitting on the edge of the mattress nearest Nico, I brush a stray curl from his forehead. “Can’t get your fill of me? I get it. I’m an exceptional lover.” I smile cheekily, and he playfully nudges my shoulder with his. “I’ll be busy for a few days. But if everything goes well, I may find you after that.” I pause, momentarily stunned. I’d planned to give him some vague, noncommittal reply. Instead, my mouth, which has obviously disconnected from my brain, had other ideas. He just handed me the perfectexcuse to walk away with no complications. But I guess I don’t want to. And fucking hells, that’s unnerving. This entire evening is nothing I’d anticipated. Especially Nico. Most especially my reaction to him. And no matter how much I’d like it to be otherwise, that can’t continue.
Nico’s eyes widen, and his plump lips curve into a sweet grin. “Good.”
My heart beats faster. With a small shake of my head at my own foolishness, I kiss him, then reluctantly pull on my boots. By the time I walk to the door, I have a plan to say something charming and vague that will give me a reason not to contact him again. I open the door and glance over my shoulder. “Nico—” My brain shuts off as I catch sight of him propped against the headboard, blanket pooled low around his hips, ridiculously gorgeous and sleepy. “—you make it very difficult to leave.”
He grins like he’s just won a prize. “You could always stay. I am sure there are a few things we have not tried yet.”
I scramble to regain my composure. “There are quite a few things we haven’t tried. Unfortunately, I can’t stay. But save those ideas for next time.” What the fucking hells? I wink, turn to the door, and leave before I change my mind.
Silently making my way to Sanctuary’s back door, I exit out of the tavern with a nod to the guard, heading back to my own inn. How could I be so repeatedly stupid? Not only did I reveal far too much about myself, I learned nothing about Nico. And I told him there would be a next time. There should definitelynotbe a next time.Absolutelynot. I’m planning very dangerous assassinations ofhigh-ranking Shabah members, and Nico is a distraction. An incredibly gorgeous distraction who knows his way around a bed, but that doesn’t matter. Therecan’tbe a next time.
A few streets from my destination, I round a corner and spot two cloaked figures strolling toward me. I slip into the shadows, my heart pounding. I’d been so caught up in my head that I hadn’t heard them. Fucking hells! This is a perfect example of why Nico is an incredibly bad idea. I need to focus. With care and patience, I wait for them to move around the corner, give it a few more minutes to make sure they don’t backtrack, and then hurry on, purposely pushing away any lingering thoughts of the evening and Nico.
Back in my room with the door bolted, I lie on my bed and close my eyes. If I intend to survive this adventure, I need at least a few hours of sleep. Especially if I want to plan a decent plan to break into the Vault. My mind has other ideas, imagining dark curls and silver eyes, the brush of full lips against my throat and warm hands caressing my body. And I give up pretending I won’t see Nico again. I’m a fool, and it’ll probably be the death of me, but I’ll deal with that later. Concentrating on my breathing, I relax and slow my heart rate until sleep overtakes me.
