Jonas sat against the pillows and started near the top of his ribs. “Blades for each of my parents. They are the strongest warriors I know.” He pointed at the symbol of wisdom right below. “For Sander. He’s viewed as the innocent twin, but he’s damn clever and devious when hewants to be. A moonvane blossom from the north for House Ferus—Livia’s and Aleksi’s house. But my other uncle is consort to their aunt, so we share cousins and family. House Ferus was a second home to me and Sander. As was Mira’s, the raven. It is their house symbol. A quill for the fate king and queen. They do not leave their palace much, now even less since their little was born a few months ago.”
I looked at each image, following the edges, how they were all connected through vines and briars. “Everyone you love. It is quite a tribute.”
Jonas merely hummed and looked to me.
“Are you sore at all?” he asked after a pause. “I bent you up last night.”
The way Jonas had my legs twisted around as he slammed into me until I could not even shout his name was a moment I wouldn’t forget. “I have never felt better, Nightmare.”
Jonas pinched my side until I shrieked and rolled into him. “What did you call me?”
“Nightmare.”
“You gave me a lover’s name. A horrible one, but I’ve never had one before.”
“It’s not horrible. You are my nightmarish prince.” I pecked his lips. “And it is one of my favorite sides of you.”
“Do explain.”
I bit down on my bottom lip, ignoring the frenzy of my hair and leveraged over the top of him. Jonas drew in a sharp breath when my thighs settled on either side of his hips. Beneath my center I felt the thickness of his cock hardening.
“I might’ve pretended to care for nothing the day we left Natthaven, but when your magic took hold of your eyes and you lashed your words at Cian, if you’d have asked, I might’ve devoured you right there.”
The inky center of his eyes flared. “Princess Skadi, such scandalous words. Your grandfather was present.”
I leaned forward, smiling against his lips. “That was the moment I knew you could devour every bit of me if I allowed it.”
He cupped the back of my head. “And will you allow it?”
My pulse quickened. Was I bold enough? I scooted down his legs, my fingers trailing over the hard surface of his stomach.
Jonas watched me with a look of stunned heat.
My palms settled on his thighs. “I might be able to answer better, but . . . I think I need a taste of you first.”
Jonas took hold of my wrist. “Skadi, you don’t have to.”
“And that is why I want to.” One hand stroked him once from hilt to tip, my thumb running over the sensitive crown.
“Dammit.” Jonas gritted his teeth, hips bucking on instinct.
He parted his lips—to argue or have the last word no doubt—but whatever words he planned to say choked off when my lips surrounded the head of his cock. A deep, throaty groan broke over his tongue. He propped one leg, knee bent, and draped an arm over his eyes as though the rush had come on too swiftly.
I dragged my tongue along the underside of his length until he looked down at me with hooded eyes. “Fire . . .” He drew in a few sharp breaths. “Don’t stop.”
I took him in deeper. The taste of his skin and musk pooled heat between my thighs. My tongue curled around the tip of his length. What I could not take in, I covered with my hand, stroking in tandem with my mouth.
Jonas’s breaths were rough, heavy. He wove his fingers through my tangled hair, his head fell back. One glance, and my core throbbed watching the heady pleasure written on his face.
There was a powerful delight that came from knowing I brought those breaths from his lungs, it was my name whispered on his lips.
Jonas moaned when I moved faster. He thrust into my mouth, drawing out a cough when he went deeper into my throat.
I licked and kissed until breaths turned to sharp, staggered pants.
“Skadi, I’m going to come.”
I held firmly to his hips, holding him in place until he groaned and spent his hot release over my tongue. When it ended, I pulled back, smiling and wiping my lips. Jonas reared over me, pinning my back to the bed.
