“I need you closer.” She patted the mattress next to her, the wall of pillows and blankets she’d constructed around the mattress having made a little nest.
“Of course.”
“Can I…?” She indicated coming closer, and I opened my arms wide. She snuggled her face against my chest, her ear above my heart. I could feel the heat of her forehead through the fabric of my shirt, the fever back and perhaps even worse than before.
“Is the medicine working?”
“I think so. The pain is a little better.”
“Good.”
I dragged my fingers up and down her spine, the floral scent of her soap heady in my nose. Her knees were tucked into my thigh, and the muscles in my stomach tensed as she inched her fingers under the hem of my shirt.
“Can I take this off? It’s rough against my face.” Her eyes were round, pleading. I could see the question embarrassed her from the blush on her cheeks.
“I already gave you one shirt today,” I teased. “But I did say you could have whatever you wanted.” Her pink cheeksdeepened to red as I unbuttoned and shrugged out of my shirt. “Just a joke, Feather.”
She smiled and took my discarded shirt, stretching it out along one edge of the mattress against the pillows. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
Phin hummed as she traced the tattoos that ran along my chest under my collarbone, looped over my shoulders and continued across my back. “This tells your rank and titles. Your legions.”
“Yes.” My lips tilted up. “Not that anyone sees them but it’s nice to have someone around who reads the old language. Less explanation needed.”
“Mmm.” She tensed and her fingernails dug into my side.
I didn’t mind it nearly as much as I thought I would.
As she relaxed again, her hands ran up and down my ribs, my skin and muscles twitching in response. My head fell back, and I could only sigh when I felt the weight of her as she straddled my lap again, her lips resting against my throat as she settled her face there.
“Tell me what you want me to do, Feather.”
She sat back, her face pinched, and her hips rolled. “Touch me back.”
I inhaled slowly through my nose as she removed my spectacles, setting them aside on the little table so they wouldn’t be lost in the tangle of sheets and blankets or damaged. Then I repeated what she’d done, flattening my palms against her ribs as I smoothed my hands up and down her sides.
Phin had begun sweating in earnest, and her body seemed to be moving of its own accord, hips undulating and her hands restless along my shoulders and chest. I suspected I knew what it was seeking, that release was the only way to calm the need wreaking havoc inside her. I leaned in close and sucked on her collarbone, and she arched into me on a moan.
“Everything is… it feels like I’m on fire.”
“I’ll help you, the whole time. I’m not going anywhere, understand?” She nodded weakly. “Good. Is there anything you don’t want me to do? Anywhere you don’t want me to touch?”
She shook her head, hesitated, then shook it again. “I don’t think so.”
“Well, if you get uncomfortable, say… library. I’ll stop immediately. How about that?”
“Yes.”
“Say the word. I want to be sure you are really with me, Phin.”
“Library.”
“Good.”
She shifted, expression pained, and moaned in her throat. “Tap.”
“I’ve got you. Shall we lie you down, Little Feather?”
