“We can’t. Not in a temple.” My breathy argument lacked conviction, though. I moaned as he swept his thumb down my center lightly. Teasing.
“We can if you’re quiet,” he whispered, his breath hot against myear. For a moment, we were teenagers sneaking around once again. I wanted to go back to that time, seal up this distance that had formed between us.
I hadn’t realized my eyes had drifted closed, but when I opened them, his were only an inch away, amusement dancing there, and Spirits it was so good to see, I let all the arguments and space fall away in favor of this.
“Can you be quiet?”
“Yes.” I gasped.
He brushed slow circles exactly where I wanted him most, rewarding me for answering. My fingers curled around the shelf as he added pressure.
I was fully clothed, he had barely touched me, but I was already burning for release. Like something within me was coiled tightly, begging for it.
I was certain he could feel through my undergarments how badly my body wanted him, but he continued moving slowly. Asking taunting questions I could barely answer. Edging me closer, then drawing me back.
“Malakai…” I breathed his name, begging. We still hadn’t kissed—hadn’t even moved from our original positions.
He pushed aside my undergarments, slid a finger inside of me, and the world started to fall away. Angels, Raptures, curses—it all faded into the background as my body and mind honed in on that spot.
“Yes?” he purred.
“More” was what I tried to say, but it came out as a moan.
He covered my mouth quickly, laughing. “Don’t let the acolytes hear you.” He curled his finger, hitting a spot that made my hips buck, the book beside me crashing to the ground.
In that moment, I was completely under his control—and I hated that. Hated it for wrenching up those memories of heartbreak and betrayal alongside the pleasure, but he added a second finger, and I was too far gone to care. Too desperate to get out of a reality full of threats and suffering and death.
I closed my eyes, let my head fall back, and gave into him.
And when he circled his thumb at exactly the right speed, I wentover the edge entirely, that tightened thing inside of me releasing in one bout of ecstasy.
I leaned my head against his shoulder, catching my breath as the high started to fade and life returned. We could only hide in pleasure for so long, but I held on for another moment, indulging in the ease we had together even if it was masking hardships. Like raindrops clouding a window, the view blurred beyond the glass. Malakai and I had so many raindrops—wild tempests brewing daily—but in these quiet moments, I allowed the view to be marred and pretended I didn’t miss it.
I was still like that when hurried footsteps drifted through the temple, coming toward us.
Collecting myself, I made to hop off the shelf just as Tolek rounded the corner. Malakai’s faced turned stony, and his hands tightened on my thighs, holding me in place.
Tolek glanced first to the table where our books were sprawled, then finding us against the shelves, he looked quickly away. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“I’m assuming it’s important?” Malakai asked, voice icy.
Tol narrowed his eyes. “Actually, yes. Two…visitors just arrived at the palace to request an audience. They attempted to scale the fence when we didn’t let them in.”
I shoved Malakai’s hands off of me, quickly forgetting what we’d been doing, and scrambled to grab my things.
“Have you gotten any information out of them? Their names? Purpose?” It was odd someone would be so brazen, daring to hop the fence with a guard present.
Tolek’s shoulders stiffened, hands behind his back.
“It’s Barrett, the heir to the Engrossian throne.” My heart plummeted to my feet when he looked at Malakai. “Your brother is here.”
Chapter Twelve
Malakai
My chest tightened,the bars of the iron cage rattling. But they held.
“I don’t have a brother,” I spat.
