A feral growl ripped from his throat. Once again, Emrys shifted. This time he balanced on two elbows atop me.
He pressed his face into my neck again, inhaling deeply as he trailed his lips across my skin. “Not satisfied yet,cariad?”
The affectionate nickname filled me with a comforting warmth that was accompanied by a rebuilding heat between my legs.
He thrust his hips forward between my thighs. With only our clothing between us, I felt that rigid pressure in the same place that had brought me so much pleasure only minutes before. A soft whimper escaped my lips.
“I didn’t know… Can I do that…again?”
I wanted nothing more than to get swept up in the pleasure I’d found in his arms. My entire body shuddered under him thinking of how he’d made me feel.
“Two more times before I leave this tent.” It sounded temptingly close to an order. The rest of his answer came out on a hushed snarl. “I need to see your face, taste you when you come for me again.” He gently sank his teeth into the crook of my neck.
With no warning, only a sudden, jerky movement, we went from building passion to him shifting his hips away from mine like lightning would arc between us if he remained too close.
“What’s wrong?” I couldn’t keep the note of alarm out of my voice.
Bracing himself on one arm, he kept the cold distance between our bodies. His face was flushed, as if he were holding himself back from something.
“Isca…” My name was a prayer and a curse at once. “I swear, if I stay pressed against you, I will lose all control. No, I willexplode, destroying this tent, someone walking nearby…at the very least my trousers.”
It was my turn. I said softly, “Oh…”
I remembered the way he’d watched me for months now. That same smoldering look was back. Except now I could touch him in return, give him the same pleasure he’d given me.
“If I touched you, you could channel it into the ground.”
This time he gave a gulped, anguished warning. “Cariad…”
Regardless of our desires, the moment was ending. Duty, in the form of some unlucky soldier, scratched at his tent flaps like a hound begging to be loosed.
“If you open that,” Emrys growled at the outline of the visitor, “I will begin by burning your feet then move up your bodyinch by inchuntil you pass out.”
Gods above and below, I feared he meant it.
The soldier’s voice came from the other side of the fabric. “Apologies, Stormdân. We’re breaking camp.” The threat did not appear to surprise or even startle the soldier.
“Leave!” This time, the ground beneath us rumbled with Emrys’s words.
That did the trick.
I giggled as the man gave a startled jump, his silhouette a comical, jerky outline against the fabric.
I leaned in close and whispered in the small space between us, “You’re so mean.”
Emrys’s kiss was slow and deep, silencing my giggle completely.
Last night, my purpose had been to comfort him so he could fulfill his obligations. But the morning had brought change, thanks to my honesty in claiming what I wanted. During those stolen moments together, it felt like I wasn’t the peasant merchant pretending at being a lady, like he wasn’t the prince, or the cursed mage. He wasmine.
And now it was settled. I had chosen him, curse and all. I didn’t know how I could ever let him go.
Chapter 45
Emrys
For the first time in longer than I could remember, I hadn’t woken up with bloodlust running through my veins. I hadn’t dreamed of fire or war. Instead, I’d dreamed of Isca’s smile.
Her “Good morning” followed by her kiss… Cursed gods, it had ruined me.
