He maintained the pressure until her hip movements began to stutter. Soon, she climaxed against him. A broken moan escaped her lips, and for a brief second, he could see nothing but the white of her eyes.
They panted against each other, then she reached for his trousers, her palm immediately finding his bulge. He hissed, swallowing a groan as she started to undo his laces.
At that moment, the rustle returned.
They both froze in place. For a minute, nothing could be heard but their heavy breathing.
That did not just happen.
That did not just happen.
Erica exhaled slowly, trying to gather her senses and what was left of her strength. What was she even supposed to say at this point?
“Was that another snake?” she asked, trying to make light of the situation, but her voice was too thick.
“I daenae ken, but we should go back,” Alex said, a bit worried they might get caught.
“Aye,” she said at once, understanding immediately
They turned for the inner paths, keeping their pace steady. No more snake talk. No more memories. When they reached the open yard, the ground felt smoother underfoot.
Alex walked her inside and down the passageway, past the stairs, to the row where her chamber stood. The torches there burned lower. He stopped at her door.
“Goodnight,” he said.
She looked at him a beat longer than a word. “Goodnight,” she answered.
He did not say more. He did not ask for more. He turned away and walked the long line back to his rooms, the sound of his steps loud in his ears.
In his chamber, he plopped down on the bed and let the silence press in. The night had thinned the walls he kept around himself.
He lay back at last and stared at the dark line of the beam across the ceiling. Sleep did not come. He closed his eye and waited. It came slowly, the way a cold horse would come to a halt, inch by inch.
He did not have what he wanted, and he had more than he meant to. He had not touched her, yet he felt as if he had done something anyway. The pull in his chest did not ease.
Something happened.
And somehow that made everything worse.
CHAPTER 16
Leah’s knockcame before the morning light. Before Erica could answer, the maid slipped in as if the stone itself were still asleep. She sat on the edge of the bed and nudged Erica’s shoulder.
“Time to wake up, me Lady.”
Erica groaned and blinked. Her eyes then darted to the window. It was still pitch black outside. For a minute, she didn’t know whether to be worried or annoyed.
“Leah, it is barely morning.”
“Aye,” Leah said, calm as ever. “But I have drawn ye a bath. Ye will need it.”
Erica turned her head toward the window again. The sky was painted a deep blue, and a few stars still clung there. “Is it nae a bit early?”
Leah’s mouth tipped into a small smile. “Aye. But I am preparing ye for later.”
“For what?” Erica asked. Suspicion sharpened the sleep from her tone.
“Ye will see,” Leah said, already crossing to the washroom.
