With a rough gasp, Roux came. I shuddered, then cried out in my own high. Time slowed, and we teetered at the peak of ecstasy for a glorious eternity before tumbling down the other side.
We lay panting for a long time, limp, sweaty, and satisfied. My body felt like rubber, but Roux had enough coordination to dispose of the condom before snuggling up. Locking his arms around me, he held me close enough to lose track of which heartbeats were his and which were mine.
“Paris rooftops are all well and good, but there’s a lot to be said for a bed,” I mumbled.
He chuckled. “True.”
There was also a lot to be said for being able to shadow-weave to reach his room unnoticed, as I was proud to note. Maybe I had some useful magic after all. Being extra motivated had helped too.
“On the other hand, we haven’t really put this mattress to the test,” I mused.
He rested his chin on my head, keeping me firmly trapped. “Soon.”
I chuckled. “Not rushing. Just observing.”
He snorted. “Observing, my ass.”
I snaked my arm back, feeling around. “As you wish.”
And man, oh man. I firmly established his to be an A-plus ass.
He laughed, and I almost wished for paint and canvas to capture the moment. Not the sight — blurred lines and dots would be fine — but the cozy feel, the flickering heat inside me, and the sound of that rare laugh.
I wove my fingers through his. “Were you surprised when I came knocking on your door?”
“Relieved. You could have been Henrik.”
I broke out in laughter. “That would put a damper on things, for sure.”
“Not sure he likes me that way,” he joked.
An actual joke. I hid a smile.
Then I sighed. “I’m not sure he likesanyone.”
Roux shrugged. “He likes you.”
“Yeah, sure. That’s why he’s so cold, arrogant, and snooty to me.”
“To most people, he’s cold, arrogant, and downright rude. But okay — maybe, herespectsyou is a better way of putting it. But—”
I sighed, cutting him off. “I know, I know. I have to be careful around him. But I do have that necklace of his. You think he’ll respect his promise if I ever need a favor?”
“I think so. I hope you never have to find out, though.”
So did I.
“What do you know about the woman he mentioned?” I asked. “Katarina.”
“Not much, other than she was his fiancée before he was turned.”
“Turned voluntarily or against his will?”
“I’m not sure, but against his will would be my guess.”
I ran my fingers over his arm, thinking. “So sad. For them both.”
Roux nodded. “I think he truly loved her. Maybe he still does. Hard to tell with him.”
