Seerin was a good male. A good leader to his horde. They all saw what I saw in him.
Now that I knew he had returned, however, the afternoon and early evening of that day passed even more slowly than usual. My heart felt like it hadn’t slowed down once and even Arlah’s made-up games couldn’t keep me distracted for very long.
Finally, Avuli said, “Go, Nelle. Go wait for him. I am sure he will finish with the council soon. It’s dark already.”
I nodded, already pulling on my boots and my pelt. Avuli had made me a shawl, which covered the lower part of my face, keeping my cheeks from stinging.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I told her and Odrii before rustling Arlah’s lengthening hair. He squeezed my hand, holding it for as long as possible, not wanting me to go. He never liked it when I left for the day. Finally, Avuli drew him away and I left with one last wave.
I hurried to Seerin’svoliki, past my own and up the short incline. The cold seemed to suck all the air from my lungs and I hated that Seerin had to travel through it.
When I stepped inside his tent, I saw that someone had already started his fire and delivered a heaping assortment of dried meats, dried fruits, rich, fatty broth, and a large loaf ofkuveri, along with a generous goblet of wine. His bath was ready in its usual corner.
My skin tingled as I unwrapped my shawl and then shrugged out of my pelt. Toeing off my boots, I went to stand near the fire, warming my fingers as I waited. I’d snuck into Seerin’svolikion numerous occasions during his absence, late at night as the horde slept. A few times, I’d even slept in his furs because they still smelled like him and it helped comfort me.
Though, lying in his furs held its own array of problems. Whenever I had, I’d been plagued with memories of the last time we’d been in his bed together, of possessive kisses and lingering touches, of heat and sex and the wicked words he’d growled into my flesh as he’d made me his.
The heavy flaps to hisvolikipushed inward, a whistling wind sneaking inside, making the fire flicker.
My breath hitched as my demon king came inside. And I felt as though my heart would beat its way from my chest as his eyes connected with mine.
He dropped a fur-wrapped bundle by the entrance and then he was striding towards me.
His black pelt was icy cold but I didn’t care. I reached for him as he reached for me. Then his lips were on mine and he ate at my mouth hungrily, consuming me as his arms wrapped tight around my body and mine pressed against his chest.
Somehow, I’d forgotten how big he was, how massive. When I’d first seen him, I’d thought of him as a wall. A wall of solid strength. Back then, that power had frightened me.
But now, I’d never felt safer or more protected than in his arms. Now I knew why the symbol of his horde was a shield.
“Need you now, rei thissie,” he rasped against me, his hands already going to my thick tunic.
I sucked in a sharp breath at his dark voice, my toes curling into the rugs beneath us.
I’d missed him. So incredibly much. Everything about him.
“Yes,” I whispered, lifting my arms so he could rip my tunic from my body. Desire and need heated my blood as my breasts sprang free.
I moaned when he ducked his head and his hot tongue immediately sought my pebbled nipples.
But I didn’t want to waste time. As he sucked and teased my sensitive breasts, I untied his pelt and pushed it from his wide shoulders, smoothing my hands over the cords of muscles lining his arms.
Between us, my fingers unlaced his pants before immediately delving inside.
A rough groan tore from his throat when I wrapped my hand around his cock, remembering how much he’d liked it when I’d stroked him in the bath.
“Vok,” he whispered, pulsing hard and hot in my hand. His hands came to my pants, unlaced the knots, and when I kicked them off, I was completely naked under his gaze except for the feathers that hung between my breasts.
He looked over me with a half-lidded gaze, his hands tracing the curves of my body. I’d gained even more weight since he’d last seen me, since his hands had last been on me. My hips were softened, my breasts and thighs fuller. Considering how thin I’d been when he’d first brought me to his horde, I felt like a completely different woman. Ilookedlike a completely different woman.
I ran my thumb over the slick, slippery head of his cock, making him jolt.
“Does that feel good?” I murmured to him, barely concealing my small, teasing smile. A part of me still couldn’t believe he was here, that he’d finally returned.
His eyes narrowed and he finished undressing quickly, until he was as naked as I was.
He licked his lips, taking my hands from his cock as he promised, “I will show you how good it feels.”
Our words were so similar to the night when he’d pushed me away—the night I’d bathed him. He knew it and I knew it. It was like we were rewriting the events of that night.
