Those strong hands grip my waist just as I rise on tiptoe, press my mouth against his ear, and say, “Close your eyes, wolf. And take a deep breath.”
The world drops out from under us, and I hear him gasp.
Then we’re gone.
20
NERI
The instant Nephele and I arrive back at the tor, I smell Thibault.
He’s sitting on the bottom tread of the staircase, knees resting on his elbows, rubbing his hands together like a worried parent waiting for their child to come home after dark.
Nephele doesn’t see him when she first opens her eyes, which is unfortunate, because she’s still holding onto me, still pressed against me tight, staring up at me with such wonder.
And such raw desire.
She opens her mouth to say something to me, but Thibault speaks first.
“Have you any idea how worried I’ve been?”
Taken off guard, Nephele yelps and shoves away from me like my skin is scalding. “Fuck, Alexus, don’t do that.”
Discreetly, she slips her closed fist under her cloak, and it returns open, fingers loose.
But I saw what she’s trying to hide. Just a glimpse of silver.
Silver that isn’t a blade.
Thibault lifts a brow, his face all tempered fury. “Do what? Worry about you? You made it appear like you were asleep, and yet you were gone.” The muscle in his jaw works. “Do you know the shit that went through my mind, Nephele? The fear? And yet you were with Neri, of all people, for a night out in Malgros. I thought you were ill.”
“I am,” she snaps. “I mean, I was. I mean,I am.” She frowns, her brow drawing down with frustration and guilt. “And that’s not fair. I went into the city to see Ingrid earlier because I felt better than I had in days. Then I went to the barracks to see my old home, which was a shockingly informative and fortuitous visit. Later, Neri tracked me down because yes, I left without asking and without telling anyone, and he figured me out. But I’m a grown woman, Alexus. I’m tired of the men in my life treating me like I’m not. And this” —she gestures between us— “isn’t what you think.”
His green gaze slides to me. Down to my straining and quite obvious erection that would probably already be buried inside Nephele if she’d just sifted us to my godsdamn bedchambers instead of this wretched foyer.
With a scoff, Thibault’s eyes return to Nephele who no doubt tracked his attention the same as I did. “Oh,” he says in response. “I somehow think it is.”
Her beautiful face flushes pink with heat, and I grit my teeth together, finding it excruciatingly difficult to keep my mouth shut. To let this conversation exist between them alone. To be the silent man she needs. It’s even more difficult to strip off my cloak, step past Thibault, and leave them to talk about what went down tonight with Eryx without my presence.
But the look on Nephele’s face…
I can see the entreaty in her eyes, and as though that isn’t enough, her mental wards fall.
“I’ll explain everything tomorrow. I promise. But for now, give us time. Please.”
And so I do.
* * *
I don’t sleep.But then again, I rarely ever have.
I try, though, because I think the human part of my body might need rest to correct the problem with the aether. But all I can think about is Nephele and what we left unfinished in the alley by the White Wolf tavern.
So I finish it myself, as best I can under the dim light of a low fire.
Naked and throbbing, I prop up on pillows in my bed and spit into the palm of my hand. The contact of my grip feels so good I instantly relax. But a hand will never be the same as a woman, especially after all this time.
So I close my eyes and imagine it’s Nephele instead. Her soft hand stroking. Her lush mouth sucking. Her wet pussy gliding up and down, stretched tight around my rigid cock. I picture her spread out before me like a feast, gripping my hair in her fists as I lick her until she’s panting and begging and coming on my tongue.
