I open my eyes to see him staring up at me in wonder, lips parted and pupils blown out. I won’t lie. Seeing this large, powerful man splayed out beneath me while I have my wicked way with him goes to my head like the finest elderflower liqueur.
That’s all it takes to light the fuse... me watching him and his stare owning mine just as his body does. My climax thunders through me, making my inner muscles clench down on him as starbursts explode behind my eyelids. He comes, too, with a ragged shout, hands clutching my hips as he drives up into me.
Panting, I collapse over him and bury my face in his damp throat. Sands, I love how he smells, like a sweaty, well-pleasured,satisfiedmale. Satisfaction that I delivered. I grin proudly against his neck.
“Why are you smiling?” he says. “I can feel your lips curling.”
I don’t think twice about my answer. “Because I’m happy.”
His fingers dance down my spine. “I’m happy, too.”
“Thank you for today,” I tell him.
His reply is soft, tinged with something I can’t decipher. “You’re welcome.”
We fall quiet after that, cherishing the soft, tender pleasure in silence for as long as we can. After a long moment, when our breathing and hearts calm, Roshan shifts to his feet, scoops me up into his arms, and walks to the edge of the rock. That lopsided grin is full of mischief.
“Don’t you dare!” I warn him. “Put me down, you monster!”
He growls and bites my shoulder. “Monster, is it?”
I scream bloody murder when he hurls us both into the water, the balmy sensation an invigorating shock to my overheated skin. We separate in the depths, but he finds me, wrapping his slippery limbs around me before he kisses me, soft and sweet.
And then I forget about being vexed... or thinking... or anything at all.
No matter the price of our little outing—to my body or eventually my heart—I’ll pay it gladly. This was one of the best days of my life.
Chapter Eighteen
Lost in my thoughts as I polish the sword I’d let sit in sand overnight, I whirl to see one of the young boys from the market square running toward us, his face red with exertion.
“Sir!” a small voice calls.
Roshan pokes his head out from the other side of the forge, a smudge of ash smearing his jaw. I wipe it away with my thumb when he comes to stand beside me.
We didn’t get into trouble for the secret jaunt to the aqueduct, and I still haven’t been able to wheedle out of Roshan just how he’d managed it. He must have made another deal or traded valuable information with the commander. Nothing gets approved without his say-so. Reward for good behavior perhaps?
“How did you do it?” I’d begged him.
“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
I’d glared at him. Technically, we’d done a lot more than kiss. But I’d let it go. Some surprises were good ones, so I’d let him keep his secrets. But now, working in close proximity to Roshan without being able to act on my desires has been even more excruciating.
“Sir,” the boy squeaks. “Sri Aran sent this.” He glances at me before shoving a piece of parchment at Roshan. “There’s trouble.”
Roshan scans the paper, his brows drawing ominously down. “Has he returned?”
“No, but you must get to the portal.”
I’m shocked by the look of alarm on the prince’s face. “What’s happening?”
“Aran left yesterday to get supplies from the Indraloka. Apparently, there’s a reward out for you and mercenaries are coming.”
“Here?” I gasp. If Javed has put out a reward for my capture, mercenaries will be swarming from every corner of the realm. And we can’t let them discover the city, even by accident. Nyriell is a refuge to many, and if I stay here, I’ll put them all in danger.
A muscle flexes in the prince’s jaw. “They won’t find the city, don’t worry.” Then, as if reading my mind, he adds, “But still, we can’t put the people at risk by remaining here.” With that, he begins to move toward the square, pulling me behind him. “He writes there’s a secondary reward for the capture of your family. They’re in danger, too. And that we can’t trust anyone.” His eyes scan the area around us, and then he gives a tense look back to see if we’re being followed. My stomach drops. I had been lulled into a false sense of security here, had forgotten how dangerous things were beyond the city walls. And it had been a foolish mistake, and I couldn’t let my family pay the price.
“We have to warn them!”
