My skin was deliciously cold where I embraced her but my back...that was burning.
Not because I would always be naturally hotter than everyone else, but because of a sulking predator who’d decided we were hosting a slumber party and missed his invitation.
His purr-snoring vibrated through my spine, reminding me of all the nights we’d shared together. Most of them spent with me hugging him instead of Rook, begging him to take away my pain.
The giant housecat kneaded my back in his dreams, making me wince thanks to his sharp claws.
“Quit it,” I hissed.
He stretched, pushing me against Rook.
Not that I minded.
I grew hard.
I wanted her again.
Would the urge ever fade?
It was all I could think about.
All I needed.
As long as I had her, I could stay human.
She mumbled something and rolled onto her back. I let her go, opening my eyes to—
Moonlight.
Wait. Hadn’t it been daylight when we’d climbed into bed?
We’d woken late in the afternoon to eat the tray of food Auntie Mei had left by the door but the exhaustion from escaping, travelling, and conjuring powers that allowed us to cheat death meant we’d fallen back asleep almost instantly.
Fuck, what time is it?
Rook mumbled again, making adorable little noises that would’ve driven me to murder if it was anyone else.
Arching my back against Whisper, I ordered, “Get off the bed. Three’s a crowd with what I plan on doing.”
The damn creature flatly ignored me, rolling onto his other side and promptly going back to sleep.
Fine.
He could watch. See if I cared.
I kissed her shoulder, her collarbone, slowly easing my way up her neck until she shivered with a soft gasp. “Is that a sword you’re stabbing me with, Prince Charming, or are you just happy to see me?”
“Ha ha.” Nuzzling my way along her jaw, I murmured, “Good evening.”
“Good evening?” Her eyes whipped open. “Oh my God, did we sleep all day?”
“Looks that way.”
She blushed and ducked her head. “What on earth will your aunt and uncle think of us? We’ve been here two days, and they think we’ve spent all of them in bed.”
“You’re welcome to tell them that I have a pretty bigproblem”—I pressed my throbbing erection against her hip like an idiotic teenager— “where you’re concerned and if I don’t have you regularly, I have a habit of setting the mountain on fire.”
“You’re incorrigible.”
