My eyes narrow. Most people probably wouldn’t want to talk about Dyaspora—that would be the worst experience of almostanyone’s life—but Fox looks almost relieved to be asked about prison rather than his childhood in the army. That can’t be a good sign.
“How old were you when you were sent to prison?” I ask, hedging around the question I really want to ask:whywere you sent there?
“Twenty five,” Fox says without inflection.
I do the math quickly in my head and grin. “I’m older than you.”
He snorts a laugh. “Sure.”
“I am!” I sit up, grinning widely, and look down at him still lying on his back. “I’mwayolder than you. When you were born I was already—mmph!”
My voice gets muffled as he reaches out and puts a large hand over my mouth, before rolling me onto my back beneath him. “Stop. I don’t want to know.”
“Why?” I giggle. “Does it bother you that I’m older?”
“No, it’s just not really true.” He’s smiling now—that extremely rare smile that I’ve only ever seen a handful of times, which makes the dimple appear in his cheek. “You might be older in years, but not in experience…or in size.”
He reaches one large hand out and grabs my thigh, stretching his fingers until they nearly wrap around my entire leg to prove his point. I squeal, laughing and trying to escape his hold until he moves his fingers higher up my leg and I forget all about talking.
Summer arrives, bringing changes to Vernallis. By midsummer, the King of Hydratta asks for Odessa’s hand in marriage, which finally pushes her and Kastian together.I’m happy for them, but I don’t really want to listen to Dessa screaming all night, so I go to the barracks for the second time that week.
Fox looks pleased when he opens the door to let me in, but soon I can’t help but notice that he’s distracted.
“Is something wrong?” I ask, drawing my head back from his throat.
He shakes his head. “No.”
I quirk an eyebrow, and climb off his lap. He reaches for my hand and tries to pull me back. “Wait.”
“I’m not going anywhere, I’m just getting more creative. Wouldn’t want you to be bored.”
He rolls his eyes, and I can practically hear his silent reply. “You know you’re the furthest fucking thing from boring.”
Smirking, I sink to my knees in front of him and run my hands up his thighs to his half-open waistband. His pale eyes dilate, turning dark as he looks down at me.
I work the buttons of his trousers open one by one. His breath catches as I free his cock, then drag my tongue up the length and around the tip.
I wrap my fingers around him, taking him into my mouth as far as I can. His hands find my hair, tangling in it as his breath catches again.
“You shouldn’t be making weather spells,” Fox blurts out.
“Hmmm?”
“You shouldn’t be making weather spells,” he repeats more urgently.
My head is fuzzy with lust, and I take a moment to realize what he’s talking about. After a moment, I draw my head back and look up, releasing his cock from my mouth with a wet pop. “That’s what you’re thinking about right now?”
A few days ago, Daemon called a council meeting to talk about the offer from the king of Hydratta. During the meeting,it came up that I’ve been working on creating a spell to bring more rain to our crops. Vernallis is booming, and we need the farms to produce more this year to keep all the citizens fed. It’s important…and not what I want to be thinking about right now.
“It’s dangerous,” Fox insists, looking extremely serious.
“Sorry, but you hate all magic, so forgive me if I don’t take your opinion too seriously on this.”
He scowls. “You’re playing with the balance of nature.”
“I’m trying to play with you, but you’re ignoring some of my best work.” I lick my lips suggestively. “Can we focus, please?”
He still looks grumpy, but huffs and threads his large hand through my hair, pushing my face back down into his lap.
