“Isn’t that punishing you as well?”
Altair gave her a wicked grin. “Worth it.”
Chapter 31
Emmeric
Altair marched Iyana into the forest, the star practically dragging her behind him, but not far enough to mask the sounds of what was occurring. Emmeric had been concerned and debated following to make sure she was okay, but it was readily apparent now that she was more than fine. Unfortunately, he was the only one at camp unamused by this. Talon and Kaz were giggling, nudging each other with elbows, and making generally lewd comments. Iyana cried out Altair’s name, and he wished he could transport himself literally anywhere else. Even Uther’s dungeons would have been a welcome reprieve.
“Talon,” Kaz said, “you wanna…” She waggled her brows at him.
Tal smiled. “Thanks, but no thanks. Not exactly mytype, if you catch my drift.”
“You know this because…”
“Been there, done that. Definitely knew it wasn’t for me.”
“Maybe you just haven’t had the right pussy yet, red.” Kaz made a fake growling noise while pawing the air. The duo burst into laughter, almost falling backwards. Emmeric rolled his eyes. “Aw, c’mon, grumps, I didn’t forget about you. You wanna go be louder than them?”
“No thanks,” Emmeric grumbled. Kaz pouted, and again he wondered why he hadn’t taken her up on her offer. A few weeks ago, Kaz wouldn’t even have had to ask; he would’ve been all over her. Even if only for a one-time romp in the woods.
“Don’t mind him,” Tal said. “He’s just butt-hurt Iyana is out there with Altair and not him.”
“That’s not true,” Emmeric snapped, immediately outing himself by protesting. “I don’t want to listen to it, is all.” He crossed his arms with a huff.
“Sure,” Talon and Kaz said simultaneously, drawing out the word.
“Fuck both of you,” he said, causing more uproarious laughter. “Whatever, I’m going to bed.” Emmeric burrowed into his bedroll, tugging the edge up to his ear. By the grace of the gods, the noises emanating from the forest had ceased. He wouldn’t have been able to fall asleep listening to another man getting Iyana off. Not when he should be the one coaxing those sounds from her perfect little mouth.
Rustling leaves and snapping twigs alerted him to the couple’s return to camp. Emmeric attempted to wiggle deeper into his blanket so he couldn’t watch them. Wouldn’t have to see Iyana disheveled or Altair’s smug fucking face. But he still caught sight of her flushing as they broke free of the tree line to Tal and Kaz wolf whistling and makinghoo hoo hoonoises while pumping their fists in the air. Altair guided Iyana over to his bedroll, and they climbed in together, him cuddling her from behind flush against her back. Jealousy roared through Emmeric’s soul. He had to remind himself she wasn’t his, she never was, and she never would be. The sooner he got over it, the better off he’d be.
It still took longer than normal to fall asleep, listening to Kaz purr as a leopard, Talon’s light snoring, and the disgustingly sweet little whispers coming from Altair and Iyana until they, too, slept. Once everyone else was out, Emmeric felt himself drifting.
He opened his eyes to a sun-brightened day, clouds drifting overhead. “That one looks like a dragon!” said a voice next to him. Rolling his head to the side, he saw Iyana lying in the grass next to him, staring up at the clouds.
“Dragons aren’t real,” he said with a smile on his face. He was happy. Content. When she turned to him, her face had a slight flush on her cheeks. Iyana’s gaze dipped to his lips and lingered for a moment too long. His grin widened.
“So? It looks like a dragon. What do you see?”
“A mouse.” He flicked her nose, a giggle erupting from her. He loved that sound. Emmeric loved the way she gazed at him in this moment—no fear, no distrust. Just pure happiness. Leaning over her, he pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss. She grabbed the back of his head to deepen the kiss, nipping on his bottom lip. He matched Iyana’s aggression with his own, loving every second, until she pushed his shoulder, rolling himonto his back so she ended up straddling his waist. His hands landed on her hips, fingers skating over her delicate curves. Iyana’s lips curled into a smile, but as a cloud passed over the sun casting shadows on them, the grin widened. Fire flickered between her hands and she raised them, then brought them down upon his chest. Hard. He was burning; she’d set his heart on fire. He would happily burn for her until the flames consumed him…
Emmeric gasped, sitting upright, patting at his chest to put out the flames. Flames which had only existed in his dream. The rest of the camp was awake already, looking at him as though he’d gone mad. Huffing in irritation, he rolled out of his bed and walked into the trees to relieve himself. He swiped a hand down his face. It’d been another dream about Iyana. The ones from before were always the same with Iyana meeting him in a black void—they’d kiss senseless, and she’d push him into nothingness. It was hot, sensual. Pure lust.
This was… love.
Before, the thought of lying with a woman on a grassy hill, searching for shapes within clouds, had never crossed his mind. But in his dream, with Iyana, it felt natural. Emmeric shook his head. There was no chance he loved Iyana. He’d only known her for a short period, and he was fairly certain she still mostly disliked him.
You need to get this woman out of your head, and fast,he thought.
Iyana
The morning after her tryst with Altair in the woods was…embarrassing. Talon was making moon eyes at them with his big, baby blues and would throw in occasional kissing noises. Kaz invited herself to a threesome, which Altair immediately shut down, but other than that, her star seemed completely unfazed by all the attention thrown their way. Iyana had had her fair share of lovers, but they never did next morning activities. No breakfast, no cuddling, no hanging out witheach other’s friends. This was new territory for her. It may not have been for Altair, though. For all she knew, he had a wife who was still stuck in the sky.Oh gods.What if he had a wife?
Altair leaned over, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. He whispered so only she heard. “I don’t have a wife.”
Iyana shoved him away from her. “Get out of my head!”
He chuckled. “You projected the thought so hard I couldn’t help but overhear.”
