The ouroboros necklace seemed to heat on her skin with Emmeric’s words, and Iyana touched it with gentle fingers.“We already have it,” she murmured.“Altair gave his life for mine, and my magic can tell that it was enough.”
Emmeric peered down at her neck and nodded.Tugging her away from him, he cupped her face in his hands.“I’m sorry you’re going through this, Mouse.I know things are complicated and you don’t really want to talk through them right now, but I’m here for you when you’re ready.”He kissed her brow.“Now go bathe.You stink.”
Iyana wrinkled her nose.“Rude.”Emmeric only chuckled and released her fully, so she could do as he said.While she was walking into the bathing room, he began to strip the sheets off the bed and Iyana knew there would be clean ones waiting for her when she was done.Her soul lifted both with Emmeric’s words and actions.She really didn’t deserve him.
“Get that thought out of your mind, Mouse.We’re perfect for each other.”
She didn’t even chastise him for hearing her private thought and simply took the gift of those words, wrapping them around her heart.
Iyana climbed into the warm bath and took her time, allowing the soap and water to wash away all of her apathy and grief from the previous week.It was not a permanent solution, and she would need to face this problem head-on at some point, but for now, this would have to be good enough.Emmeric, her friends, and preparing for war would occupy all of her time so that she wouldn’t have to think too hard about how Altair’s loss made her feel.
When she finished and had dried herself off, Iyana realized she hadn’t brought any clothes in with her.Gone was the woman who’d unabashedly walked out of the bathroom naked only a week before.This woman fully understood there was a man who loved her fiercely in the next room, but he was currently angry at her.She wasn’t sure how to navigate the situation.
Wrapping the towel around her, she snuck out of the bathing room, hoping maybe Emmeric was out speaking with someone about something and she could find her clothes.Iyana should have known better, though, because Em was sitting on the freshly made bed staring right at her.She froze in place as his heated gaze traveled over her entire body.
Emmeric stood and stalked towards her, stopping just short of their bodies touching.Iyana’s breath hitched, making her breasts brush against his chest ever so slightly.He took her chin in his fingers and tilted her head up.Never once looking away from her, he used his other hand to unwrap the towel and let it fall to the floor.Those fingers then brushed against her waist, pulling her flush to Emmeric’s body.His brilliant blue eyes fluttered closed when he touched her skin.
“Gods, you are truly stunning,” he murmured against her lips.Then he was kissing her, his tongue invading her mouth when she moaned.Iyana clutched to the front of his shirt, desperately needing it to be off, to touch his skin.But Emmeric held her close, effectively trapping his shirt and denying her what she needed most.
When she whimpered, she heard Emmeric’s chuckle through their bond.I’ll give you what you need, Mouse.
He broke apart from her only long enough to drag his tunic off over his head, finally letting her see his glorious chest, chiseled with muscles from a decade of training.Emmeric didn’t let her stare for long, tugging her back to him and letting her feel his skin under her fingertips.Nipping at her lip, Emmeric trailed kisses up her jaw to her ear, then down her neck where he bit gently on her shoulder.Iyana threaded her fingers through his hair as she groaned.She wanted his lips everywhere.
Emmeric lifted her up and over his shoulder.Iyana squealed and pounded on his back while her hair swung around her face.Em simply chuckled and smacked her ass.She relished the sting for just a moment.
“Put me down!”
“As you wish,” Em said, then he threw her onto her back on the bed.Involuntarily, Iyana made another embarrassing sound, but it made Emmeric grin, so it was worth it.She loved seeing his smiles; they were such a rare occurrence.
Tugging her until she was at the edge of the bed, Emmeric knelt down between her legs and wasted no more time teasing her.They both moaned as he licked directly up her center and sucked her clit into his mouth.Iyana grabbed onto his hair to hold him right there.Gods, she had needed this.Needed Emmeric.
When he filled her with his fingers and curled them, Iyana instantly unraveled under his ministrations.Em continued to lave her through her orgasm, but didn’t slow.She moaned at the increased sensations and writhed, trying to get some distance.
One more, Mouse.Come in my mouth one more time.
She shook her head and tugged on him.“I need you inside me,” she gasped.“Please.”
Emmeric immediately crawled over the top of her and kissed her hard.Iyana could taste herself on his tongue, and she moaned.“No need to beg, Mouse,” he said against her lips.“I’ll give you anything you want.”
Without another word, Em thrust his cock into her, filling her instantly.He pulled out almost completely before surging forward again.Then he was moving, rocking his hips against hers, and it was all she could do to cling to him as the pleasure intensified for them both.Cool blue eyes stared into warm brown ones.
They were the only two people who existed in the universe, if only for a small slice of time.Iyana reached towards their bond and connected to the Kanaliza side of the magic.Emmeric’s movements stuttered as an extra wave of pleasure swept through them both.Having their bodies and magic connected at the same time was the closest they’d ever be to each other, and yet Iyana wished she could still be closer.
I love you, Mouse.Now, come with me.
Iyana’s entire world narrowed to Emmeric’s weight on top of her, the friction between her thighs, the scrape of her fingernails over his skin.Their breaths both hitched, then paused as they found release at the same time.When Iyana settled back into her body, Emmeric was peppering her face and neck with light kisses.
Rolling off of her, he tugged her in to his side.Iyana delighted in a few silent moments of listening to his heartbeat underneath her ear.But now that they had stilled, thoughts swirled around her mind and wouldn’t let her rest.
“Tell me what you’re thinking, Mouse.”
She sighed.“Are the others mad at me, too?”
Emmeric heaved his own sigh and began rubbing soothing circles into her back.“Honestly?Yeah, they’re a little angry.Kaz is hurt you didn’t trust her enough to let her in on the plan, taking Altair instead.And Zane and Talon were both prepared to die in that dungeon, knowing that you were too important to the cause.They’re happy they were rescued, obviously, but they were hoping you wouldn’t fall into Rigil’s trap.”
Iyana’s heart sank.Knowing she had hurt all of her friends—her family—in such a way…no matter what she needed to do, she vowed to earn their forgiveness.
Chapter 60
