Samkiel cast me a look of pure agitation before realizing I had stood. “Where are you going?”
“I have to go to the bathroom.” My glare bit into him.
His chair almost toppled as he stood to his feet. “All right.”
“I can go alone.”
“I have to go as well,” Samkiel said.
Narrowing my eyes, I waited for Cameron to make some remark, but he was suddenly too focused on the food on the table. Reggie had returned to watching the people moving around the town outside the window, seemingly enthralled. I got the feeling he was determined not to acknowledge his sudden outburst. I shrugged and walked toward the back of the tavern. When I asked where the bathrooms were, a sweet, older barkeep pointed the way. I barely made it around the corner and out of sight of the main tavern before Samkiel grabbed my elbow and dragged me into the dark shadows beneath the old wooden staircase.
“You’re so jealous at times. It truly pisses me off,” he said, pulling me against him. “But it also makes me crazy for you.” His lips slanted over mine in a hard, passionate kiss.
I pushed against his shoulders and chest, but he locked me in against the wall. He inserted a knee between my thighs and ground his cock against me, letting me feel what my little outburst did to him.
I sank my teeth into his lower lip, glaring up at him when he pulled back. “You are one to talk. You got all twisted up because I simply said a man’s name. So now what? You are fine fucking me in the hallway for everyone one to see?” I challenged, trying to hide that I was feeling a little breathless.
Samkiel’s eyes flared silver. “Yes.”
He claimed my mouth again, sliding his tongue over my lips, demanding entrance. The moment I opened to him, he invaded, claiming what was his. He ripped at the laces of my leather pants, opening them enough that he could slip his hand inside. Every ounce of irritation I had suddenly melted away as his fingers circled my clit.
I pulled my mouth from his to gasp for air. “Not fair.”
Samkiel rested his forehead against mine. “How many more ways can I show you I belong to you and only you? How many words do you need? Ask and I will provide.”
His hand curved around my pussy and he slipped a single finger inside me. I moaned and clenched, jolts of pleasure shooting through me.
“Shall I tell you that if the ancients asked me of love, I’d merely have to whisper your name?” Another finger joined the first, and when he curved them, my back pressed against the wall as I became lost to pure hot rapture. “You own me, complete me, and if you think you’re jealous,” he said, his tongue dancing over mine as he kissed me, “When you said Cameron’s name when you came, I wanted to kill him. He is family and one of my best friends, but I would have happily pulled out Oblivion and destroyed him in that moment.”
“Oh, my gods,” I moaned.
Elation filled me at his jealousy and what I felt across our bond. He desperately craved me as I did him. I knew that part of my reaction to Milani came from being cheated on in the past. That trauma had reared its ugly, broken head, but Samkiel, as always, knew how to vanquish that demon as he did them all. A broken piece of me that was always scared of being replaced, being not enough, healed with every word he whispered in this dark little corner of the world.
Barkeeps walked back and forth past our hiding spot beneath the stairs, the business of the tavern drowning out any noise Samkiel and I made. My body thrilled with excitement at the possibility of being caught, and I felt utterly wicked doing this in public. The heel of his palm rested on my clit as his fingers delved deeper, and I undulated my hips, chasing my release.
“Say my name,” he demanded. His fingers curved just right, and I almost screamed. “Please akrai. Free me from this torment.”
I gripped the back of his neck and pressed my forehead to his. My body tightened, that pinnacle of release barrelling toward me. And when Samkiel very deliberately curled his fingers and slid them over that spot deep inside, pleasure slammed through my body as sharp as the lightning he wielded. I came apart, doing exactly what he asked.
“Sammkieel,” I whispered, dragging out his name like a prayer. My head fell back, and he caught it in his free hand, his fingers curling into my hair. His mouth dropped to my exposed throat, the teasing scrape of his teeth sending me spiraling into another orgasm. My lower belly clenched, wet heat soaking not only his hand but my thighs. Like any true predator, I protected my neck. Samkiel had discovered early on how sensitive my throat was, and he fucking knew what his bite did to me. Fingers, cock, or tongue, it did not matter what he used. He could make me scream.
“Bastard.”The word slid across our bond, met by his deep, masculine chuckle.
He slowly slipped his fingers from my still-clenching heat, sliding his hand from my pants in a loving caress. He pressed kisses against my cheeks, nose, and forehead as he tied the laces of my pants.
“Feel better?”
I scrunched my nose at him, catching my breath and trying to remain upright. “Maybe. Do you?”
“Yes.” Pure male satisfaction filled his grin, feeding his already massive ego.
“Get out of my way.” I stuck my tongue out and pushed past him. “I still have to pee.”
He snickered and followed me toward the washroom. The door closed with a click, the dim light casting a harsh yellow glow over the room from the lanterns on either wall. The window high on the back wall was half open, allowing some fresh air to enter. Two brass bowls sat beneath the makeshift faucets, and there was a mirror to my left. I prayed that the circular bowl attached to the far stone wall was a toilet. Upon further inspection, and an uneasy glance, I suspected it very well may have been just a wide, gaping hole. I really didn’t want to know where it ended. I shook my head and pulled down my pants before sitting to relieve myself. I leaned my elbow on my knee and rested my chin on my fist. My eyes flicked down and then called toward the door.
“Can you make me new panties since you’ve ruined these?” I called out, knowing he was still right outside.
A deep laugh preceded the door clicking open. Samkiel slipped inside, and I glowered at him. His grin was adorable, although I would never admit it to him. He held out his hand, his rings shimmering for a second before a dark thong appeared on his palm.
