I close my eyes and nestle against him. “I wish we could just stay like this forever.”
“As do I. But that, my Everest, is impossible.”
“It’s been hard without you,” I confess. My defenses are lowered, my heart weak. “I didn’t like being without you. I don’t want to do it again.”
“You are strong, my little human. With me and without.”
The way he says that has me blinking wildly. “Why did that sound like goodbye?”
“I have not said goodbye. There is no need to feel things that have not been spoken.”
I roll my eyes and huff a laugh. “Yeah, okay. Whatever.”
He hums happily beneath me, and I find my eyes closing slightly. “Should I go back to Zane’s?”
“I wish for you to stay,” he says.
Maybe I should ignore him. To punish him just a little longer. Or maybe I want to run because I’m terrified about what will happen tomorrow after he faces the tribunal. I hate that I don’t know what consequences he’s going to face. I hate not knowing what my life might be like after.
I don’t want to lose him.
Ican’tlose him.
Despite the panic, it doesn’t take long before I’m dozing under his wandering fingers. I want to stay awake, to stay with him, to talk until my voice gives out. But I can’t fight the bone-deep exhaustion taking over me after our frantic reunion. Every muscle in my body is aching, and I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.
I drift to the melodic sound of his purr and the rapid beating of his hearts.
A rustling beneath me has me blinking my eyes open. The sun is peering in behind the blinds, and I realize I slept far longer than I thought.
“Go back to sleep,” Rathyn says softly.
“No. I don’t want to.” When I see him standing up, I crawl toward him. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
“How long will it be?”
“I don’t know. But I will return to you the moment I am able.”
I don’t like the sound of that. “Will it be soon?”
He says nothing, just looks at me. He pulls on his robe, but I stop him, grabbing his thighs and holding onto him.
“Not yet. Let me…please,” I rub my face against his groin, and I feel his cockhead push out.
I lap at it, and he gives a low, desperate hum.
“Drink my cum before you go,” I say, peering up at him. His eyes meet mine, and his fingers card through my hair. “Take that piece of me with you.”
“If this is what you wish.”
“Yes, it is.”
I pull back and then sit up, my legs hanging off the bed. My cock is hardening as he lowers himself before me, just like the first time. Only this feels different. Instead of a hello, it feels like a farewell.
His gaze meets mine, and I touch his cheek gently.
“Come back to me,” I whisper, “Promise me.”
