“You are so beautiful, Eislyn,” he murmured into her ear between the soft kisses he planted on her neck, on her lips, and on her cheeks. “I can’t stop thinking about your eyes and your heart. Your smile.”
He cupped her breast and dragged his thumb across her aching nipple.
She cried out, unable to stop herself.
“You like that, do you?” he murmured into her ear.
Still cupping her breast, Lir slid his strong body on top her hers, spreading open her thighs with his legs. She trembled beneath him, lost in the sensations pooling in her core. It was as though a fire had been lit inside of her, and it burned hotter than any flames she’d ever felt.
He dropped his mouth to her breast and sucked on her nipple. Pleasure shook through her, and tension built between her thighs. Lir dragged his tongue up the side of her neck. His lips collided with hers, hungry and rough.
Gripping the back of her neck, Lir slowly pushed his length inside of her. She gasped, pain and pleasure tangling together in her core. He took a shuddering breath and waited for her gasps to subside. And then he slid inside her once more, slowly and gently until he found the very back of her.
“Oh my gods,” she gasped.
Lir took her beneath the stars, claiming her as his once and for all. His thrusts quickened, but he moved gently, as if he were trying to hold himself back. The pain between Eislyn’s thighs quickly subsided, replaced by an aching pleasure that drove every last worry from her mind.
She cried out as her climax took her over the edge. Lir followed close behind her, his entire body shuddering, sweat glistening across his sculpted chest. When they were finished, he laid on his back and held her until she felt sleep call her into the abyss. The last thing she heard was his heartbeat. It reminded her of something, but she couldn’t quite place it. A sound she’d heard before. Her mind drifted into darkness before she could remember what it was.
* * *
Lir shifted away. Eislyn cracked open her eyes. He gathered his clothing from the ground, his muscles rippling beneath the moonlight. Her heart pounded just at the sight of him. Even with his flared wings hidden, she’d never seen anyone look more powerful than Lir. It was no wonder he had become the Emperor of Fomor. She doubted anyone in the world would ever want to go up against him.
After he’d tugged his golden tunic over his head, he drifted toward the fire where several of his warriors were still awake, snacking on roasted rabbit. He settled in beside them and quickly glanced her way. Eislyn snapped her eyes shut.
One of the warriors cleared his throat. Barbin, Eislyn thought he was called. He had curly golden hair that matched his bronze skin, and a pair of red-tipped black wings. “Lir, can I make a suggestion?”
Eislyn stiffened. She’d never heard anyone call Lir by his given name until now. It was always Emperor this or Your Excellence that.
“You can tell me anything, Barbin. That doesn’t mean I’ll listen,” Lir said with mirth in his voice. He almost soundedat ease. Ever since Eislyn had arrived in Fomor, she’d not once seen him with a friend. She’d started to think he didn’t have any.
Barbin chuckled. “You rarely do.”
“So, what is it?” Lir asked. “No, I don’t need to ask. I know what you’re going to say.”
“You shouldn’t get close to the fae girl,” Barbin said.
Eislyn sucked in a sharp breath and held her body still.
“I’ve already married her. I think the damage is done.”
“That does not mean you should lie with her.”
“Isn’t that what husband do with their wives?” Lir asked, some of the laughter dying from his voice. “She will be by my side for a long time to come. Once you get to know her, you’ll realize she is not the fae you fear she is.”
“She’s likely the Namhaid, Lir,” Barbin said quietly. “She’s the destroyer of this entire world. None of us will exist once Unseelie fills her soul and twists her mind. You can’t forget that, no matter how pleasing you might find her.”
“Look at her,” Lir snapped. “She’s not what you accuse her to be.”
“She fits the prophecy.”
“The prophecies are confusing,” Lir argued. “It’s clear she hassomethingto do with the Namhaid, but that doesn’t mean it’s her. She could be the Ghaisgeach, which means she saves this world, not ends it.”
“Oh, Lir.” Barbin let out a heavy sigh. “I fear your feelings for the girl are blinding you to reality. If you aren’t careful, this will tear us all apart. What happens when you get her in front of the gods and they tell you what she is? You cannot allow her to live. Fomor will rip itself apart if you do. Half of the kingdoms will rise up against you. Half will take your side. We fought so hard for peace. You cannot sacrifice everything for one girl. No matter if she’s your wife and you like to fuck her.”
Tears filled Eislyn’s eyes as her heart raged inside her chest. The Fomorians wanted to kill her. She’d known that. But she had never considered the full weight of her presence here. Lir’s protection came at a cost. A big one.
She couldn’t let him sacrifice his empire’s peace. But how could she even stop him? She couldn’t escape. He’d made that achingly clear. Her heart pounded hard. Maybe she could ask the gods for help. They had power still, strong enough to break a marriage bond.
