Then Elowin grinned and set to work removing the restof his clothing. Once he was naked, he rolled onto one side. “If you want to stop, just say so,” he said, gazing at me intently.
I nodded my understanding and said, “I don’t want to stop.”
He leaned over me, bracketing my body with his arms, and kissed me again. Except this time when he kissed, he rocked against me and I gasped when his cock rubbed against mine. I shifted my legs, opening my knees to give him room to settle even closer against me. And then, because that still wasn’t close enough, I linked my ankles together behind his legs.
“Sparrow,” he whispered again, his tone rougher this time but still reverent.
I couldn’t speak. I could barelybreathe. Sparks raced beneath my skin, and I found myself mimicking Elowin’s rocking movement until I found a choppy rhythm that was so good it had my eyes rolling back into my head.
“I’m not going to last,” Elowin whispered.
Were wesupposedto? Nobody had told me that!
I twisted my fingers around his braid and pulled him in for another kiss as pleasure coiled deep inside me, tighter and tighter, and the space where our bodies met became hotter and wetter. I felt as though I was balanced on the sharp edge of a great drop, and each thrust of Elowin’s body against mine pushed me closer to the fall.
“Elowin,” I cried out. “More, please!”
“Sparrow,” he rasped, his breath hot against my mouth, and then he pinched my nipple, sharp and hard, and the shock of it shattered me into a million pieces. I came, clutching Elowin hard, opening my eyes to see the room explode with a cloud of glimmering butterflies.
Elowin came too, and we both watched in astonishmentas the butterflies faded into glittery dust, and then nothing at all.
But the light they’d created still burned bright in my chest long after they were gone.
“How did you spend your afternoon, Sparrow?” Rowan asked me after she and Teon had sat down for dinner.
I could feel the tips of my ears burning. “Um.”
“Sparrow and I went to the Glaesflod markets,” Elowin said, his leg pressing against mine under the table from where he was sitting next to me. “There’s always plenty to see there.”
“Yes,” I agreed quickly, although in truth if anyone had asked me, I wouldn’t have been able to name a single thing I’d seen that afternoon. I’d still been half-drunk with pleasure when Elowin and I had set out.
I was grateful that Elowin hadn’t shared our afternoon tryst with Rowan and Teon. Not because there was anything improper about what we’d done—how could there be, when it had been so magical?—but because it felt precious, and special, and I wanted to keep it close. I was especially glad that Thanafern, who was apparently one of the biggest gossips in the entire Everend Market, didn’t appear to have noticed anything either. He hummed happily to himself as he brought out a loaf of fresh bread and inquired if we needed any more ale.
“I think one jug is quite enough,” Teon said cheerfully. “We can always help ourselves to another if needed. Why not take the night off, my friend, before the prince and his retinue arrive tomorrow? You’ll be run off your feet then!”
Thanafern beamed and thanked them and left us alone inthe dining room. Elowin watched him go and said, “So, what news do you have that you didn’t want Thanafern to hear?”
Teon gasped and pressed a hand to their chest. “Is it really so hard to believe I just want our host to put his feet up for the evening?”
“Yes,” said Elowin, and we all laughed.
Teon laughed the loudest of everyone. “Fine. I just didn’t feel like him hovering all evening and turning us into his latest ridiculous rumor.” But I did notice they were sitting closer to Rowan than one would expect—closer even than Elowin and me—so perhaps their claim that they were auditioning to be a third spouse wasn’t entirely made in jest.
“You must be looking forward to meeting Prince Aldian tomorrow, Sparrow,” Rowan said with a smile. “Will you be meeting in the Pavilion?”
“I’m not sure yet,” I said, my stomach churning for reasons I couldn’t put a finger on. “I suppose once he arrives I’ll wait for him to send for me.”
Elowin’s lips pressed together in a thin line.
Rowan shot him a look I couldn’t quite interpret and said, “He’ll probably arrange a private audience with you. And I’m sure he’ll find you very charming.”
“I hope he does,” I said. The tiny flicker of doubt I’d been nursing about my suitability flared briefly to life. I deliberately ignored it. “I mean, I’m sure hewillfind me a suitable match.”
Elowin’s expression tightened. “Well, if he doesn’t, he’s a fool.”
I gasped. “Elowin! You can’t talk about the prince like that!”
“I can if he’s stupid enough not to see what a treasure you are,” he said gruffly. His expression softened and he sighed. “I just meant that there are plenty of elves who would consider you a catch. I’m sure he’ll make you an offer.”
