Page 127 of A Cruel Kindness

That was the final nail in the coffin holding Soren’s control, because the next move of his fingers was rough and commanding, showing me exactly who was touching me.

Even though someone could walk in at any moment, neither of us cared. I was too in love with him and still too scared to consider anything but being as close to him as I possibly could.

“Soren,” I begged, knowing I was ready to take him.

After a quick fumble of clothing and pulling the bed sheets over us, Soren slipped inside me and my whole world seemed to righten.

“I love you,” I all but cried, the force of pleasure and emotion overtaking me as his hips rolled in and his fingers played maddening circles over my core.

“I am never letting you go,” Soren promised darkly. “Ever. I love you.”

That was what it took to send me crashing into pleasure, my whole body spilling with warmth that healed my heart and cut off the distant throbbing in my leg.

When Soren followed after holding back to a maddening place until I finished again, it was on a heavy sigh. Even as I looked at him over my shoulder, his color seemed more lively, more of that healthy golden hue I’d grown used to.

As the sun fled completely and the infirmary was covered in darkness, Soren and I took every chance alone we could get.

We laid together, basking in a few precious moments of having nothing to do but hold one another. Then we dressed and picked at the food left for us.

We had a small argument, mainly fueled by the Bond screaming in both our heads, over making sure the other person had enough food after sleeping for so long.

When I was two seconds away from throwing a bread roll at Soren, he got up and held out his hands, silently signaling for me to stand with him. He held on tight as I tested my stride, finding it as close to normal as I could expect.

I felt so good I bounced between either foot a little, finding no pinching nerves or screaming muscles.

“This is weird,” I said as Soren studied my movements.

“I know. I can’t be mad at it because you’re okay, but yes, this is weird.”

“And you’re okay?” I asked, looking over him for any sign of pain.

Soren nodded. “It just feels like I worked out like hell.” After a heavy breath he continued, “Which is good, because I can go after Elijah’s dumbass as soon as possible.”

“What? How did you know?” I didn’t think mind reading was among the newly discovered traits of paranimas.

Soren pulled me to his chest in a tight hug. “He’s the only one who would have delivered the news about the Prince.”

“He fixed my tourniquet.”

“He did. That might be the only thing saving him from a slow, painful death. Now I just want to punch him.”

“You can do that. But only if I can watch.”

Soren laughed, looking down at me. “Since when did you become so violent.”

My own laugh followed quickly. “You’re rubbing off on me.”

Soren was about to say something else when a scream cut through the infirmary. The sounds of yelling and sharp commands hit us first. The smell of smoke followed soon after.

After a pause to look at one another, we both took off out the doors.

When we broke through them, the entire camp was up in flames.

Chapter 33

Soren

“Pull your shirt up,” I told Bellamy. “Cover your mouth and nose.”