Page 163 of A Legacy of the Light

“You were enjoying this mouth of mine not too long ago,” I wink over my shoulder as I slip into the bathroom.

I stand before the mirror, clean my teeth, and wash my face. I almost don’t recognize the person looking back at me.

I look . . . happy.

For the first time since Mom died, I don’t see her when I look at my reflection. I see me. I see someone who is still dealing with grief, but is starting to see a life beyond it. I see someone who is discovering what it is to live again. I see what I can be.

Tavish joins me in the bathroom, dirty sheets in hand, and puts them in the hamper. He stands behind me and brushes his teeth with the spare toothbrush he claimed as his the night the Dorche attacked the city. The moment is so domesticated, so normal, it makes my heart soar.

We hang our robes on the back of the bedroom door and I head to the drawers for some pajamas. Tavish scoops me into his arms and pulls me onto the bed, naked, before I even lay a hand on the dresser.

I climb under the fresh sheets and shut off the lamp, Tavish curling behind me as he slides his arms under my body and holds me close.

“I hope you realize you’re mine now, little warrior,” he says into the dark.

“And you’re mine now, Prince,” I reply with a smile.

“As long as you’re here, I’m yours,” he confirms and nuzzles his nose in my hair.

◆◆◆

The sunlight peeking through the curtains wakes me early the next morning. Tavish is still wrapped tightly around me, his breathing deep and even against the side of my neck. Without disturbing him, I wiggle free from his arms and slip from the bed to use the bathroom.

As I tiptoe back across the stone floor after seeing to my needs, Tavish rolls over in the bed. His hair is mussed and he’s still blinking the sleep from his eyes as they wander down my naked body. His lips tip up at the corners and he stretches his arms above his head.

“Good morning,” he says around a yawn. I love seeing him like this—disheveled from sleep and sex, and completely unguarded. He’s not a prince right now, he’s just Tavish.

“Good morning. I didn’t mean to wake you,” I reply as I climb back into bed, tamping down my rising emotions.

“You didn’t,” he says, dropping a kiss to my bare shoulder. “I’ll be right back.” He rises from the bed and I watch him, again, as he walks away from me toward the bathroom, my face aches with the force of my smile.

I’m still smiling when he returns a few minutes later.

“What?” he asks, crawling into bed.

“Nothing. I’m just . . . content,” I tell him honestly.

His features light up brighter than the sun outside my window at the confession and he takes my lips in a gentle kiss, laying his body on top of mine. I can taste the mint of toothpaste as our tongues dance together.

His lips move to my neck. “Are you sore?”

“Did I not satisfy you enough yesterday?” I challenge, feeling him grow against my stomach.

“You should know that the sex drive of Seelie is much, much, higher than human ones. Even more so when I have you in my arms.”

“Thanks for the tip,” I breathe as his lips send spikes of pleasure shooting down my spine.

“So, are you sore?”

I shake my head and laugh when Tavish grumbles, “Thank fuck.”

Sat up in the middle of my bed, I wrap my legs around Tavish and slowly ride him. One hand cups my ass and the other is pressed between us, working my body to come for him. My nails cut into the skin at his shoulders as we chase release. Sweat coats us both in a fine layer and our breaths tangle in the few inches between our mouths. I rest my forehead against his and drive onto him slow and deep, his fingers matching the pace of my thrusts.

Pleasure is building at the bottom of my spine and Tavish’s pants are turning into moans, letting me know he’s close to finishing, too. I grip him tighter and ride him harder.

A knock at the door echoes into the room.

“Ignore it,” Tavish growls. He thrusts his hips up into me, hitting my innermost walls. The sensation has me calling out his name and throwing my head back.