Page 84
She did it again, her legs wrapped around him, urging him on.
“Ah, fuck,” he groaned. “Witch…you’re something else.”
She bit back a moan as she orgasmed, sinking her teeth into his shoulder. The taste of his skin, salty and hot, was on her tongue. Asterion followed her over the edge, his moan muffled against her neck. Ria ran her fingers lazily over his shoulders and up along the back of his neck.
“Still happy that I’m sweaty?”
Ria giggled, her fingers tracing another slow line over his shoulder. “Yes. I love how you lose control with me.”
“You better watch yourself, witch.”
She smiled. “Or what?”
His quiet laugh vibrated against her neck, and she sighed contentedly before glancing at the clock. “We need to get up.”
“No,” he murmured, tightening his arms around her when she tried to move. “We have time.”
“If you’re still sleepy, go back to your own bed,” she teased.
He lifted his head and gave her a look that made her laugh. “You know I’m not sleepy.”
She giggled and leaned in to kiss him, enjoying the way his expression softened almost immediately. For a few more seconds, neither of them seemed particularly interested in getting out of bed. Then her alarm went off.
Asterion groaned and dropped his head against her shoulder. “We still can’t get a moment to ourselves, huh?”
“Nope,” she whispered, laughing as she gave him a gentle shove toward the edge of the bed. “Come on.”
He reluctantly climbed out, but before he could step away, he turned back and pressed one more lingering kiss to her lips.
“Today is the day,” she reminded him softly.
The teasing disappeared from his face, replaced by the serious expression she’d come to recognize whenever Korinnae’s safety was involved. “I know.”
She watched him leave, her smile fading slightly as the weight of the day settled over her. Today, they would finally find out whether the plan they’d spent so long preparing would work.
Ria waited in the kitchen for Korinnae to come downstairs, keeping herself busy by preparing coffee and checking the supplies they would need later. When the calf finally appeared, she looked toward the freezer and made a request.
“Can we have the cheese triangles from Granny Ismene?”
“Good idea.” Ria smiled. “I could use some of Mama’s goodies today.”
While they waited for the pastries, Korinnae hovered near the oven, keeping an eye on the timer. Ria noticed that she wasn’t talking as much as usual, and there was a nervousness in the way she kept shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?”
“Nothing.” Korinnae shrugged.
Ria gave her a knowing look.
“I’m a little scared,” the calf sighed.
“We’re going to be there with you the whole time. You’ll be asleep for the procedure so that you won’t feel anything.”
Korinnae looked down at her hands. “You promise?”
“I promise.”
The timer chimed, and the smell of melted cheese and buttery pastry filled the kitchen. Ria set the pastries aside to cool, expecting Korinnae to reach for one. Instead, the calf came over and wrapped her arms around her. Ria immediately hugged her back, holding the girl against her. She wished there were something more she could say, something that would take away the fear completely. All she could do was hold her and let her know she didn’t have to face what came next by herself.
