Page 68 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

“Wait until you see inside.” He led me over to the tents. Our new home until the end of the Yule season. They contained all thecomforts of a home, including a roaring fire, a plush bed piled with furs, two leather chairs, a desk, and even an ornate rug for the floor. Two soldiers dressed in Stormland armor stood guard outside the entrance to Caiden’s tent.

“Why all the protection?” I asked as I plopped down onto his bed.

“So that women like you don’t take advantage of hopeless romantics like me,” he said, lying next to me, stroking my hair.

“Cute, but what’s the real reason?”

“You know what we carry.”

I shot up, having almost completely forgotten about the scepter. “Why would you bring that here? Do you think you’re going to call on an ancient army to destroy Gideon?”

“I could if I wanted to.”

“We don’t even know how the scepter works and you brought it here, close to our mortal enemy?”

“Well, I wasn’t going to leave it behind.” Our faces nearly touched.

Knots tied themselves in my stomach.

Something like love flickered in Caiden’s eyes. Any feeling of guilt I had faded away as his lips touched mine.

I sucked in a breath as heat grew between my legs.

All the feelings of love and longing I pushed aside for years came rushing back the moment our lips touched. I wanted him in a primal way—wanted to show him the girl he fell for all those years ago still lived inside me—full of lust and passion. No reason to play coy. Only I would remember this.

I slipped my tongue between his lips. He groaned with pleasure, laying me down on the blanket of furs.

He pulled away from me. “Are you sure you want this?” he asked as he undid his wool jacket.

“Yes,” I replied through ragged breaths, fumbling with my buttons.

My pulse quickened at the sensation of his hands gripping my hips, making my mind go blank.

He knew my body better than I did. Caiden loved me. Loved me when I was human. Loved me when I was broken. Loved me when I did not love myself.

Tears poured down my cheeks.

“What’s wrong?” He cupped my face in his hands.

“I’m sorry for everything.” My voice caught in my throat. “I don’t deserve you.”

“Let me be the judge of what I deserve.” He pressed his lips against mine once more.

Parting mine, I let his tongue explore my mouth before he moved down to my chest.For a moment, I hesitated. The last time Caiden and I lay together, my breasts were plump and round. Years of self-loathing and starvation had left them flat and deflated. He did not bat an eye at my new body.

A fire grew in my core as he took one of my nipples into his mouth, teasing me with his tongue. I let out a long moan.

“That’s right, princess. I remember how you liked it.” His voice was rough and cracked.

“Do you remember what I taste like?” I said, spreading my legs wide so that he could see my slick core.

His face brightened as he lowered his head between my legs. Delicate fingers grazed over my body, making the tiny hairs on my neck stand on end.

“I’ve dreamed of the day I would get to taste you again.” His tongue circled my throbbing sex before diving deep into my core.

I came undone, letting out a moan the entire camp could hear. He continued to thrust his tongue in and out of me. Fingers teasing me at the same time.

Pleasure surged through my body, leaving me whimpering with each flick of his tongue.

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