Page 26 of A Reign of Embers

Until now. It unfurls with each stroke of Bastien’s fingers. Warmth tingles through my sex and flushes the back of my neck.

Perhaps the quiver creeps into my breath as well. Perhapsthe warmth seeps through the silk of my dress. Either way, Bastien’s massage turns into more of a caress.

He eases forward from where he’s now kneeling behind me and kisses the corner of my jaw. “Would you like to be taken care of in other ways, Star? Just say the word.”

Marc lets out a strangled sound. When I look his way again, his stance has gone taut, his eyes blazing.

His irritation sweeps away any doubts I might have harbored. Why should I spare him from the exposure to my real lovers? He knows Bastien fathered Coraya—it’s not as if it’s a secret how intimate we’ve already gotten.

He can’t have any real place in my life if he’ll never be willing to at least tolerate the men who’ve already earned theirs.

“If you don’t like what you’re seeing, you can look the other way,” I inform him.

Marc just glowers at me, but Bastien recognizes the permission in my words. His commanding tone returns. “Turn around.”

As I swivel on the stool to face him, a twinge that’s not entirely pleasant runs through my belly. “I may still be a little tender inside.”

From what I know of the healing arts, the medics’ efforts should mean anything I might want to do now issafe. Whether it’ll be fully enjoyable is a more subjective matter.

Bastien cups my face. “I’ll take good care of you. Exactly what you need. But if anything does hurt, smack me.”

At my snort, he smiles and then claims my mouth. The kiss sends a fresh rush of heat through my chest. As his tongue tangles with mine, my fingers dig into his shirt.

I have the vague impression of Marc’s gaze still boring into us, but I can’t say I care. There might even be a little thrill in the knowledge.

My true lovers have had to watch him—and mostly histwin—grope me whenever they please for over a year. Let him find out how it feels to have to watch.

Let him witness what a touch offered out of love should look like.

Bastien kisses me again and again, gentle but intent. His hands travel along my sides and up to fondle my breasts through my gown.

My nipples spark with a sharper pleasure than I’m used to. Their other recent purpose has left them extra sensitized.

My breath catches. At the heightening flares of pleasure, I press into Bastien’s touch.

“Oh, I’ve got more for you, Star,” he murmurs against my lips with another swivel of his palms against my breasts. “Spread those lovely legs for me.”

With a crackle of anticipation, I obey. Bastien sits back on his heels and gathers the layers of my skirt before shoving the heap of fabric nearly to my waist.

He kisses the inside of one knee and then the other. The brush of his mouth travels back and forth up my inner thighs.

By the time he reaches the edge of my drawers, I’m trembling. A pang has formed between my legs.

Bastien trails a delicate finger over the growing dampness at the crotch of my drawers. The jolt of sensation brings a gasp to my lips.

“Up,” he says, soft but firm. At my brief bob off the stool, he yanks my drawers from my thighs.

The moment they’ve pooled on the floor, he lowers his head to my sex.

The first swipe of his tongue shocks a groan out of me. It’s been so long—I’d almost forgotten just how good the men I love can make me feel.

My fingers curl into Bastien’s rumpled hair. He delvesdeeper, swirling his tongue over my clit, sucking that nub between his lips.

I sway with the waves of pleasure, clutching hold of him. He traces my folds and strums my clit before applying his mouth again, but not once does he press tongue or fingers into my channel.

Any lingering anxiety melts away. I rock into his attentions, riding his face. Every flick of his tongue sparks new tremors of bliss.

Bastien grasps my hips to pull me even tighter against him. He plunders me like I’m the only meal he’ll ever want to eat, and the sensations swell all through my body.

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