Page 57 of Poison Nights & Twilight Alchemy

She swallowed deeply as her gaze locked on his glinting eyes. “I want you to know that Cornelius and I … we never… That is, I never have … with anyone.”

Reed’s face softened. “I haven’t either. Perhaps we can learn together—if you’ll have me, that is. I’ll kiss you until the stars dim if that’s what you wish.”

“Until the moon sleeps.” Her fingers skimmed down to the button of his trousers, and she unfastened it.

With eager hands, they removed the remainder of their clothing, their bodies bare, his delicious skin like silk pressed to hers.

“You’re as perfect as any faerie queen.” Reed’s heated stare drifted down her form, and she couldn’t hide the blush that warmed her cheeks. He softly kissed her collarbone, the valley of her breasts, before taking a peaked nipple into his mouth. Dulce bit her lip at the sweetest of sensations.

As he released her and strayed from her breasts toward her stomach, lowering between her legs, she blinked in wonder, anticipation.

He placed a kiss on her inner thigh, driving her positively mad, curious as to what would come next, when, finally, his mouth caressed her core. She arched in pleasure, never experiencing anything so exquisite, so wonderful, when he licked and kissed her. He circled her pearl, making her feel as though she were walking on air.

And then wave after glorious wave of pleasure shedidn’t know was possible arose. The same growing bliss she’d experienced from his touch bloomed within her, only bolder, more feral, and Dulce couldn’t fight back the moans that left her lips, her body quaking beneath his delectable tongue.

As she fought to catch her breath, Reed found his way back up to her lips, capturing them sublimely. Exposing the dauntless part of herself, she reached between them to grip Reed’s flawless length. A deep groan escaped his throat when she stroked him, his skin like velvet. It was the first time she’d touched a man like this, and while her movements were unpracticed, he still appeared to relish her touch.

“Reed,” she murmured. “Make me yours.”

He tenderly took her hand from his manhood and brought her arm around his neck. “It would be my honor.” His mouth claimed hers, drinking her in as she savored him. She felt his hardness just before he slowly buried himself inside her. A sharp pain pierced her, and she gasped.

Reed stilled. “Are you all right?”

“More than all right.” She glided her hands down his back. “Don’t you dare stop.”

“I’m at your will.”

“And I at yours.”

Reed moved against her, and with each gentle thrust of his hips, the dull ache subsided until only pleasure took root. She could tell by the trembling of his shoulders that he was restraining himself, lost in the same pleasure as she. Dulce wrapped her legs around his waist, allowing the blissful feeling to deepen. She grasped his hair, pulling his mouth to hers as something like wild magic alightedwithin her. It was as though the stars were illuminated brighter, the sun ignited in the night sky, and the world shook while pure euphoria unraveled through her blood, seeping into her bones, and she could’ve sworn her nerves crackled with untamed lightning.

Reed emitted a guttural groan against her lips, his body shuddering as he found his own pleasurable release, and he relaxed into her, his forehead kissing hers.

“Ms. Bancroft,” he whispered. “Though our paths crossed under the most unfortunate of circumstances, I’m delighted they did.”

Dulce had only one thought as her heart continued to thunder:

Vesta’s tea leaves were right.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

REED

Beneath a knitted blanket, Dulce’s warm body lay against Reed’s chest, and in that moment, he felt like the wealthiest man in the world.

Part of him wanted nothing but to live out the remainder of his days pressed to Dulce, his lips claiming hers. The rest of him knew that was impossible. It would only serve his own selfish desires. Peace could never come from cowardice—he knew that all too well. And even if running could bring happiness, it would never last, not with the destruction of their world inching ever closer.

Reed had to face the fact that Dulce could be takenfrom him at any second. Before they were turned to stone or destroyed by some other twisted form of magic gone awry, they had to do whatever they could to prevent this curse from spreading further.

Dulce’s hand brushed his cheek, and there was a smile in her voice as she said, “There are no ghosts here, so why are you frowning?”

His mouth formed a crooked smile.

“You’re thinking of what could happen to us, aren’t you?”

He tugged a lock of her silky hair. “Aren’t you?”

She nodded. “Yes, but let’s not, shall we? Let’s think only of the present...”

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