Page 61 of Necromance
Deeper, harder, he moved in me until I thought I would pass out from how good it felt. I moved with him, trying to take all of him.
“Lucien,” I gasped, “I—“
His mouth found mine again just as waves of pleasure rolled through my body. I moaned into his mouth and he pushed into me as I ground my hips. A moment later, his own pleasure erupted, his voice thick as he groaned.
We laid there, entangled as I heaved for air for a long moment before he pulled back, brushing small kisses across my brow.
My wits finally began to come back to me as I looked up at him. The stabbing pain of what was to come twisted deep in my heart.
I loved him and he would be gone soon.
I had no idea how much time we still had before the painting completely faded and Lucien would be lost to me forever, but the thought strangled me like a noose.
A sob slipped from my throat, and before I could force it down, hot tears filled my eyes and spilled over. I tried to bury my face in Lucien’s shoulder, but it was too late.
He stiffened, searching my face, furiously wiping the tears from my cheeks. He shifted, taking his weight and warmthfrom me.
It only made me cry harder.
He gathered me to him, his chin resting on top of my head as I sobbed uncontrollably against his chest.
“Mia,” he urged gently, his arms tightening. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
I shook my head against him, the salty tears streaking his broad chest.
“Nothing,” I whispered. “That was just… incredible”
He was quiet for a long moment and then I felt him sigh. He kissed the top of my head. “Do you want to tell me why you’re upset about that?”
I wiped my eyes and sniffled, hesitating before I finally lied. “It’s just… the curse.”
“Hmm,” he murmured softly as if considering my excuse. After a moment he pulled back, forcing me to look at him. “I’ll accept that excuse for now,” he said gently, his thumb gliding over my cheek.
I nodded, unwilling to speak about the looming future any further. I didn’t want to think about it. I couldn’t think about losing him.
“Lucien?” I whispered, resting my head back against his chest.
“Yes, witch?”
“Will you stay with me a while?”
I felt his lips curve into a lazy smile against my head. “I’d stay with you forever if I could.”
His words made my pulse quicken and my eyes fluttered closed, my mind and body exhausted. I snuggled closer to him and his hold tightened. His warmth seeped into me down to my bones and I drifted into a deep sleep.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
I awoke to the sound of soft tapping.
It wasn’t loud, but it threaded through the stillness like a needle, tugging me up from the depths of my dreams. I blinked into the darkness. My fire had long since died, and only a sliver of moonlight poured in through the tall, frost-kissed windows, bathing the chamber in a silvery hue. Shadows clung to the corners like cobwebs and the air had gone bone-chillingly cold.
I turned onto my side half-expecting Lucien to still be there, but he wasn’t.
How long had I been asleep?
I let myself lie there a little longer, fingers drifting over the place where he’d been. Where he’d touched me. Kissed me. Held me like he never wanted to let go. My limbs ached pleasantly, and I touched my kiss-swollen lips, allowing myself to replay the memory of my night with Lucien.
The tapping came again. A gentletick-tick-tick. It was far too rhythmic to be anything natural.
