Page 18 of Great Falls Rogue
After a few minutes wrapped in a haze of exhausted release, the world returns into focus with my naked body reclined against Shade, the male using a stream-dampened cloth to clean my thighs. Despite the smooth strokes of Shade’s hands, his heart pounds against his ribs. Blinking, I realize the dressing he applied to my leg earlier is gone, my once-deep wound now shallow and no longer bleeding. Not my usual fae-enhanced healing, but much more. As if some of Shade’s healing magic actually staked its claim, even the mortal world’s shackles unable to fully contain the power surge my coupling with the quint male brings.
Or else the wards protecting the human world have cracked further still in Ostera’s honor.
I try to sit up.
Shade’s arms tighten around me, his earthy scent caressing my skin. Shifting me to the crook of his shoulder, he focuses his beautiful face on mine, his high cheekbones and strong jaw shadowed in the scant moonlight. The air thickens between us, questions and sensations saturating the small space. The memory of Shade inside me still stirs my body, the loss of him tingling like a phantom limb.
Reaching out slowly, he runs a knuckle along my cheekbone. “For a moment, when we were connected, I knew who you were,” he whispers. “But I don’t anymore.”
I swallow, the memory of my name on Shade’s lips squeezing my chest. I press my cheek into his touch, savoring the feel of his hand along my skin. Pretending, for a moment, that we are in thebefore. “I know.”
“And… Do you know me?” he asks, his yellow eyes penetrating.
My throat closes, my pulse picking up the beat. I don’t know what might trigger the amulet, whether answering even that question might turn the magic on Shade.
“You do know.” Shade’s jaw tightens as he answers his own question, his hand falling away from my cheek. “Tell me. Who are you? Who am I? Why have I been losing time, finding myself… How did I come to be here?”
“I can’t say it.” I rub my face, missing the male’s touch.
“Try.” His voice hardens. “We’ve shared quite a bit more than information just now. You owe me a chance to understand.”
I wrap my arms around myself, the loss of contact with Shade’s skin leaving me chilled to the bone. Maybe Shade is right, maybe speaking the truth will fare differently from forcing physical evidence of it, like I tried by having Coal touch his ear. Maybe this moment now is too precious to let pass. Licking my lips, I find the male’s eyes. “You are fae, Shade,” I say quickly, despite the warning bells tolling in my soul. “We came from Lunos together, wearing an amulet that was supposed to make humans believe we belong in the mortal realms. But—”
I cut off as Shade’s eyes widen—not in surprise but in sheer undiluted agony.No.Clamping his hands on either side of his head, the male rocks, gasping for breath.
No, no, no.This can’t be happening again. I’ve only just recovered from Coal’s agonized scream.
“Shade!” My gut clenches. Twisting to my knees, I brush my finger along his strong pain-lined face. “Breathe. It’s all right. I’ll stop.”
Holding on to my gaze like a lifeline, Shade continues gasping a minute longer until his breathing finally slows. “I heard you speak, but your words turned to daggers,” he says, his voice breaking. “I could hang on to what you said no more than I could hold a blade with my bare hands.”
The image is so on point that bile rises up my throat. I’m afraid to speak. Afraid of doing anything lest it challenge the amulet’s veil. I only realize that tears roll down my cheeks when the male reaches out to brush them away with his thumb.
“It’s all right, cub.” Drawing me to him, Shade smooths my hair, his palm large and so, so warm.
“No, it isn’t.” I force the words past my tight throat. “I have to go.”
“No.” He grabs my arms, his eyes now clear. Intelligent. “Just because you cannot speak of some things doesn’t mean you get to run from me, cub. Not now, not ever.”
I shake my head, my fingers running along Shade’s cheek, savoring the stubble-roughened skin. “I have to go,” I whisper again. “We both do. We can’t talk, and we can’t stay here forever. You know that. Plus, the Night Guard is still about.”
Predatory yellow eyes narrow on mine. “I will find you again,” he says, this time the words coming as a mix of threat and promise. “I will work out the truth of this, and I will find you.”
When I open my mouth to reply, his lips descend upon mine with a claiming force that takes my breath.
Gripping the back of my head, Shade plunges his tongue deeper still, each stroke more possessive than the one before it. Heat rushes from my mouth all the way to my swollen apex, which rouses again immediately. My body flinches from the sheer intensity of Shade’s kiss, but the security of his grip keeps me in place, turning the spreading flame into a bonfire that has my thighs trembling.
I moan into Shade’s mouth, my tongue trying and failing to match his. I struggle against the force of his kiss again, my heart speeding until…until I stop fighting, letting myself feel the full force of Shade’s desire, trusting the male as he makes my soul soar to frightening heights.
A whimper escapes me when he starts to pull away, the sound turning to a short yip at the string of pain along my upper lip.
“You bit me,” I sputter.
Still holding me in place, Shade laps the tiny drop of blood from my lip, his eyes glowing with lupine intensity. “I claim you, cub,” he whispers, finally allowing me to pull back. “Now and forever.”
I touch my lip, the sting morphing to a warmth that spreads through my skin. “You marked me.”
He shrugs one shoulder, a bit of color touching his face. “If you are going to go, you better do it now,” he murmurs. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep myself in check.”
