Page 62 of Aubade Rising
“Yes.”
One of his hands frees my wrist and I bury my fingers deep in his hair, guiding his head to where I need to feel his lips the most. He lifts my knee over his shoulder, granting him better access as I feel his tongue part my folds and glance over my clit. He takes his time with me, kissing and licking until I’m so tightly wound that I can’t focus on standing. My overheated skin warms the wall behind me and, as my leg trembles, he pulls away briefly, blowing softly on my exposed clit. His gaze rises to meet mine and he smirks. My stomach heats in response. He is so devastatingly gorgeous.
Eskar returns to kissing and sucking, stroking me in a way thatcauses pressure to build low in my hips. I squirm against the intensity of his touch, not wanting to give in, wanting to savour this moment. His body fixes me in place, demanding I feel everything that he is giving me. The pressure continues to build and his name slips from my lips, again and again. The remaining restraint falls away and I hear him moan deeply, the sensation driving me closer to the edge.
His kisses are relentless. I force my lungs to keep breathing, my focus consumed with the sensation between my thighs. Pressure swells and my hands hold his head in place, desperate for him to continue his ministrations. He doesn’t cease and continues to drive me towards the edge, maintaining the rhythm that drives all coherent thought from my head. I tilt my hips a fraction and stars erupt across my vision as I come apart. His tongue expertly guides me through wave after wave of pleasure. The room blackens as my eyes drift closed, lungs fighting for breath.
Eskar carefully lowers my leg to the ground and peels me off the wall, strong hands catching my swaying body before guiding me towards his bed. He lays me down softly and positions himself at my side, his hands running up and down my skin, bringing me down from my climax. I watch his eyes take in my body, spread out next to him, following the trail of his hands over my fevered skin.
My breath back under control, I turn to face him, searching for a glimmer of regret in his eyes. I know he wants more from me, but this is all I can offer right now: my body and a momentary distraction from the precarious chaos around us. Finding none, I lean towards him, placing a kiss above his heart. He lets me push him on to his back, his length still hard and I cast my gaze along his body. The bruises are fading, the lacerations healing, soon all marks from our time together in the Haag will disappear – leaving pure muscled perfection behind. I run my fingers lightly over his flushed skin, goosebumps pebble under my touch. Hetucks his hands behind his head, content to let me explore and I feel myself return his smirk. I’m going to return the favour. He’s not leaving this bed until he begs me to let him come.
I trail my fingers down his chest, lightly over his stomach and stop just above his cock. Eskar exhales loudly and tenses. “I’m warning you, it’s been a while since anyone’s touched me like that.” Good. I like the thought of having him all to myself.
I wrap my hand around his length, watching his reaction. He fixes his eyes on my hand as it moves up and down, twisting slightly. I catch myself smiling when he hisses through his teeth and lets his head fall back on to the pillow. I pick up the pace, enjoying wringing moans from his lips. Then I stop abruptly.
His eyes pop open, “You cruel woman.” I smile innocently, pretending I have no idea what he’s talking about and resume my stroking. Each time I feel him approach the edge, I freeze, allow him to catch his breath before continuing. I want him begging.
“Please. Don’t stop. I can’t… I need…” the words tumble out between moans of ecstasy and I remove my hand entirely. Eskar’s eyes snap open, his pupils dilated as I straddle his hips leaving inches between us. I reach down with one hand to touch myself, smearing wetness all over my fingers. His biceps flex, fingers gripping the bedsheet, knuckles white. Unable to keep teasing us both, I lower slightly, positioning his cock at my entrance, using my hips to roll the tip over my clit.
One of us moans loudly, and I feel my eyes roll back in my head, revelling in the sensation.
“Please,” he rasps, hands now on my thighs. He doesn’t take away my control but there’s coiled desperation in his fingertips as they press into my heated skin.
I arch my back, letting my hair graze the tops of my shoulders as I sink down onto him. His cock fills me completely. I take a moment to catch my breath at the most glorious sensation ofstretching and adjust. Then I begin to move.
Acting on instinct, my hips roll towards him, angling him deeper inside. Our gazes lock and I feel a light sheen of sweat develop across my chest. His hands don’t leave my hips, letting me set the pace. The familiar sense of pressure returns, slowly building in my lower stomach. I move faster, hands steadying myself on his shoulders. Our lips meet briefly, but cannot linger, concentrating on the sensations growing between us. I hear him call my name and feel his legs tense. I freeze, not wanting it to end yet, loving the control.
“Sage!” he shouts, voice hoarse.
“Not yet,” I chuckle, leaning back a little. He swears loudly and watches as I take one hand to my clit and circle it gently.
The sensation of touching myself whilst he is buried deep inside me has my body clenching. I rock back and forth, focusing on the pressure building until I can’t control myself anymore. I erupt, my vision splintering and I scream. My hips continue to move through the savage waves of pleasure that run through me. Eskar’s hands find them, setting the rhythm he needs and pounding inside me until he comes. We both collapse, panting, bodies shaking from our orgasms. I crumple onto to the mattress.
A while later, Eskar’s breathing steadies. He turns to me, “You’re going to pay for that.” We laugh and he rolls on top of me, bracketing me with his arms and capturing my mouth in a deep kiss.
Chapter 62
Dew soaks my shoes and trouser legs and the long grass tickles as I head for the Koes Dowr. What was a beautiful, manicured garden when I arrived has now bloomed into a teeming jungle. I search for my favourite worn stone and set myself up to think. Eskar left early this morning. No goodbye, no ceremony, just a cool indentation in the bed next to me and an unspoken promise that, when he returns, things will be different. He will be able to leave Pentargon. To return to Cathair and become a teacher like he’s always wanted. He asked me to come with him last night, in between kisses that wiped away my brain’s ability to reason. Even then, something in me resisted. I don’t know that I want to leave Pentargon, to leave my research, my position behind.
I pick at the skin round my nails, picturing Eskar sailing to Porth to begin his trek to Tanwen – alone and with assassination on his mind. I wish he didn’t have to shoulder that burden alone. From reluctant torturer to begrudging assassin, he’s more than earned his freedom once this is over and I won’t allow the court to hold him back.
Worried as I am, unable to calm my mind and control my emotions, I settle instead to practising my magic. Now I understand how the little strand from Eskar works, I’m able to call it forward with ease. Even though it saved me in Cathair, it’s barely depleted. The vast depth of magic held in one Mordros strand is staggering. I need to feel close to him today and reach for it inside my chest.
I visualise a floating sphere of water and pull the magic forward. When it’s clear in front of me, I try to make it spin. It’s sloppy work, flecks of water spin out as it turns. Soon, I’msoaked through as if I have rolled in the dew like a child. But the sphere holds.
It helps to focus on something tangible. I draw out my light as well, causing the water to throw rainbows across the clearing and admiring how well they work together.
“Perhaps the King’s Thief would be a more appropriate title.” Dark humour from a voice that breaks my focus surprises me. My sphere of water absorbs into my lap as I look up at the King, leaning against a tree, arms crossed.
He doesn’t look angry but he definitely doesn’t look pleased either. “Now, are you going to tell me how you managed to steal Mordros magic?”
“Snooping isn’t a very regal trait.” I shrug, buying time.
“No need to snoop when an aurora appears in my garden. You need to be more careful there.”His mouth is a thin line as he scours the tree-line behind us, checking we are alone.
The rainbows – I can’t exactly argue there. I shouldn’t have been so foolish. “I was experimenting.”
“I can see that. More forbidden research?”
