Page 53 of Song of the Dawn
His grip on me loosened, and I straddled him, taking advantage of the moment to slip out of my dress. He sat up, tossing off his shirt, which almost landed in the fire. The breeze blew in from the balcony, but I didn’t care. I just wanted him. I was wet and hot and broken, and he was the only one who could fix me, who could firm my decision. It took some maneuvering for him to wiggle out of his pants, and I helped, yanking them down his legs. He kicked them off as I bent and took the head of his cock in my mouth. I’d never done such a thing before. I wrapped my lips around it as best I could, moving my head up and down while he moaned, his hand tightening on my head, his voice lost, gone, strangled.
“Mila,” he whispered.
I tasted him on my tongue, salty and tangy. Replacing my mouth with my hand, I gazed down at him. Placing his hands on my hips, he guided me over his length, rubbing back and forth against my wetness before he sank into me. Deep. My muscles clenched against his, and I cried out, leaning forward to ride him. My breasts grazed his chest as we moved in rhythm, and he guided me closer to him, lifting his head to take one of my erect nipples in his mouth. The sensations firing through me intensified, a mix of pleasure and pain, all building to the core of ecstasy. Throwing back my head, I closed my eyes and cried out as he tasted, sucked, lashed first one nipple, then the other. And then, as if him inside me were not enough, he reached between my legs, stroking gently until he found my hard nub and pinched.
I came hard, screaming, trembling, shaking. My vision went white as I held on to his shoulders, my fingers digging in, leaving marks, but it was the only purchase I had in a cascade of pleasure.
Ezra tilted, shifting me onto my back and kissing my legs, slowing the momentum as I caught my breath. My back was slick with sweat, my vision hazy, but he sealed my mouth with his. I reached the peak again, and he held me close as I bucked beneath him. A moment later he came too, gasping and shaking.
Afterward we lay panting on the rug in front of the fire, the fall breeze cooling our naked bodies. Ezra’s arm curled around me, and I rested my head on his chest, my concern gone under the glow of his love. He caressed my cheek, then lifted my chin with his finger so that I could look up at him. His eyes were dark, his words hesitant. “What does this mean, Mila?”
“I love you. I’m not going to run. I’m going to stay.”
“Oh. Mila.” His voice broke, and he held me tight for a long time without saying another word.
When he let go, he kissed me, slowly, reverently, before rising.
“What happens now?” I asked, picking up my discarded dress and slipping it over my head.
“I’m going to find that monster and send it through the portal to the sorceress,” Ezra explained. “First, I have to make a new violin. Dusty is finding the wood I need, and Ginger is putting up rune stones around the property. I sent all the guests away.”
“She told me, and Rachelle too. The others won’t leave you.”
“No.” He gave me his crooked smile. “They are stubborn even though leaving would be for their own good. I can only hope the wards hold. I don’t know for sure.”
“Wards to protect against demons?”
“Yes, evil spirits and all. It depends on how powerful they are, and the demon I summoned is powerful indeed. I took precautions. It can’t get far, but regardless, it’s not safe to go out after dark nor dwell in places with shadows.”
I thought of the cellar and shivered. “Inside will be safe?”
“You’ll be safe with me,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around me. “Mila, it would be better to take the stagecoach to your sister’s estate until this is all over. It’s the selfish part inside me that wants you to stay.”
“I made my choice. I’m staying.”
Brushing a thumb over my lip, he scolded, “You’re just as stubborn as the others.”
Stubborn, perhaps, but I was also afraid for him, as if he was marching into doom and the only way I could keep him safe was with my love. Would it be enough?
Mila
Ezra did not let me out of his sight for the rest of the day, and when the stagecoach came and went, a cloud settled around me. My choice was final. With nothing to do but pace and wait, Ezra took me back to his tower to spend the night. I’d never stayed over before, and now I understood why. For in the middle of the night he’d slip out to walk the forest path and play the tunes that would summon that foul demon. I shivered at the thought, but after making love to me again, slowly, intently, holding my gaze the entire time, he held me tight all night long.
I woke in his arms, my back pressed against his chest, one arm around my waist while his fingers tenderly traced the swells of my breasts, making my nipples tighten with anticipation. Warm breath kissed my shoulders, and I turned in his arms while shades of light revealed his face to me. He watched me, patiently, and I wondered if at some point, he’d cried, for a wet sheen shone in his eyes.
“You haven’t changed your mind?” he asked hesitantly.
“No, Ezra, I’m here.” I waited a beat and then added, “But I have questions.”
“You can ask me anything. I don’t want to lie to you anymore.” He stroked the inside of my wrist.
Tingling sensations shot up my arm, making me aware of how distracting he was, but I couldn’t forget what had come to me last night. Not a dream but my mind trying to fix the problem presented to me. I said the words in a rush before I could lose my bravery. “Tell me the truth, Ezra. Was it my fault?”
His fingers stilled. “Nothing is your fault, Mila, but explain. What do you mean?”
“The other day, with the demon and the portal. I have to know, Ezra. Did I ruin it? I saw the motes of light, like violet starlight. You were about to open the portal and send the monster through it, weren’t you?”
There, I’d said it and let the truth hang between us. This all could have ended, been over with, if I’d listened to him instead of exploring. But then I’d never have found out the truth or faced the horror of who he was and what he’d done. Turning to the curtained window, I took a deep breath and waited for him to confirm my suspicions.
