Page 58 of Clash of Storms
"Are you still alive?" he drawled. "It's just.... You're barely breathing. And you haven't said a word."
"I just...."
I'm fairly certain I've lost all capability of conversing like a normal human.
You kissed me.
I most definitely kissed you back.
The world had not burst into a fiery ball of doom at the mere shock of it all.
Malin's hand met his chest and pushed. Sirius gave her space and sunlight flooded back into her world, drenching her poor, heat-fueled body where she lay slain upon the grass.
"Malin?" He sounded like he was trying not to laugh.
"A moment. I'm still—" She made a gesture that could have meant anything and everything.
"A moment then." Sirius captured her hand, and pressed her fingers to his bruised lips. He looked like he'd been attacked. "You've more than earned it."
Only he could make such an innocent statement sound so wicked.
"Ah. My faithful steed," Sirius mocked, snatching at Iškur's reins as if his world hadn't just exploded into a million pieces. "Where wereyouwhen Malin decided to try and steal you? You could barely kick your heels up fast enough, you treacherous bastard. It's only now, when I'm finally enjoying myself, you decide to act the petulant chaperone. You jealous prick."
He reared up onto his knees, and Malin's eyes shot wider when she saw he was wearing not a stitch of clothing.
Slapping her hands over her eyes, she tried to draw her knees together, but he was still kneeling between them. Hairy thighs and all.
"What's wrong?" Sirius purred.
Do. Not. Look."Where are your clothes?"
A rough-edged rumble of a laugh. "Someone stole my horse. Which means I was forced to rely upon my wings to capture her. And it seems leather does a wondrous job of keeping all your mortal bits in place when you're this size, but it's no match for adrekishift."
He was naked.
Naked.
"I don't mind if you look, sweet Malin. You are, after all, responsible for this state of affairs. Why don't you take the opportunity to enjoy your handiwork?"
Done. She was simply done. Sirius must have seen it on her face for he couldn't contain himself any longer. He burst into laughter, his shoulders shaking when she peeked through her fingers. The flash of his white teeth made her shiver.
So pleased I could amuse you.
Malin scrambled to her feet, furiously brushing out her skirts and avoiding the sight of him. "Put some clothes on."
"Sorry." He bent and captured the backs of her thighs. "But I ceased taking suggestions from you ten minutes ago. We've done this your way. Now it's time for mine."
Malin cried out as he hauled her over his shoulder. Her fingernails skated down his bare back. "What are youdoing?"
"Making sure you don't have any more foolish ideas."
Sirius marched toward the packhorse peering at them in the distance, his firm bare ass catching her attention. Dimples glinted in the sides of his cheeks, muscles working in the backs of his thighs as he strode across the grass. Ripples of shadow moved beneath his skin, highlighting every muscle in his back.
"Guh," she said.
"What was that?" he called, as if he were perfectly aware of where her eyes were drifting.
"It was shorthand forwhatprecisely are your intentions? What do you mean by, now we're doing things your way?"
