Page 13 of A Kiss From a Revenant
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I press up onto my toes and finally meet my mouth with his. It is a chaste touch. Both our movements are unpracticed—the last kiss I bestowed on anyone was on a farmer’s son when I was sixteen. This kiss is much better than that, even if it is unrefined.
The soft skin of his lips is warm against mine. My whole body trembles as a fresh wave of pleasure washes over me. Pulling back, I stare up into his fiery eyes and nearly melt. Lust lies bare in his gaze, as does another more equally powerful emotion. My body heats more from the look he’s giving me than the fire we stand before.
With a growl permeating his chest, he pulls me back into his embrace, and our mouths connect again. This time, our kiss is a savage one. It is a meeting of skin and a clashing of lips. His hands smooth over my back before rising higher and finding the sleeves of my gown. His fingers slip underneath the fabric and pull down. Lowering my arms, I help him free more of my skin until only the top of my shift and corset cover my breasts. My nipples pebble behind the stiff fabric, begging me to free them to his hungry gaze.
As if reading my mind, his deft hands fall to the lacing of my corset and undo the ties. Again, his movements are novice, and that only makes me want him more. To know I’m the onlyone he’s touched in this way makes my head spin, and I kiss him back more forcefully. We’re both breathing heavy by the time my corset falls to the floor.
I gasp into his mouth as his hands drag along my back. In only my shift, it feels as if he’s touching my bare skin. The slow, wet glide of his tongue against my lips causes me to tremble. I open for him and allow his seeking muscle to find its way between my lips. He tastes of night air and smoke. The faint metallic taste of blood lingers on his tongue, encouraging my desire instead of tainting it.
We moan as our tongues twin together in a sloppy battle for dominance. The more we kiss, the more we learn to understand each other. Soon we find our rhythm—tasting, biting, and breathing in each other’s scents—his hand slides down my back and cups my ass. Eryx pulls me flush against him, and behind the soft material of his pants, not covered in armour, I discover a new hardness. One I’ve only felt in sickening moments by men I abhor.
Now, I feel that hot, seeking length, and my knees nearly buckle. More moisture slicks out of me, eager to have that piece of him deep inside of me. I rub my stomach back and forth against it, smiling broadly at his resulting hiss.
His lips leave mine, and I’m immediately wishing for them back.
“My beautiful tormentor,” he whispers in my ear. “Too delicious for your own good.”
“Eryx,” I moan as his lips travel down.
He lays kisses against my jaw. Removing his hands from my backside, they travel around to my front and gently palm my aching breasts through my shift. I tilt my head back as he teases each one. Testing their weight before working my nipples with his thumb. I rub my thighs together as my moans engulf us.
Eryx’s lips travel down the column of my throat. There, he licks in time with his teasing fingers. I feel the press of his teeth,but the nip isn’t hard enough to break skin. My hands fall to the back of his head, encouraging him.
“Bite me,” I beg, desperate to have him drink from me again.
His hands still on my breasts before breaking off on a groan.
“Sweet, merciful goddess,” he sighs into my neck.
Without another word, I feel the sharp prick of pain. Then, nothing but euphoria wraps around me. Pleasure dances on every nerve ending and envelopes me. The sound of him drinking from my neck heightens my arousal. My body races towards an invisible peak. Wetness coats my inner thighs as he continues to drink from me. Every muscle in my body pulls tight as he takes his fill and then—snap.
I am lost to my climax. Euphoria erupts inside of me, and sticky, sweet pleasure coats me. My eyes are open, yet I see nothing. There is only Eryx—only the feel of him at my neck and his hands holding me steady. Without him, my limp muscles wouldn’t support me.
Sweet bliss makes my body tremble with fleeting pleasure.
Vaguely, I am aware of Eryx pulling away from me. His warm tongue glides up my neck to seal his bite wound. His gaze is on mine, and concern is etched on it—as if worried that I will turn away from him. As if I could ever regret what transpired between us. In truth, I want more. Much, much more. However, I am far too tired for that tonight.
That is why I merely smile up at him and place a soft kiss on his mouth. The taste of my blood makes me sigh.
“Take me to bed,” I command.
Without delay, he does. Lifting me under my legs and against my back, he glides up the back stairs swiftly. I nod towards my back bedroom, and he enters the simple room. There is only a small wardrobe with my clothes, a simple four-poster bed with dark bedding, and a small side table. My sheets and pillows are still wrinkled from where I slept last night.
Setting me gently on my feet, I quickly toe off my boots and remove my dress before tossing it somewhere in the darkness. Now in only my shift, I fall forward into my bed before rolling onto my back. Through half-lidded eyes, I can see Eryx standing there. His face is unreadable in the dark light.
Too tired for words, I lift my hand and wave him forward. He hesitates for only a moment before following my order. Tentatively, he sits down on the bed, his posture awkward as he tries his best to squeeze into bed. He’s kept his armor on, and his rigid posture doesn’t look all that comfortable. Still, I don’t have the energy to question it.
Reaching across the bed, I take his arm in mine and pull it towards me. Rotating to my side, I snuggle my body back against him. The metal places cool kisses against my heated skin. I settle against him with a sigh. We are still for a moment, and then I feel the quilt drape over us.
The last thing I remember before sleep claims me is the scent of metal and a sense of wholeness I haven’t had since my mother passed.
I am no longer alone—and I never wish to be again.
6
NORY
The needle pricks my thumb, and I watch a droplet of red bloom on the tip.
