Page 129 of Echoes of the Raven
Korben holds my face in his hand as if I’m made of crystal. His smoldering gaze falls to my lips. “May I?”
I nod once.
The side of his mouth lifts to form a wicked grin. He wets his lips, and carefully, so carefully, kisses me. It’s nothing but a whisper, the touch of a feather. Yet, a wave of desire crashes against my core. Eager for more, I lean closer and capture his lower lips between my teeth.
His large hand comes around and cradles my rear, pulling me until I feel his erection against my abdomen. His tongue slips into my mouth and a moan—an undiluted sound of desire—escapes me. Taking this as his cue, he sits on the bed and hauls me into his lap.
He kisses my chin, my jawline. “You taste like feyglen, intoxicating.”
His hands steal under my tunic to find more of me. He cups my breasts, finding them unbound, my undergarment lost somewhere in the woods.
A groan of pleasure rumbles from his chest. He pushes the tunic over my head and throws it to the floor. The Eldrystone’s chain jingles in my hand, catching his eyes. He reaches for it, and I hold my breath in a moment of panic. I imagine it was all a trick, and he didn’t mean to bestow the amulet upon me. When he hangs the chain around my neck and the opal falls heavily between my breasts, I feel terrible for doubting.
He kisses one of my nipples and then the other. They tighten in response, and he chuckles, satisfied.
“You are so beautiful.” His hands run up my sides, lifting my arms above my head, then caressing downward, slowing as they pass the curve of my breasts. He lies down on the small bed and pulls me along, setting me right on top of his hardness.
I shiver at the pressure.
“Ride me, Valeria,” he says. “I want to see you.”
In awkward jerks and shoves our pants come off, then I’m poised over him, my knees on either side of his hips. Holding his gaze, I lower myself and take him in, my lungs seizing as he fills me completely, pushing deep against my inner barrier.
Head thrown back, I rock my hips front to back. A whimper pushes past my lips. He breathes heavily with every thrust, his eyes drinking me in, never closing.
I lift my hands, finger splayed, and he takes them in his, our fingers interlacing. Now, instead of front to back, I move up and down, taking him out to the tip, then lunging back down until tears fill my eyes, and I’m biting my lower lip to avoid screaming. His body goes tense, and he can barely keep his eyes open as pleasure builds. I keep a steady pace, enjoying the way his powerful body shivers underneath me.
When he spasms, throwing his head back and sighing in full-body relief, I can’t believeIhave done that.Ireduced him to this defenseless creature completely at my mercy.
My heart feels ready to burst. I lie on top of him, sweat slick between us. His heart is hammering fast and hard. He wraps me in his arms as if he’ll never let me go and kisses the top of my head. We only rest that way for a minute before he flips me over, ending on top of me.
“Your turn, Princess,” he says, then begins to kiss his way south.
50
VALERIA
“Now, our dear home is a prison. How shall this horror be undone?”
Hermano Jacinto - Monasterio de San Corvus de la Corona Monk - 21 AV
Early next morning, Korben retrieves our horse from the stable he hired to take care of it and buys three more mounts. Jago takes one and rides to inform the troop of our plans. He didn’t want to leave without telling them and without paying what we owed them for their services. I suspect he also wanted to see Esmeralda.
We head out of Badajos, trotting easily down the main road, in view of everyone.
I hold my breath as we cross in front of two royal guards standing on a corner and surveying the area as they clearly look for us. It’s disconcerting to pass unnoticed by everyone.
Jago sticks his thumb between index and middle fingers, makes the fig sign, and waves it at them. “The fun I would have sneaking up on Esmeralda,” he says with a mischievous grin.
“Esmeralda, huh?” I tease.
He twists his mouth to one side, then says, “The Fae King, huh?”
My cheeks grow hot, and I chide myself for inviting him to tease me andmaking it so easy.
Korben throws me a sidelong glance, looking amused. He wears La Matadora on his back. I try not to think what Father or Amira would think of that.
“Do you trust him?” Jago asks later when Korben isn’t listening.
