Page 102 of The Poison of the Earth
“Yeah, of course.”An orgasm did improve my mood.Now I just feel a teeny bit guilty for being so... brusque, mayhap, with Finnick.
I unhook my bra and grab my night gown with my back to him. I hear him get into the bed. I turn, smiling, and climb in. He looks nervous but holds his arm out for me. I smile and tuck myself under it as I try to find a comfortable spot on his chest.He’s more slender than Lo. I quickly push thoughts of Kai and Lonan out of my head.
It takes us a minute of adjusting to find our spots, but once we do, our breathing syncs easily. His hand rests on my arm and I realize he’s using his thumb to stroke it absent-mindedly.
“Oh fuck,” I say, loud in the still room, “Did I... take you from a lover?”
He looks down at me, expression unreadable. “Would it matter if you did, Oleander?”
“Call me Ollie, please. And yes, it would matter to me. It wouldn’t change things, but it would matter.”
He’s silent a moment, studying me. “I do not have a current lover.”
I nod, looking away. Some of his sleek looking hair is laying across his chest and I let my hand slide slowly to it, ready to stop if he says anything, but he’s silent.
“Mmm, it’s as silky as it looks,” I murmur.
“Is yours not?” He asks.
My hair is still pinned up in two tight buns. “No, it’s soft but not smooth like yours.”
“May I let it down?” He sounds hesitant.
“Sure,” I say, tilting my head for him.
His hand comes up and tugs out one, then the other, hair stick. I feel him reach to set them carefully aside before his hand comes back to gently muss my hair so it finishes unwrapping. “Your mint streaks are adorable,” he says quietly.
I giggle. “Mint streaks. I like that.”
“You are an earth Fae?”
“Yes, both my parents were.”
He nods.
“And you are...?” I let it hang, sure this is a sore spot.
He merely smiles, “A water Fae. My mother’s line is mixed, much to my parents’ chagrin.”
I make a soothing noise. How fucking terrible for him. A powerful family, older brothers to torment him, parents ashamed.
“Water surrounded by all this fire. How did you do it?” I ask gently.
“Do what?”
I shrug, hand going back to his hair, running my fingers through it. “Survive.”
His thumb resumes stroking my arm and I find it soothing.
“No other option, really.”
“I can understand that,” I whisper.
I feel him look down at me, taking me in. My stomach growls unexpectedly in the silence.
Finn lets out a little laugh. “Well, I’m a terrible husband already, I’m letting my wife starve. Stay, Oleander. Ollie. Stay, Ollie.” His voice is calm and sweet, obviously not an order.
I nod and he slips out from under me and walks nude to the table full of food. I sit up, gathering blankets around me as I watch the play of muscle in his back and rather nice ass. He’s probably of a height with Lonan, but with finer bone structure. He pours two glasses of wine and grabs a heavy marble tray, bringing it over with them balanced on it and placing it on the bed in front of me. He returns and grabs a plate. I take my wine and sip. This after-sex bit is easier and more natural than I was expecting. I was half expecting to have to feign sleep to avoid him.
