Page 163 of The Spider Queen
Relentless, unyielding, never tiring.
“Thane,” I whispered, feeling tears seep out of the corners of my eyes to trail down my cheeks.
“Give me more, Poppy,” he demanded as he continued to pump inside of me. “Give me more, and I’ll give you everything.”
So I opened my legs and somehow found a way to take him deeper.
Finally, too many breaths to count later, we lay unmoving, Thane on top and still fully sheathed inside me. I brushed my lips against his shoulder and felt him shudder.
“Was it—was I too rough?” He reared up so he could look down at me.
I smiled up at him. “No. It was…everything I needed.”
His hand stroked my cheek. Closing my eyes, I breathed in the smell of Purgatory. It was musky and sweet. And not anything like I’d expected.
Chapter 12
We got dressed and continued on. Thane kept looking at me, throwing me small, knowing smiles. I pitched them right back, feeling strangely relieved and light. I didn’t know if that had been the result of our intimate time together, or if it had to do with me deciding to be with him.
The afternoon sun was bright and strong, but my body suit kept me cool. I sent another silent thanks to the creators of it, and the pulse of awareness rushed back at me.
“Where are we stopping for the night?” I asked as Thane handed over a fruit resembling an apple. He’d pulled it from his leather pack, and I briefly wondered where we were going to get food when our supply ran out. I had no idea what was edible or not, not to mention, I hadn’t yet seen any wild animals. Maybe I’d go vegetarian for a bit, I thought in amusement.
“I’d like to get to the edge of the forest. There’s shelter there.”
“How much longer?” I asked, trying not to sound like a kid askingare we there yeton repeat.
“It will be past sunset by the time we arrive.”
“How much past sunset?”
“Eat your fruit.” He winked. “Keep up your strength.”
A flush spread across my cheeks.
“For the journey, Poppy.” He grinned. “You have such a dirty mind.”
“I do not!”
Thane laughed, and then he did something that felt completely out of character—he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side. He pressed his mouth to my hair. “This doesn’t feel real.”
“What doesn’t?”
“All of it.” He sighed and pulled back.
I watched him close his eyes. “It’s been so long since I’ve smelled the fresh air. Stretched my arms and not felt invisible chains holding me back. I forgot. How rich it all is.”
My heart leapt into my throat as I watched him savor the moment. The peaceful joy radiating from his face was obvious. His eyes flipped open.
I touched the space between his eyes and pretended to smooth out the skin that was habitually furrowed.
“I’m not sorry, you know.” His voice was low, purposeful. “I’m not sorry it was you I had to wait for. I’d wait a thousand more years for you.”
His words made my hand tremble as it fell from his face. “How can you say that, when you don’t even know me?”
Thane smiled. “You think I don’t know you? I do.”
Was it worth arguing? And the bigger question—did I even know myself anymore?
