Page 22 of Loving Nightmares
Amun pressed his thumb across my lips and effectively, sweetly, silenced my concerned ramble that had totally been escalating. At the sight of his calm expression, I relaxed back into the bed, my worries mostly eased.
“It worked. War is gone, and the institute is safe and warded once again. Everyone is safe because of you,” Amun said.
“Oh good,” I breathed out. “So what did you mean?”
“The humans that were left behind—those who were injured, as well as any that didn’t run—have been brought into the institute for questioning—”
I jerked up in bed, but before I could get more than an inch, Amun tugged me back down, a low rumble leaving his throat. “No getting up yet.”
“Amun,” I said slowly, in a state of shock, “are you telling me that the institute has humans in it—like a lot of them? We brought people who just waged war on our homeintoour home, with all the nightmares who put their lives on the line to protect it? Nightmares who don’t realize the full extent of the influence they were under…”
“I see your point,” he said, concern crossing his features. “The others will keep them safe and unharmed—mostly. Unlessthey act out. They know you would want that because of how it could reflect on the institute.”
I couldn’t help but love that he hadn’t just dismissed my concern, that he’d actually considered what the others would do. I believed he was right, for the most part, but things could go wrong—easily.
“I need to get up. Amun!” A laugh slipped out of me at the end as I was pulled back down, but this time it wasn’t just by his hands, it was also by his magic. Fabric binds appeared out of nowhere, wrapping around my waist and keeping me flat on my back.
“No. You need to stay in bed.”
I smiled. “I seriously feel perfect.”
Amun made a low rumble and studied my face. “I still don’t like it, though it doesn’t surprise me. That youngsis metaran in here to give you some of her magic before disappearing again in a rush.”
“She did what?” I felt humbled that she would do something like that for me, especially since I hadn’t even known that was a possibility. “Okay, now I really need to get up.”
Amun made a noncommittal noise and shifted so his nose was buried against my throat, as his lips skimmed my collarbone. “In a little bit. I think you need more rest.”
I really did feel one hundred percent, but at the same time his growly tone really appealed to me. I wiggled slightly, trying to fight getting turned on, but then his throat produced a noise that had shivers breaking onto my skin.
Amun’s death magic rolled over me, and I felt almost dizzy as it invaded my senses, flashes of magic darkening the room on the edges as everything outside of us turned absolutely silent. I whimpered as more fabric appeared, wrapping around my thighs and arms.
“Amun…”
“Just making sure you don’t move,” he explained, his voice rough.
“Oh, is that all?” I asked breathlessly. “If you’re going to trap me in bed, I feel like we can—”
His thumb ran over my lips once again and interrupted me. “After everything we’ve gone through and you getting injured twice, I’m extremely on edge, and I don’t trust my reaction to what you were about to say.”
“Amun,” I whispered. He finally looked up, our lips a breath apart. “I feel amazing—in fact, I feel better than I did before I passed out. I promise I wouldn’t lie about that. I know you can see and feel that I’m fine.”
The man had an instinctual connection to my body. If Saint owned my soul with his death magic, then Amun owned my very heartbeat. I felt like he could control it so easily, and at times it was like our hearts beat in sync with one another.
Amun studied my expression for a long moment and exhaled. “You really are okay.”
It was a statement, but I nodded anyway.
“Well…” I hesitated, feeling flushed. “Mostly okay. Honestly, I’m really turned on now. Tying me to the bed may keep me here, but it’s also really hot.”
“Fuck,” he snarled, his eyes darkening. “I can scent how turned on you are—”
“You should fix it,” I said in a teasing voice. It was the final permission he needed—he surged forward and sealed his lips to mine.
The kiss was deep and intense, and the fabric binds tightened further around me, pulling open my thighs so he could wedge himself between my legs. His hard length pressed right against my needy center, and I was glad that someone had changed me into an oversized shirt so that my panties were the only thing separating the two of us.
Well, that and his clothes, which I currently hated.
“I want nothing more than that,” he growled softly.
