Page 301 of Blade of the Nightking

The pressure wound inside me, excruciating and delicious all at once, pleasure building and building until I balanced on the very edge of it. My moans and cries scarcely sounded like my own. My fingers tangled in my hair before bunching in the furs beneath me, white-knuckled, as everything inside me drew tight.

“Come against my fingers.” His voice was a rough growl. “Come for me, Elowen.”

My name on his lips made me shatter.

Wave after wave of ecstasy crashed through me. Tremors rocked my body, liquid gushing from my core to soak his cock where it still rubbed against me.

He watched as I writhed and spasmed with aftershocks, his eyes sparking as he took hold of himself and stroked the wetness of my release over his length. The sight of it sent a fresh wave of burning through me, a need for him to fill me completely, to feel him unravel inside me. I reached for him, trying to draw his hips back toward mine.

“Please,” I gasped.

“Please what?” His voice dropped to a deep, rough murmur. He gave himself another long, firm stroke. “Tell me.”

“Please, Rìan,” I begged again, my fingers clawing at his thighs, the muscle hard beneath my touch. “We may never get another chance.”

It was the wrong thing to say.

He went utterly still, so suddenly it was as though he'd turned to stone. His throat worked once. Then I watched his face close before my eyes, every trace of warmth vanishing behind an expression as hard and unreadable as granite.

In one fluid motion he rocked back onto his heels and rose, striding to the corner where he'd discarded his breeches. The muscles of his back bunched as he thrust one leg through, then the other, hauling them roughly up over his hips.

I pushed myself onto my elbows, confusion sweeping through me.

“Rìan,” I said.

He ignored me, fastening his trousers, dark hair falling into his eyes.

“What is it?”

He dragged his shirt over his head, further tousling his hair.

“Rìan,” I said again, more firmly.

He jammed his foot into one boot.

“Rìan… what’s wrong?”

His throat bobbed. “Tomorrow this ends. The bond breaks. And you’ll return to Aedric’s bed.”

My stomach dropped.

“I told you once before.” His voice was clipped, cold and empty as he shoved his foot into the other boot. “I have no appetite for Aedric’s scraps.” He finally looked at me. “Least of all to fuck them.”

The words were a knife in my chest. He bit his lip, as though he regretted them the instant they left his mouth. Then his shoulders squared. He turned and strode toward the door.

I pushed myself to my feet, heedless of my nakedness, and caught his arm.

“You don’t mean that, you⁠—”

He spun so quickly I barely saw him move. My back struck the wall hard enough to rattle the bones hanging above us. They clattered together, swinging wildly, as he crowded me. His face remained a mask of cold detachment, but his eyes told another story. The pain there was staggering. As though his very soul were being cleaved in two.

“I can’t do this, Eidra. Please.” His voice broke around every word. “I need to find him.”

Dannis.

Gods, I had to tell him. The words rose in my throat, demanding to be spoken. I couldn’t swallow them anymore. Fear burned like acid on my tongue. Whatever this truth cost me, he deserved to know.

“Rìan—”