“Well, it is now,” I snapped before I could think about my words. I stopped when I saw the briefest flash of hurt cross his face. I didn’t do this—snap at people. Athim. Kalen was my best friend, my constant, my lover. And given what had transpired, learning how his dead wife was alive and working for The Horde, I knew he was going through more than I could ever comprehend. “Fuck, I’m sorry, Kalen.”
He strode across the room, moving a chair closer to where I was seated. “Don’t apologize, Ren. I know this is wearing on you.”
“No.” I shook my head. “What’s wearing on me is not being able to do anything. I yield results, K. Yet day after day, I fail. And I shouldn’t have to rely on others to do their jobs in order to do mine. I don’t blame Queen Ciena, but gods…” I placed my head in my hand. “I’m sick of losing—of coming up short.”
Kalen stretched out his hand, grabbing hold of the glass and moving it to the table. I looked up, meeting his soft eyes as he pulled me from my chair to his. I relaxed into his body, relishing in the warmth of it. He was my comfort in the storm, someone I could count on no matter the circumstances.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, pressing a soft kiss there. His hands tightened around my waist, maneuvering my body until I straddled him.
My relationship with Kalen was easy. Simple. We both wanted and needed the same things without worrying about giving too much of ourselves away. And we knew no matter what happened, if either of us decided we wanted out of our arrangement, it wouldn’t change the friendship we had.
And sex with Kalen was, simply put, the best I had ever had.
He ground his hardening length into my core, his breeches straining beneath his leathers. “It has been quite a while, little vixen. I’ve missed you warming my bed.” Kalen’s breath was warm on my neck and chest as he pressed soft kisses along my collarbone. The ties on my tunic did little to deter him from what he wanted.
I leaned my head back, allowing him better access as I moved my hips. “It looks like I still won’t be warming it, given you’re prepared to take me right here and now.”
Kalen laughed, a sweet melodic sound that sent a shiver down my spine. “Semantics. You know damn well I’ll take you anywhere I please. I can’t resist you begging me to fill you with my cock.”
Gods, I never tired of hearing his filthy words. The enjoyment I experienced as he whispered them in my ear was evident in the wetness pooling between my thighs.
“Mm, and you think I’ll beg tonight?”
He ran the tip of his nose along my jaw. “I know you will. How long has it been, Ren? How long has it been since you have been satisfied?”
I didn’t know, couldn’t even remember. I was no stranger to taking matters into my own hands, and while I loved the power I felt when doing so, it didn’t compare to having someone else make me feel that way. No other person had made it feel as good as Kalen. There were times I caught myself wondering,what if? Even though I quickly dismissed the thoughts as sentimental nonsense, they lingered all the same.
He thrust his hips, causing a moan to slip out of my mouth. “The last time, in Matthew’s office. You and me. That was the last time,” I stammered.
He tsked, his hands moving to cup my ass. “Oh little vixen, that’s too long. You need it more than that, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I gasped, my hands tugging his tunic over his head. His body was amazing. Years of training and battle had caused his chest and abdomen to become hardened and defined. I moved my hands lower, pulling at the laces of his breeches before he stopped me.
“This isn’t about me tonight. It’s about you. Let me make you feel good.”
He picked me up, taking me over to my bed, where he gently laid me down amongst the dozen pillows piled high. I let out a low laugh as he began moving them away, pushing them off to make room for me.
“Stupid, frilly things,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. I smiled at his look of utter frustration and bewilderment. “Seriously, why are there so many? Who needs all of these pillows?”
I swatted his chest. “They are for decoration, you ass! And sometimes, it gets lonely to sleep by yourself, so surrounding yourself with something soft and cuddly does the trick.”
Kalen growled, leaning in to take my lip between his teeth. “You don’t need fucking pillows when you have me. Just say the word, and I’ll distract you.”
Neither of us was capable of giving the other what they truly needed. And ever since he found out Arabella was alive, there’d been a wall up between Kalen and everyone else, myself included. He guarded that wall fiercely, ensuring no one made it over to the other side where his heart lay. But the words he said offered us a twisted sort of comfort in moments such as these, and so I took it and coveted them all the same.
“Then be here for me, K. Show me how good you can make me feel.”
He smirked before tugging my shirt over my head and reaching for the laces of my pants. They were undone in a flash, his fingers flying as he yanked them down my legs, leaving me in only my undergarments. I smiled to myself, thanking the gods I had thought to put something lacy on this morning instead of something practical.
But in a moment, he ripped them down the middle, exposing my flesh to his hungry eyes.
“Hey!” I protested. “Those were pretty and new!”
He locked eyes with me, melting away any frustration I felt as he pushed two fingers inside of me. My head rolled back, hands running to my breasts to touch myself.
He gave me a coy smile as he trailed his lips along my hip bone, toward the sensitive area along my side that he knew made me wanton at the touch. “I’m not a patient man, Ren.” His words flooded my body, but before I could answer him, he had traveled down my body and began pressing kisses to the inside of my thighs. His tongue traced my opening, my back arching as he devoured me.
A knock sounded at the door, which we gladly ignored.
