Page 4 of To Save a Kingdom

She sucked on her inner cheek, her thoughts turning back to the pile of work sitting on her desk and the weight of everything waiting for her tomorrow. “I don’t know,” she said. “I’ll try.”

With a frown that clearly indicated he was not satisfied with her answer, he flipped the covers back. Running one hand down her side until it settled at her waist, he nudged her toward the bed. “Go on, get in.” He pitched his voice lower, until it raised goosebumps on her skin and caused warmth to pool low in her stomach. “I can be a very effective sleep aid.”

Shivering at the heat in his words, she crawled onto the down-filled mattress as he pulled the blankets up to her chin.

With a snap, the lamp went dark.

In the blackness, her eyes tracked the sound of his footsteps as he walked to the opposite side. The soft swish of cloth against skin met her ears as the image of him tugging his shirt over his head flooded her thoughts. Two thuds followed as his boots hit the floor then he was on the other side of the bed, pulling the sheets down so he could join her.

His hand found her waist, fingers spreading across her ribcage. His thumb brushed the underside of her breast.

Her breath hitched as pressure unfurled below her navel. Not that she was complaining, but… “I suspect this will not help me fall asleep.”

He chuckled deep in his throat, the sound raising the fine hairs on her arms and causing heat to pool in her core. Shifting his weight, he pressed a series of light kisses down the column of her neck. “Do you trust me?”

She tangled her fingers through the silken strands of his hair. “Always.” It was so hard to concentrate with the council meeting looming over her just like Elessan’s sword had hovered over Malkov’s head during his execution.

Elessan’s hand dropped lower until it settled on her hip, his fingers moving in slow circles that sent flutters of awareness across her skin. Each movement brought him closer to the crease between her thigh and stomach.

Once she had the trade agreement with the dwarves signed, they would depart. The elves would most likely follow in short order, as neither race had a reason to stick around after the contracts were finalized. That would leave her on her own to manage the crowd of human nobles who were circling like a school of the carnivorous fishes from the warmer rivers to the south of the realm. Piranhas.

Elessan palmed her breast, squeezing.

She gasped, his action forcing her attention back to him as his other hand stilled.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” He kissed the junction of her collarbones.

“I’m sorry.” She wiped her hand down her face, grateful for the darkness that hid the betraying flush. “Everything you’re doing feels amazing, I just can’t turn my brain off.”

“Hmmm.” He grabbed her knee, lifting it until he could work his leg between hers, pulling her close. The gentle fingers he ran up and down her arm were now designed to relax rather than arouse. Shifting his weight on the mattress, he settled her in the nook between his chest and arm.

She rested her hand on his sternum, feeling his ribs rise with each breath and luxuriating in his scent and the texture of his torso beneath her cheek.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled. A slight twinge jolted through her gut as she added this to the list of things she should’ve accomplished today but wasn’t able to.

His hand stilled for a heartbeat before resuming its motion. “Shh. It’s okay. I only wish I knew how to help.”

“You are,” she whispered. “Just by being here.” She couldn’t bring herself to voice the question that weighed most heavily. Would he stay with her or leave with the rest of the elves?

Pulling him tight, she burrowed into his warmth, his scent, treasuring the moment. There likely wouldn’t be many more of them.

His face settled near hers, his breath tickling the fine hairs in her ears. “Tell me what’s going through that beautiful head of yours.” He stroked her hair. “Maybe we can come up with a solution.”

Chapter 3

Brooks

The sound of leather boots on stone and the clank of a keyring against a belt buckle had Brooks’ eyes jerking open.

The shift change.

It was time.

Heaving himself to his feet, he stumbled to the cell door. “Hey!” He pounded his fist on the latch. “Hey!”

The guard picked up one of the rocks Brooks had kicked at them earlier and chucked it at him. “Quiet! Use your time to sober up, or I’ll give you something to scream about.”

Brooks guffawed. “You mean like I gave your wife something to scream about last night?” He grabbed his crotch and thrust it toward the imbecile.