Page 22 of The Seeker

That wasn’t going to happen at the moment, though, as Leif sidled up next to me, running his nose up the column of my neck, his breath tickling my skin. He’d been hesitant to leave me in the last few days, after I was almost kidnapped in the pre-dawn hours, only allowing me space when I had my daily appointments with Friar. For the most part, I hadn’t minded not being alone, especially considering I’d barely been able to sleep.

Until now.

“Leif?” I whispered.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered back before pressing his lips to my neck.

I’d dumped the first dose of the love potion in his chalice of wine that evening, adding the other concoction I’d created into my own glass of cider, both of us sipping as I read. He hadn’t seen me slip the potion into his glass, which was for the better. I told him mine was for pregnancy, and he hadn’t questioned it.

I’d expected it to work—my potions almost always did—but not this fast.

“I miss you, Runa,” he said into my hair as one of his hands gripped my breast through my nightgown, his teeth gently biting my earlobe.

Despite everything that had happened, the actions sent tingles to the area between my legs. As much as I wanted to hate Leif, to run off and never see him again, there was something undeniable between us. A physical attraction and a bond of friendship that refused to be snuffed out no matter the pain he put me through. He was someone I couldn’t seem to let go of.

And he was still my first love.

Even if that love had died the day he’d forced me to bind with him. I’d just been playing along in the days since—it was easier than refusing him.

His kisses trailed downward, his hand reaching down to pull my nightgown up.

My body ached for some attention. Anything so that I would feel less alone. And I knew he needed to believe that I was also feeling the magic, which he assumed came from the book.

How wrong he was.

I felt arousal, yes, but not because of the book.

His fingers found my folds, brushing gently over their surface, pausing only to lift my nightgown over my head.

Out of habit, my hands reached for the buttons on his shirt, undoing them as he moved his lips from my ear to my nipple, the suction causing me to buck into him.

“You like that?” He hissed, and when his gaze met mine, I could see the way his pupils were blown. I pushed his open shirt off his shoulders, leaving his upper half bare.

The love potion was working.

I knew it didn’t create real love, but it was having its intended effect of heightening arousal.

I closed my eyes, nodding, instead of answering vocally. His fingers alternated between pressing on my clit and creating delicious circles, which had me drawing closer to my orgasm. Though I’d slept with Leif several times since arriving in Malheim, it’d been a while.

My body convulsed as I reached my peak, a moan escaping my lips.

“That’s it.” Leif breathed, switching his attention from one nipple to the other. “Think you can come again for me?”

I nodded, my breathing heavy as he moved up my body, his lips kissing my neck a second time. He straddled me, pausing his kissing so he could undo the laces on his pants, his cock springing free.

I closed my eyes again as he shifted his legs and lined himself up, pushing into me with one smooth motion.

He moaned, pausing. “It feels like you were made for me.” He began to thrust, slowly at first, but his pace increased each time he was fully sheathed.

I fought to stay focused, but the potion I had taken in my cider made it difficult, my thoughts becoming muddled.

Leif shifted, sitting back on his knees as he pulled me into his lap, maintaining our connection. He knew what he was doing, knew I loved the friction in this position, and it was all I could do to breathe as his hands gripped my hips and moved me up and down on his shaft. My hands clung to his shoulders, my fingernails digging into his flesh.

“That’s it. That’s my heart.” He breathed as he felt me start to shake, my second orgasm drawing near.

I fell over the edge, lights flashing behind my eyes as Leif continued his motions, finding his release a few moments after mine. Then he held me there, pressed to his chest, as we both caught our breath.

“That book . . . the magic . . .”