Page 295 of Sorrow & Strangers

“Stranger?”

“Yes?”

“What is it?” I can practically hear his brain churning.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I sigh. “It was just recon.”

“And I would have come with you,” he says, cupping my cheek.

“Well, I’m going back tomorrow,” I say, and this time, I will make sure it’s not after curfew.

“I will come with you.”

“Okay. Are you still angry with me?”

“Yes, but it’s slowly dwindling.”

My lips twitch, and I kiss his jaw before sliding off his lap. I pad into my closet, adding a little extra sway to my hips. I leave the door open a little, giving him a peek as I change. Heat warms my core, my body responding as it does every time his eyes are on me, and I’m growing to crave the feeling.

I drop my towel and bend to step into my sleep shorts, wiggling my ass as I pull them up and over my hips. Turning to face the door, I slip the cropped cami over my head, slowly tugging it down over my breasts.

“Is this a tactic to get me to forgive you faster, little fae?” he asks.

“Is it working?” I ask with a small, flirty smile.

“Yes.”

It’s times like these that I regret making our pact. What I wouldn’t do to suck his cock or even to let him fuck my fist, but I know we need to slow things down for now. I leave the closet and walk back to him, standing between his legs. His hands brush up the backs of my thighs.

“Really working to expedite my forgiveness, aren’t we?”

I wrap my arms around his neck, and he cups my ass, squeezing.

Fuck . . . we need to stop this.

“I still think you need to be disciplined,” he growls, kneading the curves filling his hands. I moan at the bittersweet pain of his grip and slide my fingers into his hair.

“Maybe I should put you over my lap and turn your ass red so you remember not to leave the realm without telling me.”

“Stranger . . .” I moan. “We can’t.”

“Why not?” he growls possessively.

“You know why. It won’t end there.”

He groans and presses his face into my stomach in frustration.

“Besides, I want you to feel me too and I can’t. Not until I know who you are.” I need to stand firm on this. I need to hold this boundary not only for myself but also for him.

“Promise me you won’t do it again, princess,” he says, his fingers still digging into my ass.

“Promise,” I moan.

“You’re going to be a good girl for me now, aren’t you?” he says, pulling back to look up at me before nipping at the curve of my breast.

I bite my lip and moan, my core heating for him.