Page 104 of Tempting Fate

He clamped a hand over my hip. “Is it wrong I want to clean you up with my mouth?”

Fuck. “Not wrong, but also not now.” Another orgasm might kill me.

Reluctantly, I shifted off the bed and waddled to the bathroom with a towel.

As soon as the door closed, I let out a long breath. That was up there in my top three sexual experiences—the other two also being with the increasingly irresistible guy in the next room. I stared at my reflection in the static mirror. What was I doing?

“Get your head on straight.” My whisper fogged the glass, hiding my well-fucked reflection. It would be far too easy to go back in there, to curl up in his arms and forget everything else.

I wished I could, but I couldn’t. It was years ago now, but I’d never forget the months of feeling like my soul had been ripped from my chest. The slow crawl of trying to find myself again as my heart mended piece by piece in tiny, scarred fragments. The reason I’d promised never again.

I desperately wanted Airida to be worth taking the risk. But the more my stomach backflipped every time he smiled at me, the more trouble I was going to be in when the other shoe dropped.

No. We shouldn’t do this again.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Mistress Suzahi's Fancy

Imani

AT LEAST ONCE a day, the realisation would hit me out of nowhere, stopping me in my tracks: I’m having sex with Airida. It filled me with wonder and trepidation—not to mention an incredible dick and more feelings than I’d signed up for.

Except I couldn’t think of those, not when the situation in the village got more dire day by day. For the third night in a row, I woke yet again to the sounds of angry voices and the jarring crackle of the village deflector shields. Though I never stayed the night with him, I knew Airida would be awake too. Every day he told me how guilty he felt, like it was all his fault.

Fenn’s low voice cut through the commotion outside. “Are you okay?”

“Not really.” The village was well defended, but it was still under attack. “I’m going out there.”

“What?!”

“It’s safe enough. I need to see what’s happening.” Airida wanted to see it for himself, but of course he couldn’t take the risk.

They kicked off their covers with an exaggerated groan and crawled out of their nest. “Fine. Come on.”

Let’s do this. I threw my jacket on over my nightie and opened the door.

Fenn’s gaze locked on the sight above us. “Woah. I didn’t realise it could do that.”

Unlike daytime, the blue forcefield was clearly visible against the night sky, as were the lines of energy converging to the central mast.

“Just as well.” I pointed towards the main gate, where the forcefield fractured in jagged lightning, spiderwebbing out like glass under a hammer. “I want to get closer.”

Fenn grabbed my hand. “Are you sure? You’re not going to…”

Get flashbacks of the riot? No, this was different. Curiosity won out, and I tugged them forwards. “I’ll be fine. Come on.”

We padded across a grassy expanse between buildings. The forcefield was a marvel, and if the circumstances had been anything else, it would have been beautiful. As it was, all I felt was fear of what it could mean for Airida, worry for how he must be feeling.

We weren’t the only ones curious; a group of villagers stood back from the walls, conversing in low tones.

Bekatal turned as we approached. “What are you doing here?”

“Same as you, by the looks of things,” I said. “What’s happening?”

“The shadow stalker is trying to gain entry. She’s in smoke form, but she can’t penetrate the barrier.”

“She? You know who it is?”