AllFreeNovel
Share Us
After he drifted off in the middle of the second chapter I was reading, I set the book aside and tried to doze off where I’d been sitting on top of the covers. But the lacing of my dress felt too constricting.
He has seen me in my chemise and drawers before—including much shabbier ones than what Casimir has supplied for my noble role here at the college. I decided it didn’t matter if he happened to see me again and wriggled out of the dress.
But then it was chilly in the open air. And he hadn’t stirred from his end of the bed—he’d actually rolled away from me.
I thought it’d be safe enough to tuck myself under the covers at my end. It did help me get to sleep.
Until now.
Julita lets out a faint chuckle.So much for sticking to his side. He’s more interested in sticking toyours.Who would have known Stav is a cuddler when he’s asleep?
I can’t tell whether she’s annoyed as well as amused. I drop my voice to a whisper. “I definitely didn’t. This isn’t what I agreed to.”
Hmm. You did put all those ideas about Signy and her lovers in his head.
She’s definitely teasing me. I guess that’s better than bitterness?
I grimace. “I didn’t mean to say that. And I told him it wasn’t my idea.”
It seems he had ideas of his own.
A lump rises in my throat as I sort through my groggy thoughts. Heisasleep—he’s never shared a bed with me before.
“I doubt this has anything to do with me anyway,” I mumble. “He must be used to sleeping with someone else.”
How many lovers has the exalted general taken in his time? How many stuck around long enough for him to develop any kind of bedroom habits with them?
Those questions shouldn’t stir a twinge of jealousy deep in my gut.
“What should I do?” I murmur to Julita.
I get the impression of her presence shrugging.He made the move. I can’t imagine it’ll be easy to detach him unless you want to rouse him. It might be more fun to let him wake up on his own and become horrifyingly embarrassed, if you don’t find his nearness too distasteful.
I don’t find it distasteful at all. My body is tingling with eager exhilaration.
Which might be a problem in itself.
But I’m too tired to worry about that right now. Why not enjoy the protective warmth, even if it’s not entirely meant for me?
My ghostly passenger isn’t wrong. It will be pretty satisfying to see how Stavros reacts when he realizes he snuggled up to me. I’ll be able to hold it over his head foryears.
The thought gives me a strange sense of contentment. I press my head deeper into the pillow and close my eyes, willing the giddiness of my pulse to slow.
If his body is looking to cuddle, I can at least assume he isn’t having any nightmares. And maybe the show of supposed affection will convince my mind for one night that he isn’t any kind of threat either.
I’m just starting to drift off again when Stavros shifts his position against me. His hand slides down… and dips right between my legs.
Oh!Julita exclaims alongside the spike of arousal that shoots up from my core.
In an instant, my sex is aching, my breath catching in my lungs. A gasp stutters out of me.
And Stavros wakes up.
I feel it in the hitch of his chest and the tensing of his muscles against my body. His words come out in a hasty mumble as he yanks his hand away. “Ivy—I didn’t—Gods—”
He’s started to pull away from me when his frame freezes up even more. A husky note enters his hazy voice. “You’re wet for me.”
I’m pretty sure my drawers are outright drenched from his unconscious groping. The evidence of my arousal must have lingered on his hand.
