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Her spine arched, exposing her vulnerable neck, and she screamed. He rode her climax to its end, then reached between them to ignite a second. And when he came with a roar, rapture like he’d never known consumed him. An unparalleled bliss that arrowed straight to the center of his being, changing his molecular makeup without a shift.
He wasn’t a puzzle with missing pieces anymore. He’d been completed, and the future had never been brighter.
32
Hand in hand, Neeka and a shirtless Rathbone exited the bedroom. After hours of incredible lovemaking and whispered pillow talk, her heart was as full as her agenda. Nothing had happened with Lore—yet—so they might as well check on Maximus and confront Daisy while they had the chance.
The orb-making harpy had betrayed them from the beginning. A taste of Neeka’s own medicine, yes. But. If you didn’t work with them, you worked against them, and Rathbone had very strict rules about how to repay those who sought their doom. As the new Queen of Agonies, she must fully support her man in his endeavors.
“After this, you wanna spend the next two days in bed? I’ve decided to write a book, but I need to do some research first,” she said.
He brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed. “Is this book a romance?”
“No sir. It’s nonfiction. I’m calling itThe Cuddle Sutra.”
“I will do this,” he said with a nod, “but in return you will marathon my soaps and discuss the plots with me. In detail.”
“Fine. But I expect a meal before, during, and after intermission.” Smiling, she rested her head on his shoulder for a moment. “Let me handle Daisy, okay? Not to hurt your feelings or anything, but you aren’t the greatest when it comes to dealing with enemy harpies. We can be a wee bit...quirky.” Not to mention the fact that her instinct hadn’t changed. Deep down, a part of Neeka believed she and Daisy were still meant to be good friends. Since Neeka couldn’t be friends with a traitor to harpykind, Daisy must be on the up and up. Somehow.
Did that mean her actions would go unpunished? Not even a little.
He arched a brow at “wee bit.” “I think I deal with you just fine.”
“Yes, but that’s because I’m oblivious to your flaws, since you’re my consort and all.”
“I have no flaws.”
“No more than five. Ten. Probably closer to fifteen.” She beamed a toothy grin at him. “I find your ego charming.”
“Before the end of the day, I will hear everything you find charming about me.”
“I’ll need at least a week.”
He squeezed her hand and kissed her forehead. Neeka grinned wider. Oh, how she loved her life.
They discovered both of their targets in a sitting room. Daisy lounged in a velvet settee, reading a book in her underwear and tube socks, with empty snack cartons piled around her. An orange corn chip hung from the ends of her hair.
Maximus sat across from her, staring hard. His clawed hands white-knuckled his knees. “I must have you,” he blurted out.
Daisy belched in her hand and flipped a page without glancing up. “No.”
“I’ll give you jewels.”
“Dude,” the harpy replied. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”
Neeka released Rathbone to palm two daggers. “How dare you tell my stepson the truth, you lying liar!”
The boy tore his attention from the harpy, flashed to his feet facing Neeka and Rathbone, and growled. Actually growled, baring his teeth and everything. “We’re busy, and you’re interrupting,” he snapped. He waved them off. “Go.”
“That isn’t how you speak to your par—elders,” Rathbone snapped back.
Daisy flipped another page in her book. “Put the weapons away. You’re not going to kill or imprison me. I’ve glimpsed my future, remember. Besides, you realize I did what I had to do for reasons. Also, you vowed to protect me while I’m living with you.”
“Our vow was conditional,” Neeka retorted. “You got a place to stay and in exchange, Rathbone controlled the orb. And FYI. I would never kill or imprison another harpy. I’m only going to rip out your guts and fly them like a flag while I sing about being a champion.”
“I will pay my future wife’s debts,” Maximus proclaimed, holding his head high.
Rathbone scrubbed a hand over his face.
