Page 122 of The Sinner's Bargain

I saw the flash of heat and irritation a split second before her hands were tangled in my hair, dragging my head back.

“You take Cyrus.” She kissed me when I started to speak. “Give me someone else if it means that much to you.” Her palm clamped over my mouth when I opened it to protest. “That’s my compromise, Thoran. I need to know you’re going to come home when you go out.”

I drew in a breath. “I’ll think about it.”

She skimmed her lips over mine. “And no punishing him. No!” she said when I growled in my throat. “Promise me.”

I glowered up into her beautiful face. “What do I get in return?”

She blinked. “What do you want?”

My grin was slow and sharp. “Are you still sore?”

Her cheeks darkened, but she shook her head.

“I want you naked on my bed, legs open.”

“What are you going to do with me?”

“I’m going to fuck you, Blue. I’m going to sink my cock deep inside your little cunt while I finger your ass.”

Her eyes widened and she burst out laughing. “Thoran!”

I smirked. “We can start now. I bought a months’ worth of condoms. I can fuck you from behind against the books. My hands in your hair. The other playing with your clit.”

She moaned and her fingers tightened just enough to send shivers along my spine. “That’s not fair.”

I chuckled. “Never said I was going to be.” Carefully, I helped her to her feet and rose with the first aid kit in hand. With my free hand, I brushed back a lock of hair off her cheek. “Are you hungry? Do you want to go home or see the rest of the village?”

“Home,” she whispered, stepping into my chest. “I feel exhausted.”

I kissed her brow gently. “Home it is.”

I left the kit on the table for Ivelle to find in the morning and reached for Blue. I didn’t take her hand as we left the shop. I slipped my arm around her waist and kept her against my side. She made no protest as she lay her head on my shoulder for most of the walk.

“Did you say a month’s worth?” Blue tilted her head back to squint up at me.

I laughed at the wide eyed stare. “I wanted to make sure we didn’t run out tonight.”

We reached the gate leading to the manor.

“Why do you lock the gate?” she asked as Cyrus unearthed his keys and undid the bolt.

“The property between here and the house are wild. The wall around the village and the house is to keep out wolves and bears. And it keeps people from finding their way to the house. It’s just protection all around.”

Blue made a small sound of understanding as Cyrus held the door open and led us through. The lock was placed on the inside and snapped closed.

“Is this the only way to the village?”

I shook my head. “There’s a main road, but the village is right against the woods so there would be a lot of wildlife just walking down the street. People were getting attacked. So, my grandfather built the wall. Animals still wander in from time to time, but less.”

We walked on in silence for several steps. The woods hummed a surreal vibration that was both heavy and weightless. It had begun to rain lightly. A soft drizzle that dampened our clothes and hair. But Blue didn’t quicken her strides or complain.

“Thoran?”

“Hm?”

She was quiet for a long moment before she tipped her head back on my shoulder to peer up at me.

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