Page 94 of Fortune's Blade

“Oh, yeah,” he said. And then, “Oh, yeah!”

And the next thing I knew, we were back on our feet, or rather, Ray was, supporting me as I twined my legs around his body, my back to the wall, and a much more enthusiastic partner teaching me a new move.

It felt good, it felt very good! He was girthy, and the feel of his body moving through mine was . . . was . . . I went back to savaging his earlobe again, biting it hard and feeling him jump within me. I laughed again and found other things that made him jump, learned what he liked and what he really liked, and he snarled and picked up the pace, driving into me now and yes, yes, yes!

But it was also a little worrying, as the wall behind us seemed about to give way. I finally managed to notice through the haze of pleasure that we had not hit the wall but rather the door, which the three ogres were still valiantly trying to hold shut since I had forgotten to call them off.

I couldn’t manage it now, couldn’t focus well enough with more fireworks starting to go off in front of my eyes and my breath catching in my throat, and my body shuddering with every movement.

The ogres held somehow, although not entirely. Not enough to keep the door from briefly opening a couple of times, allowing me to see one of them giving us a thumbs up. I wondered what that meant in their culture.

Probably the same as in ours, I thought, right before the fireworks obliterated everything else from my mind.

Ray must have been experiencing the same thing, because he trembled against me for a moment before stilling and groaning and—

“Coming?” I guessed, but he didn’t answer this time. He didn’t do anything but sink to the floor, cradling me against him and murmuring softly in a language I didn’t know.

It was very peaceful suddenly, with my body embracing him and his breath warm on my neck. The terrible hunger was still there, but it was satisfied for the moment. Very satisfied, I thought, giggling.

Ray chuckled back, until he noticed the three pairs of eyes peering in through a crack in the door, and slammed it in their faces. He picked me up, carried me to the bed, and deposited me on it before climbing up alongside. Then he lay there on his back, breathing hard and staring at the ceiling.

After a moment, he raised my hand to his lips and pressed a fervent kiss upon it. “Thank you.”

I thought that it should be me thanking him, but was willing to share the sentiment.

“We do sex well,” I said, and he huffed out a laugh.

“Yeah.” Blue eyes met mine. “Only nobody, and I mean nobody, are gonna be happy about this.”

I let my fingers stroke his chest, because they seemed to like stroking his chest. “Why?”

“I already told you. A daughter of a house like yours is . . . important. Your marriage could ally houses, buy support in the senate, all kinds of things.”

“Or do nothing, if I simply disappear when I step back through a portal,” I reminded him.

“But you might not, and in that case—”

“In that case nothing. Basarab never claimed me. Now I don’t claim it.”

“It might not be that easy.”

“And I am never going back. The question is, are you staying with me?”

I didn’t intend to just come out with it like that, but the emotions flooding my system seemed to be playing havoc with my brain. And once it was said, it couldn’t be unsaid. It hung in the air between us, threatening to turn a wonderful moment sour.

Until Ray turned to face me, and his hand came up and cupped my cheek. “I already told you; I’m not going anywhere.”

“You also said we were only going to be friends.”

He huffed out a laugh and shook his head. “A man can only take so much. And you’d tempt the devil himself.”

“I’m serious.” I searched his eyes. “It’s a big step. I’ll understand if you say no.”

“Yeah, but I won’t. I have nothing back there.”

“Your boys—”

“Are Basarabs now. They’ll be fine. Dory will take care of ‘em, and probably better than I ever did.”

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