Page 186 of The War and Deceit Series omnibus

He seems to understand, and he must agree, because he lowers his head to kiss me again, but his kisses are different this time, more urgent, like the king is going to burst into the tentat any moment and drag me away. My desire reignites as his hands skim my body, and I return his kisses with a fiery passion. I grab the hidden clasp of my wrap dress and undo it, letting the fabric drop as it slowly starts to open around my waist. Grayson watches with interest as I take a step back and finish unwrapping the dress, until I’m left with only the final piece across my breasts.

Grayson’s eyes light up when he realises I’ve not been wearing underwear, and with a swagger I didn’t know he possessed, he prowls towards me, his cock straining against the fabric of his trousers. I gasp as his hands land on me, his fingers light as they work down my back in massage-like movements, relaxing and completely turning me on at the same time. When one of his hands slides over my hip and between my legs, I feel like I’m about to collapse. I tremble in his arms and he smiles into my mouth as he picks me up and gently lays me down on the bedding. When he doesn’t immediately climb on top of me, I look up with a frown and see him watching me with lust-filled eyes.

“Grayson?”

My question spurs him into action as he kneels down and settles himself on the bedding next to me, lying on his side and pulling me close. “You’re so beautiful,” is his only response before kissing me deeply, his hand sliding down the length of my body once more and finding his way to my core. A low moan escapes him as he discovers how wet I am for him. He strokes small circles against my clit, and my pleasure starts to build as his other hand pushes aside the wrappings on my chest, exposing my breasts. Acutely aware of the fact we’re in a tent and the others can easily hear us with their supernatural hearing, I bite down on my lip, trying to hold back the sounds of pleasure that are trying to break free.

Except Grayson seems determined to test my limits. Leaning down, he flicks his tongue out and licks one of my nipples at the same moment he sinks one of his long fingers into my wet heat. A gasp followed by a low groan escapes my lips before I can stop it, then realising what I just did, I throw my hands over my mouth in mortification. My other mates are on the other side… A satisfied male groan responds, along with the unmistakable sound of flesh against flesh, except it’s definitely not Grayson…

Tor’s tent is next to this one, which means… I should be put off knowing he’s listening, that he’s getting off on us being intimate, but for some reason, it only turns me on even more.

I’m not sure if Grayson heard and chose to ignore it or didn’t hear it at all, but when I push the waistband of his trousers down and wrap my hands around his thick cock, he’s soon distracted. Dropping his forehead to mine, he muffles his sounds of pleasure against my lips, his own control being tested as I stroke his length. His thumb makes slow, circling movements around my clit, building up my desire as he leisurely slips another finger inside me. I’m just about to pull away, to beg for mercy and say I can’t take it anymore, that I need him inside me, but he suddenly grabs my wrist and stops my caresses on his cock.

“Clarissa.” His voice is pained, his eyes heavy with pleasure, and he struggles to put the vortex of emotion of what we’re feeling into words.

Smiling, I lean up and press a lingering kiss against his lips. “I know,” I reply, because I’m feeling the exact same way, and honestly, that’s all that needs to be said. Words aren’t what’s needed right now, he can tell me exactly how he feels about me with his body and actions. After all, actions speak louder than words.

Without needing direction, I roll onto my back as he leans up and pushes out of his trousers before settling over me. Something flashes across his face, and for a brief moment, Ithink he’s going to stop and ask if I’m sure, but the look of sexual frustration on my face must stop him. In another situation, it would be funny, but right now, my body feels like it’s about to combust if he doesn’t fuck me soon. Instead, a beautiful smile takes over his face as his eyes take in my flushed skin and rake down my body splayed out before him, like he can’t quite believe he’s not dreaming. Holding himself above me, he positions his cock at my entrance, using some of my own slick to lubricate the head before pressing in. Hissing at the glorious stretch, I feel his eyes flick up to me as he pauses, thinking he hurt me. There’s slight discomfort, but it’s quickly overridden by pleasure as my body adjusts to his size. Rocking my body slightly beneath him like a bitch in heat, I urge him on. I’m beyond words at this point, groaning in bliss when he starts to move again, both of us moaning in unison when he reaches the hilt.

Grayson starts to move, and I swear I black out for a second as pleasure envelops me. Raising my arms, I wrap them around his neck, sliding them down his back as I urge him on, meeting his thrusts with my own. Our lips crash together in a tangle of tongues and teeth, but at some point, our frantic moves turn from fucking into something else. Like a baring of souls, and in the moment, I feel like I can see Grayson for who he truly is and the beauty and goodness of his heart. My orgasm is imminent and has been slowly building, and I know—like Grayson’s love—it’s going to wreck me. Skimming his hand up from my hip, he squeezes my breast before rolling one of my nipples between his fingers, and that’s all it takes to push me over the edge.

I was right, the orgasm takes my breath away, my back bowing as pleasure courses through my body. Grayson follows close behind me as I clamp down on his cock, my heat pulsing around him as he finds his own release. The bond instantly snaps between us, sending another wave of pleasure through me, which I know, thanks to the bond, Grayson feels too. Hecollapses beside me, and we lie in a panting mass of tangled limbs. Wide-eyed, we stare at each other, not needing to say a single word.

I’m overwhelmed and suddenly unable to sort through my emotions. This was such a beautiful evening, and I hate that I’ve ruined it by feeling this way as I feel tears well in my eyes.

“Clarissa,” Grayson murmurs, and as I glance at him, expecting frustration or anger, I only see a gentle smile and open arms. “Come here.”

With a grateful smile, I snuggle against my new mate’s chest. As soon as I’m in his arms, a wave of comfort falls over me and I feel at peace, like all of my worries can wait until the morning. Like I’m safe and protected, like my mate would cross the continent to find me.

“Mother above!” I curse for what must be the hundredth time in the last hour as my feet slide on the shale, my knee stinging where I banged it against the rock I’ve been trying to climb. I brush bits of stone from my hands and rub at my sore palms. A shadow falls over me, and I know who it is before they speak from the small tug in my chest.

“Let me help you.” Vaeril’s low purr rolls over me, and when I glance up, I see he’s holding out his hand for me to take. We’ve exited the forest and entered the foothills of the mountains, but I’ve been struggling getting up some of the steeper parts. Tor assured me that once we’re past this ridge, it gets easier, but I’m not sure I believe him. We’re walking this part, and the horses seem to be finding this much easier than I am.

Reaching out, I take Vaeril’s proffered hand with a smile. “Thank you.” Helping me to my feet, he assists me over the rock I’ve been struggling to climb as Tor makes his way down, onlyjust realising we’ve fallen behind again. He’s completely in his element here, ascending the rocks with ease.

Naril snorts. “He’s your favourite now that the mage has gone, huh?” The muscles in my back go rigid with tension at his snarky comment, and I spin around to face him, my expression dark.

“Naril…” Vaeril warns, watching me warily, obviously feeling my anger through the bond.

“Make one more comment, Naril,” I growl, holding up a single finger just in case he needs help counting, baring my teeth. Today is not a good day to tease or wind me up, especially about Grayson.

When we woke up this morning, the joy of our union and new bond had been overshadowed by the fact he had to leave. Of course, I knew this last night, but it had been bittersweet. The atmosphere when we had both left his tent was awkward at best, but Vaeril had surprised me and made an effort to ease things between us all. Tor kept throwing us looks, winking at Grayson before he left, and the confusion on the mage’s face had made it difficult for me not to laugh. Over breakfast, we filled Grayson in on everything that had happened with the elven queen, my time with the wood elves, and my visions from the Great Mother.

He’s been particularly distressed to learn about my conversation with Prince Rhydian at one of the balls in Arhaven when he told me that when they win the war, they plan to eradicate the magicians, and how the darkness is infecting the land. This just made him more determined to return to the guild to share what he learned with his fellow high mages.

The need to be with my new mate, while not as strong or possessive as with Vaeril, is still making me twitchy. My fae instincts are driving me to be with him, to touch him, to mate him. However, touching Vaeril helps assuage that feeling,making me less irritable, but if Naril keeps winding me up and needling me, I won’t be responsible for my actions.

“I would listen, my friend,” Tor advises as he reaches us, his eyes running over my tense frame. You don’t have to have a sealed bond with me to see the violence in my body language right now.

Making a rude noise, the elf rolls his eyes as he continues to climb, nimbly jumping over the rocks. “I’m not your friend.”

Knowing that the farther we get from the elves, the more Naril worries about his brother, I try to give him some slack. The reason I know is because I’mgetting more and more concerned about Eldrin. Yet Naril made the decision to come with us, to follow me, so his foul mood is becoming too much, and I won’t have him shaming me for connecting with my mates.

“Are you okay?” Tor asks, frowning at my now torn travelling dress as I turn my back on Naril.

“I’m fine, just irritable. I’m sorry.” Between Naril and I, we can’t be making this a very pleasant trip for them, but he just waves me off.

We continue to work our way up the mountainside, the horses just ahead of us, picking their way up as we follow behind. We make small talk, but otherwise just stay silent, lost within our own thoughts.

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