Page 63 of The Sorcerer of Shadowholde

“I am so sorry,” he muttered, his voice breathless and his eyes wide. “I think I’ve been building that up for so long that I got a bit overeager.”

She barked a laugh. “Ver, don’t be sorry. I enjoyed it, truly.”

The flames of arousal still flickered through her, though her breath was returning to normal. Not quite the ending she was looking for, but it was worth it for the way he gazed down at her with pure rapture.

When she moved to sit up, he shook his head. “Oh, I’m not done with you, sweet girl.”

With narrowed eyes, she laid back down, and in an instant, he was on her. His hot tongue ran across her entrance, still dripping with his own seed, and the arousal burned ever brighter as he plunged two fingers in, curling them in just the right way to send electric tremors through her body.

She let out a surprised moan, loud enough for others to hear if any were in the Parcum’s boundaries. Somehow, she enjoyed the idea of someone watching them, of seeing this act of unadulterated adoration. Verian’s tongue caressed her clit as he worked her insides, sage eyes glued to her, scrutinizing every reaction.

Each flick of his tongue and curl of his fingers brought her closer to climax, and she wondered exactly how he’d gotten so good at this.

Already near her peak, Vita came apart around him with a final extended groan, writhing against his fingers and tongue.

“I didn’t think you could be more beautiful until now. Gods, I’ve been wanting to see this for so long,” he murmured as her core tensed and relaxed, enduring aftershocks as his fingers refused to cease.

“Enough,” she finally gasped, overstimulated by the pulsing of pleasure that wouldn’t end.

With a laugh, he removed his fingers, taking his time to lick every drop off of them. She had been aware he was no virgin, but this went beyond her expectations. He knewexactlywhat he was doing as he sucked the sticky wetness off his fingers, his eyes piercing her with an unexpected intensity.

When clean, he grabbed more of the prayer pillows scattered about the temple and made a makeshift bed. He lay beside her and planted a chaste kiss on her lips, the taste of his salty seed still present, mixing with her own sweet musk.

“That is not how I imagined our first time would go,” he said sheepishly, though a smile graced his handsome face as he leaned over her.

“You’ve been imagining it for quite some time, hm?” she asked playfully, eyelids heavy as Verian pulled her close.

“I have. Though the temple to the fertility goddess was not the location I had in mind.” He planted another sweet kiss on her forehead. “You’re still taking your herbs, yes?”

Now it was Vita’s turn to chuckle. “Of course I am.”

Though her activities with men had been greatly diminished in the last couple of years, she took them diligently, the thought of caring for a child more disturbing than anything else she could imagine. Even with a man as considerate and sweet as Verian.

The silent temple hummed with tired energy, its two inhabitants letting their eyes close as sleep called to them.

Dawn approached, the temple filled with the pale blue light of morning. Vita startled awake, her entire body aching from a night spent on the hard floor, birdsong echoing off the marble walls.

Morning.

Panic gripped her as she realized she’d been gone all night. Apparently, she really was free to come and go as she pleased, though the thought of no one looking for her made her stomach clench. She shook Verian awake and helped him with the armor that had been shed the night before.

They said a quick goodbye, complete with an innocent kiss, Verian rushing to his post. A bit awkward, but not uncomfortable, and she smiled as she watched him hurry away. The burbling of the fountain filled her ears as she made her way through the park, still save for a few birds flitting about.

The walk back to the palace was peaceful, Shadowholde still waking from its slumber, though her stomach twisted in knots. Why had Renatus not come for her? Not that she particularly wanted him to find her tangled with Verian. Even so, it was not a pleasant feeling.

To be forgotten.

A servant let her in through the heavy front doors and she made her way quietly to her room. Sleep still called to her, a night spent on a marble floor not conducive to rest.

A rumble of laughter stopped her in her tracks, louder than any she’d ever heard as it echoed through the empty hallway. Who the Hells was that?

Curiosity got the better of her and she followed the noise to a parlor, the cozy hearth burning as two figures sat talking on a couch. Aurora and…

An elven man, his shoulder-length brown hair pulled back so only wisps brushed across his face. Strings of bones dangled from his pointed ears, tanned skin accentuating the warm glow of his tawny eyes. He wore a dark jacket lined with fur and a grin that lit up the room.

“There she is,” Aurora said with a smile, and the man rose and approached.

“Hello there, Vita,” he said, his voice so deep it rumbled through the space.

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