Page 71 of The Other Side of the Mirror

“That’s it,” Bash murmured, his voice liquid heat. His fingers curled on a spot inside me that made my thighs quake. “Come for me, hellion.”

Then his tongue pressed down hard on my clit, and I came apart.

I cried out his name as release barreled down my spine, and Bash let out a muffled groan. His mouth still moved on me; one orgasm turning into another as my eyes rolled back in my head. The pleasure of it was so intense I lost track of how long I was trembling, floating, until the quivering subsided.

Sinking into the bed, I let out a contented sigh, my body boneless.

When I finally opened my eyes, Bash had slid his slick fingers into his mouth, sucking my release off them, his eyes vaguely predatory.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” he said, the words a promise that made my heart tremble.

I lunged forward, yanking his mouth to mine, the kiss sweet, yet sinful with the taste of me still on his tongue. Bash was the one who finally broke it, laying us back down on the bed. Pulling me against him, my back against his chest, as he cradled me in his arms.

“Sleep now,” he murmured into my hair, tucking me into his body.

There was absolutely no way that was happening.I could feel his arousal pressing against my ass but when I moved my hand toward it, he tucked my hand into his, capturing it against my stomach.

“Let me do this for you,” I said, echoing the words he had said when his face was inches from my thighs. I ground against his hard length, driving in the words. He groaned roughly but shook his head.

“I appreciate the sense of reciprocity, but I’ll save that particular offer for when you don’t look like you’ll pass out halfway through.”

I made an indignant squawk, but Bash kissed the back of my neck, nuzzling into me. “There’s so much more I want to do with you. To you…another time,” he said firmly as I tried sidling back against him. “When you’re healed, and I can take youexactlyhow I want to.”

I whimpered at the silken heat in his voice, already wanting more. But his tone left no room for argument. And I realized that I was indeed exhausted from fighting, from running, and yes, from the mind-altering orgasm still dampening my thighs.

Bash pulled me tightly against his solid chest, curving around me protectively. Those warm arms felt like home, and I let out a soft hum as his hand stroked down my side. His fingertips looped around my stomach in tight circles; I was fairly certain he was writing my name. As he caressed the curve of my hip in leisurely strokes, I relaxed into him with a sigh.

His mouth softly brushed the nape of my neck as the world started to fade away, those fingers steadily soothing me to sleep. There was only the brush of his lips against my skin as he whispered, so quietly he might have been speaking to himself, “Imissedyou, Eva.”

Before my next breath, I drifted off in his arms.

Chapter30

Eva

Awarm breath brushed my cheek, and my body locked up. Aviel was lying on the bed next to me, his arms tightening around me?—

I screamed before I even opened my eyes.

“Eva!”

My eyes flew open. The room was lit in the early glow of morning. Only it was Bash who was next to me, his large body still wrapped around me. He leaned over me, taking my face in between his hands.

He had stayed with me all night, just as he promised.

“You’re safe,” he whispered placatingly. “And he willnevertouch you again.”

My heart still thundered in my chest as I looked down, embarrassed at waking him so aggressively. His pointer finger caught my chin, bringing me back to eye level.

“You’re safe with me,” Bash repeated. “I’m here. And I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“I know,” I whispered, and I meant it. Because even the first time he told me those words—when I had woken up in a different realm—I had believed him.

Too alert now to go back to sleep, I extracted myself from his arms, shrugging on my discarded robe before seeing to my needs in the bathroom. When I returned, Bash sat on the edge of the bed, fully dressed. His elbows rested on his knees; his fingers linked behind his bowed head.

Hearing my hesitant step toward him, Bash lifted his head. And I was suddenly breathless to find his stare no less intense than it had been last night when he was between my thighs. Then, his gaze softened, and I swallowed hard as everything we did flooded back; my nakedness under the robe only too obvious with him fully clothed.

“I didn’t want you to be alone when you woke up,” Bash said, his voice thick with self-recrimination. “But I should have realized?—”

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