Page 77 of The Mirror in the Mountain

She let out a breathy whimper as I reached down to replace my shadows, two fingers teasing her in tight, careful circles. The intoxicating feel of her tightening around every inch of me almost took me over the edge.

“Bash…”

“What do you need, hellion?” I held her hips in place with the shadows that now crisscrossed around her waist. “Use your words.”

“More,” Eva begged, almost senselessly. “More of you. All of?—”

My shadows obeyed her, pushing her back down onto me as I thrust inside her. I could feel that searing need, that hunger I would never get enough of across our bond. The satisfying crest and break as her body shuddered, clenching around me as she came.

Moaning her name, I spilled inside her.

Eva collapsed against me; her chestnut hair strewn across my face as she panted for breath. Gathering her into my arms, I stood up despite her gasped, “Don’t you dare.”

“If I’m fixed enough to fu?—”

Her lips met mine even as she extricated herself from my grasp. She gave me a pointed look at the shadows now bracketing my leg.

“It’ll be fine by morning,” I said with a shrug. “Or at least enough to ride.”

I wish I hadn’t added that afterthought as Eva’s face sobered with thoughts of what the dawn would bring. Forcing a smile on my face, I nodded toward the bathroom. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

When we made it back to bed, I tucked her against my chest, shifting us away from the spot where her blood stained the sheets even though they had been magically cleaned during our brief absence. The memory of that moment had my arms wrapping around her…as though that would do anything to protect her.

Eva’s breathing evened out almost immediately, her exhaustion from the battle and the night’s events all too obvious. But I didn’t dare close my eyes again as I worked to fortifymy mind against the bloodlink. I doubted Aviel had enough of my blood left to repossess me. But I wouldn’t let him catch me unaware again.

Yet sleep eluded me, like to give into it would invite another intrusion…another attack I might not be able to stop this time.

Tightening my arms around myanima, I listened for any change in her breathing—the hint of shallowness, the soft whining before it could turn into the choked screams of a nightmare that was all too real.

Chapter 34

Eva

Ijerked awake in Bash’s arms, his gaze already on me. I hated that I felt relieved to see the swirling blue and green of his eyes, even as the way they had turned ice blue last night flashed in my memory.

Whether he saw the look on my face or felt my recollection across our bond, Bash’s face went bleak. “Eva?—”

I didn’t let him get another word out before I kissed him, swallowing whatever he was about to say. Muffling the apologies for something he had no control over as he tugged me even closer.

Pulling back, I traced the side of his jaw, his stubble scratching against my fingertips. “I hope you know better than to apologize again.”

His face was pale, his eyes dark with the rage that he was just barely keeping in check. Shadows twisted around the edges of him, wrapping around my arms and my wrists in an unusually unchecked claiming. But their soft caress could never feel like the bonds that had caused the white scars they now covered.

Bash blew out a breath. “If he does that again…”

“He won’t,” I said with more confidence than I felt. “We were unprepared and exhausted. And he took advantage.” My mouthspread in a slow smile. “Though is there somewhere you prefer I stab you if thereisa next time?”

He let out a low laugh, those swirling eyes slowing as I felt his amusement break past that wall of self-reproach.

“Speaking of which,” Bash said, wincing as he stood. “I should probably have Marin look at my leg after I shower. And also, you.” His eyes flicked to the bruising on my neck, a shadow crossing his face. “I’m going to kill him slowly.”

“I’ll ask Quinn to take a look if it makes you feel better,” I said softly. “Besides, we should probably fill them in on what happened before we get going.” Stretching, I asked, “Do we need to hurry?”

He shook his head. “We won’t leave until after breakfast, so we have some time to get ready.”

Bash peeled back the sheet covering me, scooping me up in his arms. “I could use some company in the shower though, hellion…just in case.”

He carried me into the shower despite my protests, not setting me down even as he turned on the water, which streamed down like rain falling from the ceiling. Drops clung to his lashes as he kissed me, and we lost ourselves to each other amidst the steam and suds.

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