Page 110 of The Duke and the Disciple

He’d been expecting her to make some bold suggestion, when all she really needed was intimacy. And Rahn realized, as he moved with her—as they broke the most important rule they’d ever made—that he’d been craving that very thing his entire life.

“Aesylt.”

She watched him through languid blinks. “Yes?”

He kissed her and spread his hands along her face, sighing. “I wish you could see yourself as I do.”

She came again, squeezing him, and the effect was dizzying. He pulled out, but she locked her legs behind him and shook her head.

Rahn threw his head back with a cry. He bowed over her, riding it out and slowing as he finished.

Breathless, he pulled out and settled beside her on the thick pile of dresses. The reality hit him immediately, what they’d done, but instead of regret, he felt relief. Peace.

“Am I breaking some rule when I say I prefer it this way?” she asked.

He glanced over and saw her dress still hiked up, her legs spread, and his cum spilling onto the gown she lay on. The need to take her again was all-consuming. To be inside of her, moving together as one... their pasts forgotten, their futures secure. “We’ve broken every other rule,” he said, his voice cracked. “Why not this one?”

“Do you regret it?”

I should.“No.”

“Does this change anything between us?”

I don’t know.“Of course not.” He rolled onto his side, facing her. “Do you feel better?”

She gave a drowsy nod. “I could sleep for days.”

And I could hold you for days.“I need you to believe the words. You did what you had to, and your people are better for it. They know what you did for them.”

“I don’t know if I can ever believe them, but...” She exhaled slowly. “You’re the first person I’ve ever told anything about that night. I expected it to feel so much worse, but I feel lighter.”

“You do?”

“A little.” She turned to face him. “And you? After what we did, how do you feel?”

Rahn swallowed and looked up at the dark ceiling. “Ishouldfeel remorse. I should wonder whether I’ve lost my mind.”

“But you don’t?”

“No.” He rolled his head toward her again. “I don’t. Not even slightly.”

“And if I kissed you right now... if I crawled over you and said I wanted more?” Aesylt blinked away the last of her tears.

He twined a hand through one of hers. “Ask me, and I’ll give you anything you want.”

“Do you want to know what Pieter said to me tonight?”

“Pieter?” Rahn startled at the sudden shift in topic. “When you were dancing?”

“Mhm.”

“All right,” he said, growing nervous.

Aesylt told him.

He was genuinely speechless.

“He claims to want to help. I don’t know if I trust that, but... I don’t believe he’s wrong either. About the Reliquary. What if therewassomething we could do to elevate our research, to remove all doubt that we can handle even the most provocative subjects with the utmost professionalism?”

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