Page 74 of Kingdom of Faewood

But every time my eyes fluttered open, it was only to me alone on the mattress with that aching desire pounding through me.

The only other sound in the room was Jax’s breathing.Sometimes it was steady and deep. Other times it was so quiet that I couldn’t help but wonder if he was awake too.

Yet, I was too afraid to call out to him, too embarrassed to reveal just how inexperienced I was.

So I turned on my side and gazed out the window, my body humming with awareness for the male across the room who had entirely turned my realm upside down.

By the time morning came,even though I’d only had a few hours of restful sleep, I didn’t feel tired. I felt alive, and,Goddess,did I need release.

I wasn’t new to such an experience. I’d pleasured myself in the privacy of my chambers many times over the seasons—since it was all I’d ever been allowed to do. But despite that, it’d still never fully quenched the lust in me. But it would have to do. The last thing I wanted was to beg the Dark Raider to finally rid me of my unwanted virginity.

Goddess, talk about mortifying.

Sighing, I opened my eyes to find that Jax was already awake, and?—

I gulped.

He was watching me.

The Dark Raider lay on his side, his half-hooded eyes locked on me. Mussed hair covered his head, and the blanketwas bunched around his toned waist. In the early morning daylight, his chest looked smooth despite the myriad of scars.

Eyes widening, my attention drifted to his head. His scarf had fallen off sometime in the night, and I greedily soaked up his appearance.

As if only becoming aware of that, Jax’s hand flew to the bandana lying on the floor.

“Fuck,” he whispered beneath his breath.

Unfortunately, his mask was still in place, so only his eyes were visible, but his hair was just as black as I knew it would be. He wore it short, yet his locks had a slight wave to them. Several strands curled around his forehead, but before I could look more, he secured his bandana and then stood.

“I should go.” His aura pounded from him, filling the room in a heavy magical cloud. He held his pillow over his groin, even though he was dressed from the waist down. Also strange, he seemed to be breathing through his mouth, given the puffs coming from his mask.

“Okay,” I managed to reply, but I couldn’t stoplooking.

Morning sunlight dipped over his broad chest. It was much easier to see him in this light. He only wore pants, his upper body bare, andstars and galaxy.The male was entirely carved of sculpted flesh and defined muscle. Sinewy forearms gripped the pillow he held over himself, and his biceps and shoulders flexed involuntarily.

“I’ll, uh, give you some privacy so you can get dressed.” He strode across the room before I could blink, pillow still inplace. It was only when he was out of the room, with the door locked behind him, that I finally breathed again.

A pulse pounded in my most intimate area, and when I glanced down, my jaw dropped.

Jax’s shirt was hanging off one of my shoulders. It was so low that one of my breasts was nearly exposed, and from the feel of my hair, it was the epitome of bedhead. On top of that, after all of the indecent dreams I had during the night, my bodyachedfor a male.

I could only imagine what I’d just looked like.

Elowen, what in all the realms?

Inside, my prickly conscience admonished me, but the need in my belly grew too great, and my growing attraction to Jax wasn’t helping.

I lay back on the bed and let my fingers wander south. The second I touched myself, my body arched.

I knew it was insane, that my actions bordered on crazy. I was fantasizing about the Dark Raider and what it would feel like to have his hard length slide inside me.

The thought of him pounding me, claiming me, owning me...

Stars, I wanted to know what that would feel like.

I came almost instantly and had to turn my head into the pillow to muffle my cry. But a part of me still felt unsated. A part of me stillburned.

But I wasn’t about to humiliate myself by asking Jax if he’d mind tending to my salacious needs while I was his captive. I’dseen enough to know that Jax might have respect for me, and he might strive to provide protection to all females, but that didn’t mean he desired me.

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