Page 23 of Keeping Sarah

“There you go,” he murmured huskily. “That’s what you need. What you want. You deserve this.”

“Go away,” I hissed, annoyed that he was coaxing me a little too much. “Can’t do this with you here.”

“Then let me out.”

That wasn’t going to happen. “No. Just…go away.”

“As you wish.”

Everything went silent and still, and I paused for a moment. “Rex?”

No answer.

I took a deep breath and went back to it, my fingers stroking my clit and my mind conjuring up decadent, erotic memories. Jac’s cock in my mouth, Deacon’s in my pussy, filled beyond what I had ever thought of in my life. The way my body ached around theirs, that pulse, their pulse. Deacon’s hands on my hips, forcing me up and down his shaft. Jac’s grip on my skull, taking my mouth for a ride. Like I was the home of their pleasure. Hearing them erupt in my mind brought me over the edge, emptiness throbbing deep inside of me. Unending, a circle of orgasms linked like a chain. I didn’t want to stop—I couldn’t. It was almost as good as the real thing.

Until I slipped below the water.

I came up with a startled gasp, spat out bath water, and laughed at myself for such an indulgent thing.

“Feeling better?” Rex’s voice was slick with lust.

I wasn’t sure if he had watched me. I wasn’t sure that it mattered, either.

CHAPTER 8

Jacaranda

AsSovereignapproached the massive gates of Faithless, I braced myself. The gates were taller than any building in Orhon and certainly taller than anything on Halla. They were pulled by skenthas, lumbering beasts with nasty tempers and a taste for Ladrian meat. A line of guards, both living and ghost, stood flanked by two groupings of skenthas. But the scattered crowd of visitors and merchants from our first visit were absent. Only a few wanderers in a short queue.

With every fiber of my being, I wanted to fly over the gates and go straight to Rex’s manor, where he undoubtedly held Sarah against her will. My body tensed, waiting for the guard to do more than gawk atSovereign’slights.

“Stick to the plan,” Omen murmured, reminding me to be patient.

“I’m not going to attack,” I muttered, not feeling amenable at all. “Not yet.”

Arms crossed in front of her, she glanced at me. “If you do, you know who the first casualty will be.”

My jaw clenched. “Which is why I haven’t attacked, Omen.”

She seemed satisfied by the answer.

A guard used his gauntlet driver to project his voice. “Turn your lights down, park, and turn your engine off.”

I followed his orders and watched relief remove the lines from the guards’ faces.Sovereignhad outer speakers, so I said, “I need an immediate audience with Rex Terian. Tell him Jacaranda Cozz is here to see him.”

The guard snarled, “We are not your errand boys, Cozz.”

But then someone behind him got his attention. We heard only blips through his gauntlet driver. “It’s the middle of the night…you’re kidding…who the hell…pfft, whatever.”

Then he stood in front of the line of guards again. “Helios has heard your plea. He will join you momentarily.”

“Thank you.” I turned off the speaker, unable to contain my irritation. “Not that jackass again.”

“Self-important boob,” Omen grumbled beneath her breath. “But if that’s what gets us where we need to be, then so be it.”

Helios emerged from the guard tower area and headed toward my ship. I didn’t want him aboard, but he went directly to my passenger door and waited.

"Fuck.” I pressed the entrance button to open it.

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