Page 228 of Heat of the Everflame

“It will be.”

“—andifyour body isn’t still weak—”

“It won’t be.” I scowled, and he smiled, taking my face in his hands and pulling me closer. “I’ll be ready, my Queen.”

He kissed me before I could respond, his lips and tongue moving with greedy resolve, and my protests turned fuzzy as the taste of him clouded my focus. Large, firm hands slid down the column of my throat and roamed my chest, kneading my breasts through the thin silk dress I’d thrown on after my bath. Between Luther’s warmth and the heat each touch sent blazing through me, my body felt on fire, the flimsy fabric begging to be peeled away—and Luther’s hands seemed more than happy to oblige.

His mouth dropped to the curve of my neck, and I lost myself in the feel of his skin against mine. Hands found their way beneath clothing—his, mine—and bodies writhed, limbs tangling impatiently.

When my own heady whimper pulled me out of my daze, my legs were wrapped around him, his powerful form blanketing me from above.

“Luther,” I gasped out. “You need rest.”

“I needyou.”

“You need—ah.” My back arched as his mouth moved lower.Muchlower.

“Months,” he murmured, his voice vibrating against my skin. “Months, I have waited. Imagining what you would feel like. What you wouldtastelike.” He nipped at me until I sucked in a breath, then licked the sting away.

My treacherous hands abandoned me to play his game, clawing at his shoulders and weaving into his hair.

“We should stop,” I insisted, unconvincing even to my own ears. “This is bad for your wounds.”

“I beg to differ. The best healer in Emarion once told me skin contact with a loved one has powerful healing effects.” He laid his cheek against my inner thigh and glanced up with a sinful smile. “I’m just getting the most from my medicine.”

I laughed breathily and pulled at the bedsheets, trying feebly to drag myself away. “I have to get out of here,” I teased. “You’re sleeping alone tonight.”

He growled and pinned me with his forearm. “You would abandon your patient in his time of need?”

“Fine,” I said, sighing, and his eyes shone with triumph. “But if you won’t rest tonight, you’re resting tomorrow—”

“Deal.”

“—which means I’m going to Fortos alone.”

He froze. Looked up. Narrowed his eyes. “That’s not happening.”

He crawled forward and propped himself up above me. I held his stare, jaw set, letting him see just how serious I was. As badly as I wanted him, as deeply as I, too, craved that intimacy we’d been chasing for so long, there were things I couldn’t ignore.

A slight paleness in his lips. The faintest shake in his arm when he held up his weight. The flinches he tried to hide when his hips scraped against the sheets.

He was healing—but he was not healed. And until he was, a part of me would remain that scared, devastated woman who had believed she was kissing him goodbye for the final time.

I reached up to brush his cheek, my voice turning small as my throat pulled tight. “I almost lost you. If your body relapses...”

He kissed the inside of my wrist and sank to the bed at my side. “It won’t. I’ll rest.” He took my hand and placed it againsthis heart, somehow knowing its strong beat would soothe me. “But only if you stay. I’ll get no sleep without you at my side.”

I gave him a skeptical look. “And you’ll behave?”

He smiled. “I’ll behave. If you can’t enjoy yourself freely tonight, neither can I.”

“Soon.” I leaned up to kiss his cheek, then nipped softly at his ear. “Very,verysoon.”

He let out a throaty rumble.

Begrudgingly, I pulled myself out of his arms and dragged myself to my feet. “Get comfortable while I change for bed.”

I padded across the room and stoked the fire, adding a touch of Ignios flame to keep it burning throughout the night, then snuck out to the balcony. Sorae sleepily raised her head in greeting.

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