Page 83 of A Simple Truth

Now take it back, my mind screamed.Take it back and take her right now. “I can’t do this...”Yes, yes you could, and you’d make sure she would enjoy every second of it.I attempted to shut out my traitorous thoughts, but they swirled in protest. She moaned in frustration, sending shivers down my spine, still dragging my hand to her core.

“Not like this, my love. Not when you are drunk…” My jaw was going to snap. I closed my eyes, fighting the urge to take her right now, to thrust deep within her warmth. As if reading my thoughts, she grabbed my cock, this time tighter, possessively, demanding. My balls jerked at her touch, and I frantically scrambled for the vanishing control as my hips pushed against her hand harder. She smiled wickedly; her eyes sparkled with undeniable want.

Fuck.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

I yanked her hand away from me, holding her wrists tight above her head. “No, not like this.”

I hated myself right now, more than I ever had before, seeing angry frustration cover her face as I rejected her. I landed another kiss, distracting her, until her eyes were back on mine. “When I take you. When I have all of you, I want to know with absolute surety that you’d wake in my bed without a single doubt or regret. And thatyouwant me too. Not just wine-driven sex,but that you wantallof me, because I, my goddess, my queen, my little wildfire, I wantallof you.”

49

GIDEON

“Ummmm, General?” Gia’s concerned voice felt like a bucket of ice, but still not enough to cool me down. I let myself breathe slowly, letting go of Finn’s wrists. I turned to face Gia, though still staying hidden in the shadows, lest she’d see the full extent of my vile thoughts, which were now very apparent thanks to the visible bulge of my pants.

“What is she doing here, Pelagia?” I asked her sternly. Finn sent me a pissed off glare before storming off in her friend’s direction.

“We were drinking, and it turns out she can’t hold her liquor for the life of her. So, she threw up—”

Of course, she did.

“I took her to clean up and was hoping a cold shower would sober her up a bit. She was showering and I had to run to the bathroom, but now I am back to take her to the tent…” Gia grabbed Finn’s hand, scanning her body for anything out of place.

“Donot, for the love of all things holy, let her out of your sight tonight, do you understand?” I commanded. My protective side was heating up, unwilling to send her through the soldier-filledcamp all hot and bothered, looking for release. I trusted my men, but gods, she left even me completely powerless.

In fact, I wasn’t sure if I could do it again; if I could rally the self-control necessary to walk away if she moaned against my ear again, if her hands touched me…and gods, if she came to my tent... “She better not leave that tent tonight. I mean it, Gia,” I repeated, fighting my panting.

“Yes, sir,” Gia obediently replied, trailing off with Finnleah, out of sight.

My thoughts raced at terrible speeds, tripping, crashing into each other. Though the air was still cold, the sun had yet to rise, my skin burned, suffocating me. I reached my tent, plummeting straight onto my bed, not bothering to take off my shoes or clothes.

Sleep it off, then in the morning, burn all the wine.I wouldn’t care if there was mutiny in the camp, but the next time she says my name like that, in that raspy, sultry whisper, there will be zero alcohol in her blood.None.

Hell, I loathed wine from now on. It was my least favorite drink.

I roared in frustration into my pillow, almost tearing it into shreds.

My mind did nothing but torture me as it reminded me of her skin against my lips, of her perfect breasts and that tight ass of hers in my hands, and gods, fucking heaven and hell, her perfectly slick core as she moved my hand across her bare body.

I didn’t dare open my eyes, less the memories stop, but my hand hastily undid my pants, pulling out my pounding cock. I ran my fist up and down, first slow, thinking of her tongue in my mouth, of her hand against mine as she sensually dragged it across her body. Then I moved faster as I thought of how, the next time, I’d touch her. I’d slide my two fingers into her, movingin and out, rubbing her just right, kissing her bare chest then sucking on her perked-up nipples, as I listened to her moan.

I ran my hand against my rock-solid shaft, again and again. As precum leaked, I tightened my grip, moving faster, encompassing the entirety of my hardened cock. My mind spiraled down into the depth of my desires as I thought of pounding straight into her pussy. I thought of how she’d spread her muscled legs wide for me; how tight and dripping wet she’d be for me, how her body would shudder below mine. How her bare breasts would bounce as I plummeted deeper and deeper with each stroke, until there was nothing more for her to take. How would her mouth taste with my cock buried deep inside of her? How tight would her ass feel as I gripped it greedily? I thought of her lusty eyes wandering down my body, watching me fuck her, her face filling up with utmost pleasure. How would she moan as I got her to orgasm?

I went faster and faster…Fuck. I groaned as cum spilled out and release thundered through my body. Though it was a much-needed physical relief, it was filled with nothing but displeasure as I opened my eyes to the bleak reality of my dark, canvas ceiling.

This did nothing but curb the immediate want. I only felt cold emptiness as I glanced at the blank space on my bed, reminiscent of the few moments where she laid there before, safe and asleep. My chest choked with a desperate craving to cuddle her right now, to pull her close to my heart and never let go.

I ran my hand through my hair, letting out a defeated sigh.

I was the Lord of Death, for fucks’ sake; a merciless Destroyer General, yet I was so hopelessly in love.

50

FINNLEAH

Icouldn’t sleep, even if I knocked myself out with one of Priya's sleeping potions. The cold shower did wonders for my wine-clouded mind and body, but I still felt nauseous—though, now for completely different reasons. My heart hadn’t stopped racing ever since that shadow-hidden moment by the wall of the shower house. My skin feeling so tingly and sticky as little beads of sweat rolled down my neck. I pulled the blanket partially off, rotating the pillow to the colder side—as if that was going to help. As if a cold pillow was going to chill my molten blood right now.

I adjusted in my cot once more, unable to find a comfortable position to lay in, like my bed was made from prickling nails and shards of glass.

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