Page 155 of Bane of the Wild Hunt

“Consume them,” she said softly.

Chapter forty-two

THE SILVER MOOR

Amira

“You are distracted, love,” Riordan teased in amusement without raising his eyes from the tip of his feathered pen as it scratched across the page in front of him.

“Yes, and I take no responsibility for it,” I assured him, trying to keep my attention on writing a proposition for funding my additional initiatives in the Rookery.

But he was all too right. I was distracted…

But who could possibly blame me when my body was still aching so pleasantly from the night and morning we had spent tangled up in one another? Especially when he was right across the desk in his Ergastiri apartment with his shirt sleeves rolled up to expose his corded forearms while he worked. There was a mountain of paper in front of him which he wanted to get through before our trip to meet with the Sylvan the next day.

We had well and thoroughly consummated our union the night before and most of the morning too, but my eyes still kept wandering to the bed. A night and half a day was definitelynot enough, and I found myself wishing that we had time for a propermínas agápis.

Riordan suddenly dropped his pen in the ink vial with atinkthat made me look at him as he reclined in his seat to gaze at me as if he were contemplating.

Now who is distracted?I projected my thoughts to him in the way we had been practicing since the night before when the connection was established. Although this was possibly the first time we had used it for something other than heightening pleasure.

Riordan smiled as if he knew this too, and I felt him open himself more fully to me so I could not only see the intrigue in his eyes but feel it. I could feel his desire for me was every bit as powerful as mine was for him.

We had been exploring this connection, testing it to see what we could do with it, but he was careful to maintain boundaries. At least until I learned how to set limits on his access to my thoughts and emotions. We agreed that he should enforce a semi permanent mental shield. He only lifted it to practice communicating like this and of course for intimacy since having increased access was helpful in pleasuring one another.

Although I trusted my mate with my life, I was still thankful he took my autonomy so seriously. I had nothing to hide, except perhaps trading insults with Orion, but my mind remained my own, and I was entitled to privacy.

But there was no doubt that having this kind of access to him, even limited as it was, made it difficult to harbour any more feelings of inadequacy. Orion had torn all my insecurities wide open after the coronation, and usually, that would have left me debilitated. But being able to feel the way Riordan felt and thought about me…

It made me feel like a goddess.

And if Orion hated himself as much as I was starting to realize he did, then it stood to reason that he felt the same. Which did not excuse his atrocious attitude, but I could understand why he was so defensive and protective of his special bond with Riordan.

I am considering whether I will get more work done if we indulge your fascination with my bed first,my mate explained himself.

I’m sorry. Is my insatiable desire for you inconvenient?I teased him with a wicked smile.

Riordan rose suddenly with that powerful grace that was mesmerizing as he moved around the desk.

“What—” I started to ask aloud, but he picked me up, laughing at me when I squealed in surprise, and hoisted me effortlessly over his shoulder to carry me to the bed. “Riordan!” I shouted just before he slung me down onto the mattress under him, barely giving me a moment to get a breath before he was kissing me. His mouth was hungry and demanding as he worked the ties on my dress. But it was not long before I felt him grow impatient and fist his hands in the delicate material.

“Don’t you dare!” I cried after breaking away from his mouth and grabbing his hands to stop him from ripping my clothes. “I have to walk out of here,” I insisted.

Riordan gave a frustrated growl but resumed kissing and nipping my neck as he continued to work the ties and gradually unwrapped me. He had just exposed my breasts and finally gotten one of them into his mouth when there was a knock at the door.

He didn’t even hesitate in savouring my body.

The door,I managed to project to him with difficulty.

Communicating with him like that was harder when I was so distracted with pleasure. Well… Trying to form words became harder. Pleasure made it much easier to fall into the natural ebband flow of one another’s emotions and instincts. That made sex feel like an act of complete unity where he knew how to move before I had even consciously realized what I needed from him.

It is only Orion. Olirik returned from the Spring Court,Riordan informed me without relinquishing my body.

I didn’t want to react at all, and I certainly would have preferred that the mental shield which Riordan had been enforcing all afternoon wasn’t down at the exact moment that my control lapsed. But I couldn’t help an involuntary pulse of excitement that tore through me at the mention of Orion whilst I was so primed with lust and pleasure.

Riordan hesitated, and I froze in horror, knowing that he had sensed it. But when he raised his head to look down at me, there was only astonishment and then…

He gave me a slow, triumphant smile.

---