Page 85 of Court of Secrets and Flames

My control spirals as I lose myself in him. Deep within me, pleasure builds. I rake my nails down Sterling’s back. He splays a hand over the soft flesh of my hips, squeezing hard.

A crescendo rolls through us both until it breaks. With a snap, Sterling’s wings come out, beating the air around us. The silky feathers caress my body, covering me in their soft expanse.

I come undone with a soft moan. “Knox.”

His only answer is a guttural noise as his teeth sink into the flesh where my shoulder meets my neck. Shaking, overwhelmed, I hold him tight as we crest together.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

For seconds, or maybe minutes, I sprawl out on the soft earth, Knox’s weight a welcome blanket. We lie there entwined, panting, hearts drumming a wild beat.

“Look at us.” Knox spirits his wings away and rolls off me, propping himself on his side. “We’re filthy.”

“I like getting dirty with you.”

He drops a kiss on my forehead, then the tip of my nose. “Keep saying things like that, and we’ll go for round two.”

“Mmm.” I shift around to face him and notice for the first time how cold the ground is from the water soaked into it. “A tempting offer.”

Despite being covered in mud, I don’t want to get up. I want to revel in this feeling of utter abandonment and freedom.

No ridiculous dresses. No dinners or walks with the king. No guards lurking around every corner. No one watching my every move.

“I bet the shallows are plenty warm. We could get cleaned up in the surf.”

And I can heat the water. “Okay. If we must.” I lift one hand. “Help me up?”

“Always.” He takes my hand and pulls me to my feet.

With his trousers still around his ankles, hobbling him, the movement isn’t the least bit graceful.

As soon as I’m upright, I press my hand against his chest. “Tag. You’re it.”

I free my hand and race for the water, laughing at him over my shoulder.

“Such a conniving little cheater.” Mock indignation blooms over his face, and he struggles to kick his feet free of his clothes.

The waves slither in to meet me, and I chase them back out to the depths. Once the water is up to my knees, I can hear him splashing behind me, catching up. Knowing I can’t outrun him, I dive into the cool water. Using his tactic from earlier, I glide out of his reach.

But not far enough.

Strong arms wrap around me and drag me from the sea. Water streaming down my face from my soaked hair, I shake my head. He yelps as droplets splatter his chest but doesn’t let go.

He pulls me against him, then lowers me. The water here is only waist deep.

“Oh no.” He wags a finger at me. “You’re not getting away until you’re nice and clean again.” His wings come out and curl around us.

“Oh.” I coast a hand down his slick chest. “Are you going to bathe me?”

“It would be my pleasure, Duchess.” He dips his hands into the sea and brings them to my shoulders, rinsing the mud from my skin.

His touch is tender, but fire smolders in his gaze. One handful at a time, he removes all the grime from my body, even the streak he left in my hair. His fingertips work over my scalp, turning my muscles languid.

“You’re up.” I call gentle fire to my palms, heating the water as I return the favor. My hands roam over his chest and neck, tracing the lines of muscle and bone.

For a moment, we’re simply two souls unburdened by crowns or conflicts, washed clean by salt and water. As soon as I’ve cleaned his wings, he disperses them, causing the water to splash as they disappear. I lean into him, my body melting into his as I reach for the back of his neck and hair.

The movement elicits a deep groan from him.

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