Page 52 of Petals for Deadly Power

They weren’t her fingers anymore, they were Ciaran’s.

Hard and smooth against her clit, rubbing against it as he breathed in her neck, her mouth, her breasts. Her second hand—hissecond hand—found her entrance, diving deep with two fingers as she was ready for him. He pumped her gloriously, his metallic hand not ceasing on her clit, not faltering despite her jagged breaths, until she reached the peak, a loud moan filling the room as she found release.

Hope laid in bed, her throat extended as she tried to recover. She didn’t want to open her eyes, to face reality.

But reality knocked firmly on her door.

Hope’s black eyes widened, her pupils readjusting to the sudden light. A girl couldn’t even touch herself in peace in this place.

The second time around, the knock was more insistent.

Hope dragged herself to the door, opening it, ready to reassure Nin—

“Hi, Ciaran,” she gasped, swallowing. She felt a sudden rush of heat on her cheeks, unable to stop it.

Ciaran examined her from top to bottom, apparently lost for words. Hope was suddenly aware of her black, long hair falling loose over her white shirt, her pants still wet, her bare legs, the flush in her bright cheeks, her hands—Cardinals hide her,her hands.

Ciaran leaned on the doorway with his metal arm—the arm that had been masturbating her in her mind a minute ago—holding it as if he was holding on to dear life. His other hand covered his mouth, but Hope could have sworn he was biting his bottom lip and the metal ring in it.

“I—I heard something. I thought you needed help.” His voice was low, his blue eyes glittering with something desperate and raw.

Hope lifted her eyebrows, inhaling sharply. Neededhelp? Ciaran had not the slightest clue how much of hishelpshe needed. And how none of hishelpshe’d ever be allowed.

She bit the side of her mouth to keep from chuckling at his choice of words. “Everything is . . . fine, thanks for checking.”

And with that, and before she could do or say anything she would totally, irreversibly regret, she closed the door.

The sun lowered toward the horizon when Ciaran interrupted Nina and Hope.

“May I steal your time?” he asked. His face was unreadable.

Hope straightened in her seat, clearing her throat. He hadn’t specified whose time he wanted, but she knew. “Sure.”

He led her towards corridors she hadn’t seen before, and then they were going up. With each set of stairs, the dim light coming from the navia faded more. Light—that unnecessary thing in the eyes of a courtrade, in the eyes of their god.

She opened her hand, summoning Cardinal-red sparks that waited on her palm for direction. Hope looked up, the sparks illuminating her face from underneath. Ciaran was two steps above her, his eyes sparkling, his biological hand extended towards her.

An offer.

Hope took his hand, his cold touch sending goosebumps up her shoulder and down her spine. His eyes met hers, the tension in the air sharper than any dagger in her belt.

She could ask where they were going to confirm her guess. She could ask if there was much longer, or what they’d do there. She could have asked, but she didn’t, because she didn’t care.

She didn’t care about anything other than his touch and the familiar night and pine scent guiding her to the darkness upstairs, her red sparks forgotten, unneeded.

“We’re here,” Ciaran warned her before he halted, right when she’d have slammed against him. His fingers didn’t let go of hers. “You’re not afraid of heights.”

It wasn’t a question. “I’m not.”

There were few things she was scared about, and the man in front of her was the worst of all.

“Close your eyes.” His voice was low, and it touched something deep inside her. “Or let me close them for you.”

Hope’s heart thundered inside her ribcage. “Do it.” Her voice was a whisper and a beg.

She didn’t see anything amongst the dark, but she felt a thin veil of Ciaran’s shadows cover her eyes. A mask of darkness and night.

There was the sound of a door she didn’t see opening, and then his strong hands were on her hips. He lifted her into the air, her hands gripping his shoulders tightly.

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