Page 135 of Soulgazer

“Take them off.”

My demand takes him by surprise. I feel it in the small jerk of his stomach, or perhaps that’s just a response to me slipping my hands over the ties of his trousers between us. “Are you sure—”

“Yes.”

Whatever control he possessed before snaps, and from there it’sa rush to push the clothing free, to spend as little time apart as he kicks his trousers off the bed until our bodies press without barriers—an array of flesh both soft and smooth, bone pale and sun browned. Even the ever-present glove comes off, leather falling to the floor.

Faolan’s lips find my ear as he draws my leg high around his hips, teaching me the ways bodies can find each other. And I don’t fear the physical pain that will come. Only the emptiness, after. But ithasto be enough.

“Say it again, Saoirse. Tell me what you want.” His forehead drops to mine, eyes midnight dark, and my heart falls completely out of my chest.

“You.” It’s a breath, a promise, a plea. “I wantyou.”

The noise he makes is harsh and sweet as he drops his lips to my throat one last time, then rolls his hips, joining his body with mine.

I gasp his name as pain splits through the heat—but it’s short-lived. Gentle words soothing the ache spoken against my jaw, fingers sweeping distracting circles until it starts to ebb away. From there it’s a dance my body knows on instinct, drawing me deeper with every stroke of his thumb to my pulse, pass of his lips over mine, curl of his fingers in my hair. Soon I’m twisting up to meet him, holding on to him, and he’s losing himself with me until there is nothing of the legend here.

Only the man.

One night. One memory.

One perfectly honest thing between us.

I bury my face against Faolan’s throat when pleasure finds him—and he parts our bodies just seconds before it does. It’s all the sweeter for his protection, his promise kept after all this time. Our ragged breaths and pounding hearts are the only sounds for along, still moment until he rolls onto his side, pressing a kiss to my sweaty curls.

“You’re so fecking beautiful.”

I blink as a wave oflongingseeps from his mouth into my mind—as all-consuming as our pleasure was moments ago. His lips drift to my temple, hand flexing over my chest, and a rush of sweetness and sorrow tangles in my blood.

“Of all the treasures I’ve stolen…All the years I’ve searched…”

Tears prick as I arch closer, afraid to untangle our limbs. Heat radiates off his palm like sunlight, burying golden arrows in my heart. It’s not affection. Not amusement or arousal, either. It’s something—unnameable, yet I must try to name it.

Names mean everything to him.

“Saoirse,nothingcompares to…”

Faolan stops.

Stares at me with confusion that turns swiftly to alarm.

I don’t understand until he peels his palm free of my chest, leaving a glowing, iridescent handprint behind. I flinch as the connection severs between us, our soulstone marks flaring with light before his dulls and mine fades to nothing, taking all my warmth with it.

“I’m fine,” I say, even as Faolan rolls off the bed. If I’d felt empty when our bodies parted, it’s nothing compared to this. “It’s already gone. Come back and we can—”

“I need to check the sails.” He tugs the leather glove on, fingers shaking as he does up the knots. “Mind the crew. Kiara wanted to talk as well.”

“Can’t that wait?”

I hate how pathetic my voice sounds. Hate the way Faolan avoids me as he does up his trousers, then reaches for a shirt. I snatch it away before he can, hugging it to my chest so he has no choice but to look.

Immediately, I wish I hadn’t.

“Saoirse—”

I hand him the shirt, then roll over so I don’t have to see the regret lining his face. For a moment, we’re both still, his shadow a rueful ghost on the wall. One of its arms reaches out, hovering over the lump that must be me. It stops a hairsbreadth above my shoulder.

Then fabric rustles as Faolan dons his shirt and walks toward the door.

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