Page 86 of Fate and Flame
Chapter Twenty-Two
Temir
“This will be your private room while you stay with us at the castle. Breakfast will be served downstairs in the dining hall. If you have need of a staff member, please do seek anyone out. All jobs are shared.”
“Thank you,” Nadra said to the high fae as we stepped into the room. There were no servants here, apparently.
“Do you think Ara’s okay? The king looked devastated.”
“I think if she weren’t, there would be a bigger response from the castle.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” She took several steps through the large room, then slid her hands through the fabrics that hung from the ceiling encasing the bed that sat directly on the floor. She felt the smooth surface of the pillows and meandered through the room touching each of the luxurious fabrics, including the upholstered furniture and the gossamer curtains.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” I told her. “It’s completely exposed to the elements.”
She stood against the wall, pulled the fabric aside, and I joined her, staring at the evening sky. A thousand faint stars splashed across the world like the splatter of a paintbrush.
“It’s peaceful here,” she said. “Happy.”
“Do you still miss home?” I slid my hands down her arms and around her chest.
She shook her head and leaned against me. “Not really. I don’t think it would feel like home anymore, you know? Without my mother, it’s only an empty shop. I just want to be where you are, Temir.”She spun in my arms and ran her fingers through my hair, then locked them behind my neck and pulled my face down to hers.
I leaned, grabbed her by the bottom and lifted her up to me. She was so close I could see the depth and swirls of color within her golden eyes. The scattering of freckles across her cheeks and over her perfect little nose. Finally, we were safe and alone.I pressed my lips to hers, softly at first. She opened and I massaged her with my tongue. I took several steps backward into the room, carried her to the couch and laid her down, never parting my mouth from hers.
She made soft groaning noises as we kissed and it was nearly my undoing. The sound of pleasure coming from my mate was like those perfectly placed stars singing a chorus from the heavens.
She reached between us and began unfastening my pants. Approval jolted through me and she licked the roof of my mouth, then bit my bottom lip. She was anything but shy.
I moved my hands to her waist and began to lift her shirt.
A pounding on the door barely convinced me to stop. A deep-throated snarl was the only response I had. To which Nadra threw her head back and laughed. I stood, walked to the door and nearly yanked it open before she stopped me.
“Your button, Temir,” she laughed.
I quickly fixed it, cracked the door, and glared outside. Rhogan stood waiting for me. I was so distracted by the thought of finally having Nadra to myself, I’d completely forgotten we left him with Wren.
“So, Wren said we’re moving to the castle?” he asked, trying to peek into the gap of the door.
“Let him in, Tem,” Nadra said from behind me.
“No, no.” Rhogan winked at me and flashed his infamous giant smile. “I’ll go down and get our things from the compound and plan to meet for breakfast in the morning.”
I nodded and shut the door before he could say anything else.
Nadra burst into more laughter.
“That really is the most beautiful sound in the world,” I told her, walking back to the couch.
“Okay, goodbye, then,” Rhogan yelled from the hall.
“Bye.” She giggled until I lifted her from the couch and moved her to the bed.
I slipped off my boots. She propped her lithe body up on her elbows, locked her eyes onto me, and watched as I began to remove each piece of her worn clothing, one item at a time, until she laid before me bare and beautiful. My mouth was bone dry as I memorized her perfect form. She crawled to the edge of the bed where I stood and her hands began to move over the panes of my chest as she lifted the seam of my shirt and pulled it smoothly above my head.
I was rock solid and pressing against the limitations of my pants. Her eyes dragged down my body and her lips parted as she got to my waist. She reached for me again, unbuttoning once more and letting them drop to the tile floor.
I placed my hands to the sides of her face and pulled her up to me until she was on her knees and her silky lips were pressed to mine. Her breathing was as rapid as my own as we explored each other’s naked bodies. I shifted, taking her full breast into my hand and massaging.
