Page 118 of The Dark Mage
She gasped and sobbed, gripping his hips to pull him against her.She moaned aloud at the hard press of his body against hers, the heat of him igniting something wild and urgent.
Fael moved with startling speed, his raw strength breaking over her.He yanked at the waist of her black britches, pulling them free in one swift motion before tearing off his own leggings.Crushing down against her, he ground his hips into hers, their bodies connecting in a frenzied rhythm.His gasp of pleasure sent a thrill through her, and she grabbed his backside, her thighs brushing the rough wood beneath them.Hunger—hot, sweet, and wild—burned away sorrow andpain.
She shoved him back, her movements fierce, and stripped off her tunic and undershirt, baring her breasts to the cool morning air.The river rushed softly in the background as the breeze kissed her flushed skin.Fael’s head dipped, his lips finding the sensitive tips of her breasts.He sucked and sighed, his need matching her own, biting hard enough to bruise in his feverish hunger.
“Fael,” she moaned, her thighs clenching around him as heat surged through her veins.She reached down, her hand finding him through the soft fabric of his undershorts.
Fael tipped his head back, a deep, primal groan breaking from his chest as her touch set him alight.
He moved quickly again, roughly tugging her underwear down, then discarding his own.Gripping her thighs, he pushed her back until her head bumped the cart’s wooden wall.Ren’wyn barely had time to register the press of the hard surface before Fael pulled his shirt over his head, revealing the taut muscles of his abs and chest.
His hungry stare swept over her bare body, and she bit her bottom lip, heat rushing throughher.
Slowly, deliberately, he crawled over her like a predator closing in on itsprey.
Every inch of her burned with fire, sparks of electricity surging through her veins.She wanted him to consume her, to own her as she would own him.The soft curls of his hair brushed her stomach, trailing up to her breasts, and she writhed beneath him, pleasure curling low in her abdomen.The heat built into a deep, thrumming ache, resonating through every part ofher.
When his face hovered over hers, Fael settled his hips between her thighs, groaning as his hard arousal met her wet heat.He thrust savagely, and she cried out, her head bumping the cart wall—the slight pain only heightening her desire.Shadows licked over his body as she threw her arms around him, urging him closer, harder.
Their pace was frantic, wild,all-consuming.Fael’s hand cushioned her head from the cart wall as he drove into her unrelentingly.Ren’wyn’s hips rolled to meet him, her body filled with fervent need.Shadows and frost boiled beneath her skin, merging with the fiery punishment of his movements.Fael’s powerful thrusts sent waves of pleasure crashing through her, the bruising grip of his hand on her thigh matching the intensity of his hips.Sweat dripped from his brow, mingling with hers as they moved together in a symphony of gasps, cries, and clutching hands.
Every touch was fire, every kiss a spark.Fael’s fingers skimmed her sensitive skin, dragging pleasure across her frame.Ren’wyn arched beneath him, her hips shifting ever so slightly.The new angle pressed him against her favorite spot, and the sensation unraveled her completely.A frantic, spiraling climax tore through her, her thighs trembling and her nipples tightening almost painfully.She screamed as she came, surrendering fully, her release triggering a burst of smoke and shadow that enveloped themboth.
Fael followed moments later, thrusting deep as his own release broke over him like a storm.He swore softly, his arms wrapping around her, pressing her close as his body shuddered.Fire and shadow mingled, consuming them entirely until they lay together on the rough wooden cart, their sweat-slicked bodies entwined.
After a few moments, Fael rolled off her, his breathing heavy and uneven.He grabbed clean blankets from the top of the cart and gently tucked them around her.Ren’wyn didn’t move, still trembling from her release, but she turned and nestled into his warm body.Fael buried his face in her hair, his naked form pressing against hers protectively.
“We need to get some rest,” he whispered, his lips against her temple.“A couple hours at least before we travel again.”
“Thank you,” she murmured, already succumbing to exhaustion.She didn’t fight the sleep that claimed her, carried away on the breeze.
Fael set a relaxed pace as they traveled for the next three days.Ren’wyn was grief-stricken, still feeling the loss of the berserker boy, and worried for the small empath.She reassured herself that Sorya and Relya would help care for him until she arrived.Along the road, other travelers began to appear, and Ren’wyn climbed into the front of the cart next to Fael, letting his arm drape over her shoulders for comfort.
For two days, Fael alternated between sweetness and teasing, working tirelessly to ease the hollow ache of mourning with laughter and fond memories.Ren’wyn responded in kind, determined to help lift the darkness from him aswell.
When they stopped the second evening, he scouted a picturesque stream for their camp, nestled into an overgrown trail surrounded by switchgrass and asters.Wildflowers lined the banks, and tiny fish darted beneath the surface.
While Fael brushed down the horses, Ren’wyn stripped off her travel-worn clothing and stepped into the cold water.It rushed over smooth stones under her feet, rinsing away the layers of exhaustion, pain, and sorrow.The sweet scent of wildflowers mingled with the soothing melody of the stream, and the chill eased her bruises and aching muscles.
The sound of a splash made her turn—just in time to catch a fleeting glimpse of Fael as he submerged himself, surfacing a few feet away with a sweet, boyish grin.She bit her lip at the sight of him, the rippling water accentuating his muscular form.His grin turned sultry as he caught her blush.
“First,” he began, dipping his head into the water to rinse his hair, “I wanted to talk since we have some privacy.”
It was the first time they had been truly alone in days.As he swam closer, Ren’wyn couldn’t help but admire the definition of his chest and shoulders, her cheeks growing warmer.Fael’s knowing smile widened.
But his tone grew serious, and he asked, “Are you all right?Talk to me.”
Ren’wyn stared at the yellow and purple blooms along the bank, gathering her thoughts.“I will be,” she admitted softly.“I hate that I couldn’t save the boy.And I killed so many people, Fael.They begged me to stop.I don’t know if they were all complicit in the torture of those boys or if some of them were forced into service.I don’t know if they all deserved to die.”Her voice broke.“I’ve always killed in self-defense.This time, it was anger and revenge.”
“I know what that feels like.”His voice was low, heavy with understanding.“I’m a creature of anger, Ren.I’ve killed more people than deserved it.What’s done is done, but the fact that it haunts you proves you’re more compassionate than most.You’re still yourself, even if it doesn’t feel that way.”He hesitated, glancing away, his voice rough as he added, “The boy… that part I understand too.Death isn’t simple, but you kept him from more suffering.You gave him peace, love, and dignity in his last moments.None of that would have happened if he’d died in thecart.”
Ren’wyn let his words settle over her, a balm for her grief.He was right.The boy hadn’t been alone; Fael had kept her steady, and together, they had carried his suffering.But there was still so much anger boiling insideher.
“I still hate them all,” she admitted, pressing her palms to her eyes.The war inside her felt unbearable, her fury and her disgust with herself tearing her up.
“Me too,” Fael said gruffly.“To harm children…”
Silence stretched out, one that carried their mutualpain.
