Page 51 of Throne of Dreams
Maeve finished the rest of her tea and peeled off her leggings, which were still covered in mud and grime from the forest. She debated on showering before dinner, but then she caught sight of her reflection in the ornate mirror on her vanity. The blouse she wore dipped low in the front and that was when she saw it. There was a tattoo over her heart. A new one. At least, she thought it was new. She had so many marking her body now, she supposed she could’ve easily overlooked it. But this one was different. It resembled an intricate leaf set inside a spiraling sun.
She tugged her blouse off one shoulder and examined the mark more closely. It was definitely not like the rest of her tattoos. Where those were all rose gold, this one was deep red and outlined in gold. Her brow furrowed.
When did she get that one?
Instead of heading into the bathroom, she found herself staring at the door separating her room from Tiernan’s.
Her teeth skated along her bottom lip. They never discussed the particulars. Like if she could go to him if she wanted, or if he would be the one to choose when and where. She didn’t know if they were exclusive, if he would sleep with other females whenever he felt the urge, or if they were even a thing at all.
She padded softly across the wooden floor and braced both hands as quietly as possible upon the door. Then she leaned in, pressed her ear to its carved surface, and listened.
From the other side came the low, gentle rumbling of a baritone paired with the soft strumming of a guitar. He was singing again, a more haunting melody this time. It was enough to cause her knees to soften and her blood to thrum. There was just something about listening to him play, listening to him sing, that carried her to another time. Another world. What she wouldn’t give to have him touch her while he sang.
Maeve melted into the alluring tune, and her forehead came to rest on the door between them, content to let his music take her away.
A moment later, the door swung open, and she tumbled directly into his arms.
ChapterSixteen
Tiernan caught Maeve in his arms, and she stared up at him with beautiful, glassy eyes. He supposed he could’ve ignored her, but he’d heard her thoughts through the wall, and as soon as he’d sensed her silent call to him, he’d gone to her. How lucky for him she was wearing only an ill-fitting blouse that fell dangerously low off one of her shoulders, revealing inch after glorious inch of creamy flesh.
His arms easily slid around her waist, drawing her flush against him. “What were you saying?”
Maeve shook her head, and he saw the moment her eyes cleared. “I wasn’t saying anything.”
He inclined his head and let his gaze dip down to her mouth. “Weren’t you though?”
“No.” Concern lined her brow as he waited for her to understand. “I was just thinking that—”
Her gaze shot to him, all fiery and hot. “I thought you were going to stop doing that?”
He bent down to her, smiled to himself when she melted against him, then casually nuzzled her neck, letting his next words skate across her skin. “Apparently I can’t help myself when it comes to you.”
Her resolve weakened then, and her arms slowly wrapped around his neck.
“Now, tell me again, Your Highness.” He pressed his mouth to her throat, where her pulse jumped for him. Then he kissed her just below her ear, before moving his lips to her jaw. “What was it you wanted me to do?”
She let loose one of those breathy little sighs that drove him absolutely mad. He let his hand trail from her waist to her rib cage, then he cupped her left breast and squeezed. She was like the sand from his beach in his arms. Soft. Pliant. Warm. Already his blood rushed to his cock, already their mingling scents of heady arousal filled the air around them. His other hand palmed her ass, clutching her, rubbing her against him so she would know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that he wanted her. That he desired her.
“To sing.” She pressed her lips together like she couldn’t remember what she was going to say. Her eyes fluttered closed when she spoke again. “I wanted you to sing for me.”
“Mm,” he growled, rubbing his thumb back and forth across her little bud of a nipple. “I could’ve sworn it was more than that.”
He slid one hand beneath the hem of her blouse. His fingers floated along her warm thigh, then closer still to where he knew she was already wet for him. Gods, she wasn’t even wearing any intimates. There was nothing keeping him from the slick folds of her cunt.
“Do youalwaysgo bare?”
“Yes.” Her hips angled toward him in a silent plea for more. “I hate lace.”
“As do I.” He scraped his teeth along her bottom lip, and her fingers coiled into his hair, urging him closer. He chuckled softly. “Not until you tell me what it is you really want,astora.”
“I want you to sing and…” A strangled gasp escaped her when he shoved one finger inside of her and her head lolled back. “Sing while you touch me.”
Tiernan stilled and waited for her lustful eyes to open. “Is that a command, my lady?”
He delved another finger deep inside her, moved them both in and out with agonizing patience.
“Yes,” she panted. She anchored herself to him, lifted her leg, and effortlessly guided his fingers further inside her. “Yes, it’s a command. Sing for me until I cry for you. Touch me until I beg for you.”
