Page 48 of The Sorcerer's Thief
“Have a good night,” says Farsius, somehow putting more meaning into the wordgoodthan I ever thought it could hold.
Should I knock?
No. It’s my room too.
But what if he’s indisposed?
Ha.As if that’s a deterrent. Who am I fooling? Certainly not myself.
I push the door open and step inside.
Cricket startles, glancing up from the bath.
So heisindisposed. Lucky me. Not that we haven’t been around each other while bathing in rivers and creeks, but a steamy wooden-barreled bath perfumed with rosewater and vanilla in a private suite?
This feels different.
Intimate. Like I’m not sure if I should turn around and leave…or come closer.
“Jules.” My name rises from rosy lips.
Closer it is.
Chapter 15
Cricket
Hot water swirls around my body, a welcome caress after an evening in the company of teasing incubi, but not enough.
I want Julian, and the coin has nothing to do with my desire. It’s all me. But how can I convince him?
Maybe I won’t have to. Julian’s eyes have gone dark. He wants me too. Why have we waited so long for what we both crave?
I won’t waste a second more. “Come here.” I remember he doesn’t like to be ordered around. “Please.”
He approaches—too cautiously for my taste—hovers over me, and says nothing.
As soon as he’s in reaching distance, I trail a wet finger along the back of his hand. He cups my cheek, fingers smelling sweetly of the cakes we’ve been eating.
Lickable.
I give him a long, sultry stare from beneath half-lowered lids. His belt is at eye level, tempting me. I reach for it, but he covers my hand with his free one.
“How can we be sure it’s not the coin?” His voice is breathy. I want to steal it away completely with my kisses.
“Because I know my mind, and I’m telling you so. Are you really going to believeitinstead of me?”
He trails his fingers over my jaw. “That would make me an idiot, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“And I’m not an idiot.”
“I certainly hope not.”
He pushes a finger into my mouth, and I reward him with a moan around the delectable digit. Sweet, just like I’d thought. It’s about time we got around to this.
“Your beautiful, wicked mouth.” Julian presses the pad of his finger against my tongue. “I could watch you do this all night.”
