Page 83 of Tempting the Fae Lord
He indulges this, burying his nose in curls at my base, muffling little breaths against the sensitive skin there, letting me draw out the moment for as long as it will last.
Shaky, I release my iron hold on him and run my fingers through his tangled hair and over his cheek as he slowly draws away. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and presses a kiss to my hip.
I can’t believe I’m still standing after such a decadent treat. “Catch me,” I say with a sated giggle and sink into his arms.
We fall into a happy pile of intertwined arms and legs on the snow, and I can’t bring myself to care that it’s cold or that we’ll get wet or that I’m still half-undressed. These clothes are ruined anyway. All I can think is it’s time to relieve him of his.
I reach for the laces on his breeches with full intent to get my mouth on him, but he stops me with gentle fingers around my wrist.
With his other hand, he tucks my hair behind my ear. “How are you?”
What kind of question is that after what we just did? “Erm, fantastic, actually. Wait, how are you?” The idea that there might be something wrong doesn’t sit well.
“Concerned.”
That snuffs a bit of the fire from my veins. I study his eyes as he studies mine. “Why?”
“This is a big change, Mooncalf. There’s no undoing what I’ve done to you tonight. Have you considered the sacrifices you’ve made?”
I’m tempted to jest. To mention how not being dead is pretty okay with me. But he’s gone somber, and I’d rather take that weight off his shoulders if I can.
I hold his face in my hands. “Yes. I’ve given it a lot of thought.”
“And?”
“When losing something as grand as sunshine and days spent with the others, of course I would consider those consequences. And perhaps, if we’d had the luxury of time, I would have glimpsed one last sunrise, enjoyed one last sunset, burned the images into my memory, but, Ezra…” I kiss him. “Sometimes it’s better to leap than to tiptoe. To rip the cloth from the wound so there’s no time to fret. We had little choice, tonight, you and I, but who’s to say it’s not for the best? Hmm?”
A slow smile washes away his serious expression. “Wise beyond your years, Gale.”
“Not always, but in this instance, I’ll accept your praise. Thank you for the gift of my new life. I won’t waste it.”
“I never thought you would.”
Slow enough so he can stop me if he doesn’t want it, I trail my fingers back down to his breeches. When he makes no effort to halt my progress, I run them lightly over the length of his cock through the leather.
A noise somewhere between a whimper and a moan escapes his throat.
I grin. “Oh! Make that sound again.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ezra
I keepGale all to myself the rest of the night, and we retire to the safety of my chambers throughout the day. Putting off everyone and everything means that by dusk the following night, there is much we need to take care of.
We head downstairs together, him freshly fed from my vein and buzzing, me feeling protective and on edge. Not only do I need to catch up on what’s happened in our absence, but I also mean to give Gale what I owe him, no matter how frightening the thought is for me.
We round the corner of the game room. If I was worried the others wouldn’t accept Gale as he is now (I was), well, that’s one worry off my list.
The moment he enters, Eulayla rushes to capture him in a bear hug. “Thank the stars you’re all right, dear heart.”
“Better than all right.” Even his voice has changed. Still Gale but more crisp, more firm, more… permanent.
“So, you’re a vampire now?” asks Amaris, unfazed. “Let me see your fangs.”
Gale opens his mouth for her inspection.
“Whoa. Shiny. Can you fly like him?”
