Page 156 of A Tower of Half-Truths
“Your arcana, it’s…?”
“Lying dormant. We can keep going if you’re—”
Before she could even complete the suggestion, he cupped her face between his palms and pulled her into a deep, intense kiss. Her taste lingered on his tongue, her scent on his skin.
Her hand wandered downward. She was surprised to find that he was still hard, and she wondered if the shock had actuallyaddedto his arousal. He moaned into her mouth as she resumed stroking him. A moment later, he broke the kiss. His brow furrowed as he seemed to struggle with holding himself together.
“Should I savoryounow?” she asked.
He shook his head. “Not this time. Let’s move to the ‘grand finale,’ so to speak.”
Together, they moved back to the center of the bed. As before, he bestrode her as she nestled her head against the pillows. He shifted his hips and pressed his tip to her entrance, but his aim was slightly off-center. He muttered something that she gathered was frustration with being a bit out of practice.
“Let me,” she whispered, then slipped her hand between their bodies.
He emitted another deep groan as she wrapped her fingers around him. They sighed in unison as she guided him inside her, their bodies becoming the most connected they’d ever been.
He leaned down to kiss her cheek, her jaw, her neck. Her eyes fluttered shut at the softness of his lips, his hair brushing her face, both now heightened with the sensation of being completely filled by him. A low whine escaped the back of her throat as he began to move, his slow friction rekindling her arousal. She opened her eyes and pushed back his hair, uncovering a gaze that was completely drinking her in.
Her hand traveled to the nape of his neck, and she pulled him down into another kiss. She teased his tongue, a mirror of the movements he made easing in and out of her. His pace was slow,gentle, cautious. Perhaps he wanted to savor this for as long as possible, or perhaps he was uncertain of how far he could push himself tonight.
She broke the kiss and leaned back. From the strained look on his face, she could tell he hadn’t been exaggerating before. It wouldn’t be long before he reached his own release.
Together, they found a new rhythm. She met each of his thrusts with a tilt of her hips. He groaned as her fingers raked down his back. She gasped as she arched her own back, allowing herself to take him more deeply. The longer they continued, the more erratic his breathing became.
He came undone with a final thrust, a guttural moan against the side of her neck, a full-bodied shudder. His arms trembled, yet he managed to keep himself upright.
“See?” he gasped. “I told you I wouldn’t last long.”
“Oh, hush. I still enjoyed every minute of it.”
He slipped out of her, then lay at her side. He pulled her toward him, and she rested her cheek against his chest. They remained like that for a while, absently caressing each other. His fingers ran down her back as hers drew circles against his chest hair.
“Whatever awaits us tomorrow—”
She cut that sentence short with a kiss. “Let’s not talk about tomorrow. Not yet.”
“I know I shouldn’t ruin the moment, but…” He sighed as he pulled his arms more tightly around her. “But I love you, and whatever awaits us tomorrow, I promise I will do everything I can to ensure no harm comes to you.”
“I love you, too, and I promise the same.”
His eyes—dark, warm, brimming with adoration—met hers. From that point forward, they had no need for words. They let their bodies continue the conversation deep into the night, until they once again collapsed in each other’s arms, pleasantly spent, and the final tendrils of warding magic dissipated.
Forty-Seven
Though they woke before sunrise, Mavery and Alain remained in bed until they could no longer delay the inevitable. When they headed downstairs, the sun had fully risen, and Neldren and Ellice were halfway through breakfast. The taproom was largely empty, but the scent of fried meat wafted from the kitchen.
“So much for meeting at first light,” Neldren said. He looked to Mavery and Alain’s entwined hands, then snorted. “No need to explain why you’re late.”
They joined Neldren and Ellice at the table. Benard brought out plates piled high with toast, stewed beans, and sausages, as well as a pot of tea that smelled identical to the bergamot-laced variety Alain brewed every morning. Apparently, that was custom for anyone of Dauphinian descent.
Once again, Benard held up a hand when Mavery brought out her coin purse.
“Saving Ev was payment enough,” he said, then chuckled. “Though, if you lot actually find a way into that ruin, I may change my mind on that.”
“What do you mean?” Alain asked.
“Archstone is the closest village to the Innominate Temple. We get all sorts passing through here, whether they think they’ll be the ones to crack it, or just want to take a gander.” He shook his head. “Strange idea for a holiday, if you ask me, but the tourists keep business steady during the warmer months.”
