Page 101 of The Nymph Prince
“Speak your thoughts,” Lorcan said. We were nearly to our chamber. The corridor was filled with shadows, the only light coming from the dimly burning sconces on the wall. “I feel you thinking.”
With shadows came too many places for listening ears to hide. And so, I said nothing until we arrived at our room. I bid the guards goodnight before following Lorcan into the chamber and closing the door with a soft thud.
“Why did the king not know you belonged to another?” I asked as I turned to him.
The moon lit his face beautifully, highlighting the sharp edges of his cheeks and the round plumpness of his lips.
“Do not tell me you are still jealous of that revolting man,” he retorted with a roll of his eyes. “How many times must I tell you that I do not desire him?”
“Then why did he think so little of me? Why did he think I was merely your whore? And by the gods, why did you agree with him?” I pressed, not letting the subject die so easily. “The way he looked at you, Lorcan…I saw his hunger for you. Which shows that he has likely made such comments to you in private, as well.”
Lorcan cut his eyes at me. “I do not favor your tone, mage, or the implication that comes with it. The restraint it takes to sit in his presence without removing his head from his shoulders is nearly more self-discipline than I possess. You forget the game we play. I haven’t.”
With a huff, he strode toward the table and poured another glass of wine. There was a slight cringe on his face as he swallowed the drink. He pivoted on his heels and neared the balcony doors.
I followed and stood at his side, my hands shaking with the anger I barely managed to contain.
“Our new alliance means little, I’m afraid,” he continued, staring into the night. “It is for show and nothing more. Yes, we will join our armies and fight the dark mages, but King James will not keep to the terms of peace. Once the threat is diminished, he will look toward my people. He doesn’t know that I’ve figured out his ploy. I cannot wait to see that smirk slip from his face when he realizes I am two steps ahead of him.”
Lorcan threw back the rest of his wine before tossing the cup to the floor. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and faced me, his green eyes swirling like a cloud of smoke.
“Why would I ever give the king the tools to hurt me or those I love?” he asked, stepping forward and rubbing the tip of his nose to mine. “I said nothing of my love for you, because he could use that information against me. When he breaks our truce, which I’m certain he will, he will move to wound me. Deeply. So if I must lie and call you a lowly whore, then I will.”
I kissed him before smiling against his lips. “Such a clever nymph, you are.”
“Apologies for hurting you,” he whispered, sliding his arms around me. “You are the man I hope to wed someday when all of this fighting is over. More than my lover, you are my heart, Alek.”
“And you are mine,” I said, holding his face in my hands.
The memory was vague, but I remembered telling him I loved him the night before. The wine had taken away my fear of admitting it. Another memory tried to emerge, something about a vision he’d had, but I couldn’t recall the rest.
I pressed my mouth to his in a feverish kiss, tangling my fingers in his silky hair. He tasted of wine and roses. There was no slow build to passion; I was like a man desperate for water and Lorcan was my stream.
I craved him. All of him.
I pulled at his clothes, and he pulled at mine. Our kiss was only broken when we tugged off each other’s shirts, and then our mouths joined again. He led me to the bed before shoving me onto it and straddling my hips. I glided a hand up his stomach and to his chest, admiring every inch of him.
The beauty of him still managed to take my breath away; his lean torso covered with the softest skin, the plumpness of his lips, and the ravenous look in his green eyes as he peered down at me. Pointed ears extended from his silver hair, and Reif’s story about nymphs being related to elves entered my mind.
All I knew of elves were the myths told about them, but I could see the resemblance between my nymph and the depictions in those myths.
“You stare at my ears. Why?” Lorcan grew shy and lifted his hands to cover them.
I grabbed his arms and lowered them before taking hold of his nape and slowly drawing him down to me. “Because in all my years of sailin’ the sea, of exploring new lands, I have never seen anythin’ as lovely as you.” I kissed his ear before licking the tip. “And your ears please me.”
He shuddered and began to hum, his throat vibrating with the sensual purrs.
There were unspoken things between us; the reason for his distance as of late and the vision he’d briefly mentioned. But for that night, we threw aside the tension and embraced each other as lovers, as two souls reaching out, only finding solace in the joining of our bodies.
And it was pure and utter bliss.
25
Lorcan
Home. Strange that I saw Avalontis as such upon our return when I’d fought against the notion for so long. The barrier surrounding the kingdom didn’t feel like a prison anymore. It felt comforting. Like a warm blanket to keep out the winter air.
I’d wanted the freedom of the surface world, but what I’d received in its place was a world of uncertainty. One where enemies lurked around every corner. The challenge was distinguishing between enemy and friend. Because even the demon smiled in order to lure you into his trap.
