Page 107 of Across an Endless Sea

Is it weird to admit that I love taking care of her like that? Probably. So I keep it to myself.

“During your fever you’ll want to be painted in the stuff,” Lore promises. “I have this sexy little fantasy where you beg me to scoop my cum up and force it back inside you…”

Rose’s lips part on a silent gasp, eyes glazing with arousal. I don’t blame her. The image is hot, except in my mind, it’s my cum she’s begging for, not Lore’s. My primal hindbrain helpfully supplies a new image of her perfect breasts painted with my seed, and my wolf howls.

More dust floats down to cover me. Somewhere in the midst of our activities, she lost her hold on her glamour, and now the six delicate panels of her wings flutter over the two of us.

I want to touch them so badly. I almost did while I was inside her, but I didn’t want to assume she’d welcome the touch. Not when she freely admitted that Elatha—may the bastard rot—taunted her with the idea of cutting them off.

A fucking shame, because there are fae who can come from wing stimulation alone.

When we’re both clean, I chuck the rag into the corner and roll us both so she’s sandwiched between me and the redcap. Her eyelids are fluttering in a battle against exhaustion, and I watch with soft adoration as she loses and drifts off, head tipping back in sleep.

The peaceful sight warms something within me, and I drag the covers over her to protect her, even knowing that the garden will keep her safe from the cooling autumn air. Only when I’m sure she’s comfortable do I allow myself to switch off and follow her down into dreamland.

When I wake up and she’s still there, cuddled against my chest, it feels too good to be true. Lore is gone, leaving the two of us alone, and in the back of my mind, my wolf is lazing around in contentment. Golden light plays across Rose’s features, highlighting the smallest of freckles under her chin—wait. Golden light?

Cursing silently, I force the shield that’s covered the bed to dissipate. The moment it’s gone, Rose’s nose wrinkles adorably, and she puts her hand over her ear.

“Not today, Maeve,” she grumbles, still asleep.

My eyebrows rise, and I give the covers around my legs a tug, just to make sure my dick is covered. I’m not sure how I feel about spirits in the bedroom, but Idoknow I don’t want to give the past queens an eyeful.

Rose yawns, rubbing her sleep-crusted lids.

“Good morning,” I mumble, pulling her closer to me and nuzzling her hair.

Another yawn answers me, then she freezes.

“My flying lessons!” she exclaims, erupting from the covers in a burst of fae dust and gloriously naked female. “I can’t believe I forgot. What time is it?”

“Well past dawn,” I admit, watching her bare ass move as she rushes to the dresser. “I think Florian might have given up waiting by now.”

Her shoulders visibly slump.

“Come back to bed,” I offer, rolling onto my side to hide the tent my dick is making in the blankets. “There’s plenty of time for you to learn to fly.”

My wolf and I weren’t ready for her to stop snuggling us so soon.

Rose looks back at me, her purple eyes full of exasperation. “Maybe there would be if that was theonlything I have to learn,” she protests. “But I also have to learn to read, to use magic, to shield my aura, to fight, to be a Nicnevin…”

Choosing to ignore her comment about fighting for now, I cut her off by grabbing her hand as she paces past me and tugging her back amongst the covers, directly over my aching cock.

Down, Jare. She’s stressing and definitely not in the mood for that right now.

“Rosie, you’re thinking like a mortal,” I say, trying to comfort her. “You’re fae. You have hundreds of years to master all of those things.”

She looks me in the eyes with eyes that are older than they should be. “I would, if there wasn’t an army at our gates.”

My wolf makes a restless press against the inside of my skin, demanding I fix the sadness in our mate.

“Fighting the army isn’t your job,” I remind her gently.

She sighs, rolling off me. “I’ve spent enough of my life feeling useless,” she mutters, returning to the drawers. “Do you think I can catch Florian on his rounds somewhere? Or will I be interrupting him?” She bites at her lip and turns to face me.

I sigh, shoving into a sitting position. “He might be busy,” I admit. “But if we walk the palace wall and we don’t find him, we can always practise your magic.”

Her face lights up and my wolf retreats, satisfied that she’s happy once more.

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