Page 24 of A Blade of Air and Darkness

“Oh, yes.” The words breathed out of me in a rush.

Dark eyes sparkled with intelligence, and white teeth flashed in a sudden grin that made him go from handsome to downright incredible. I just had to hope that he wasn’t all show and no skill. However, I suspected that wouldn’t be a problem. Not with someone like him.

* * *

Walker had rentedthe room with running water, which didn’t quite match his story. If he’s just a simple number cruncher, there’s no way he could afford a room like this on a budget expense account. It did show he was in town before me, though. Later was soon enough to try to figure out what was true and what was false. For now, I cared more about the fact that the running water seemed to includehotwater. Glorious fucking hot water.

He gestured, offering me the shower first.

Never one to turn down a hot shower, I disrobed and his brows rose as he looked me over. For a minute I felt confused. What the hell was wrong with my body? I wasn’t the sexiest woman, but my athletic build was padded just enough to have curves. I was happy with the way I looked. But then I followed his gaze, straight to the knives strapped along my thighs and forearms. “You plan to keep them on during?”

Laughter bubbled up. “No, they’d chafe. I don’t wear them to bathe anyway.” Just kept them within arm’s reach and slept with them in their sheaths or close by, but I didn’t need to tell him that.

Removing my weapons, I set them with my clothes, turned on the water, and watched as the steam rose from it before ducking underneath the spray. The sponge glided over my skin, the faint scent of citrus rising from the lather as I cleaned my entire body as quickly as possible. Used to timed water, I finished my shower before he’d even finished removing his clothing.

Wrapping the towel around my chest, I pursed my lips in a silent whistle, enjoying the view of him slowly undressing. It was a very nice sight indeed. Walker had defined muscles that rippled under smooth skin.

He caught me staring at him without the least bit of embarrassment. At my reaction, that faint smile of his came back, and his cock hardened under my watchful gaze. Which was more than a little bit of a stroke to my ego.

He also won points for not commenting on my ears, clearly visible with my hair wet and slicked back.

He left the door open when he stepped into the shower. “Ever thought of carrying a gun?”

I wasn’t so much thinking about my weapons as I was abouthis, but I tried to keep my voice steady. “Half the time they’re on you before you could shoot,” I answered, my attention on his shadow through the glass.

Restraint. With a pleasant shiver, I turned my gaze away, moving to the bed. I flipped back the blanket to check for vermin. The sheets were unspotted, and the fresh scent of lavender wafted up. Here and there, a fragment of the blooms clung to the sheet—they must have just been pulled out of storage.

I didn’t turn when I heard his step. Thick arms wrapped around me while calloused hands slid over my breasts, cupping them. He nuzzled my neck, lips warm against my nape. Electricity zinged down my back, and I leaned against him.

The touch of his skin poured his emotions into me: anticipation, desire, a thread of rueful amusement, deep loneliness. I focused on the desire, tuning out the rest as best I could; he’d focus completely on the physical soon enough, if I had my way.

It had been so long that I started shaking as I caressed his arms, laying my hands over his. Forgetfulness beckoned, a side effect of focus on sex and pleasure. I turned and wrapped my arms around his neck, going to my tiptoes to accommodate his height. The touch of the rough hair on his chest against my breasts, the reality of skin on skin, overwhelmed thought.

I kissed him hard, then pulled myself up to wrap my legs around his waist. His hands cupped my ass as he braced himself under my weight. The feeling of his strong body holding mine was more pleasant than I expected, but exactly what I needed.

At least, to start.

His lips found mine, and his tongue swept into my mouth. Each of his movements were filled with desire, but not the uncontrollable kind I felt bubbling inside of me. His were more careful. In him, I sensed a desire to savor our time together.

Savoring was fine. As long as it wasn’t done too slowly.

I tightened my grip on his shoulders and neck. Our kiss grew more and more intense as it deepened, and I nipped his lip, pulled back. Taking deep breaths. Trying to keep control.

He was intent on me, his dark eyes focused on my mouth as if he wanted more.

“Now,” I breathed, arching into him.

“Now?” he asked, confused, wanting to go slower, wanting to make this good.

I slid my body further down, dragging myself against his length. His eyes widened, but I continued to coat him, breathing hard, wanting a hell of a lot more. Wanting this man inside of me. If he thought I needed more foreplay, he was wrong. I just needed him inside of me so badly it hurt.

He seemed to understand. A moment later, he adjusted his position, his tip at my opening. He seemed to be asking my permission again, so I nodded, digging my nails into his shoulder. And then he complied.

I yelped out in unexpected pain. It had been a while, even if I was excited.

Breathing heavily, he stilled. “Alys…”

I clenched around him. “Keep going.” The discomfort was already subsiding, and I didn’t mind pain when pleasure followed on its heels. “Please.”

---