Page 166 of Death of a Mortal

I panted, chest rising and falling rapidly against the wall. The coolness against my cheek and breasts wasn’t nearly enough to tame the heat radiating from me.

With one hand, he gripped himself, teasing my drenched entrance, while the other traced a line up my stomach and between my breasts to stop at my throat. He wrapped his fingers around and squeezed gently as his lips found my ear. “Tell me if you want me to be gentle.”

His entire body was flush with mine, and gentle was the last thing I wanted him to be.

“No,” I panted.

The pressure around my throat increased, making my pulse quicken further and my head feel like it was swimming. He was firmly in control of my body, and gods, I loved it.

“Good,” was all the warning I got before he grabbed my hip, thrusting inside me, making me gasp with pleasure. He was a lot to get used to, filling me so completely I thought I would finish again right then.

Then I felt the same static charge he’d had on his tongue deep in my core as he thrust harder into me, and every nerve in my body sang.

I finished with a scream.

But he didn’t stop. He just kept pounding into me, over and over, one hand still at my throat and the other gripping my hip, fingers digging into my flesh.

“Come for me again.” His voice had turned as feral as his rhythm. He released my throat, sending a rush of blood that gave me a buzz better than any wine I’d ever had, then brought his hand around me to circle my sensitive bud with statically charged fingers. “Let me hear you come, Naci, say it for me.”

His static was a gods-send. I had never felt anything so wonderfully pleasurable.

He thrust and circled, my every nerve alight with a tormentingbuzz. “Fuck, Drayce, I’m coming!” I screamed right before a final thrust drew a deep, growling moan from him.

He eased himself out of me, resting his forehead on my shoulder and sliding his hands up my arms to entwine our fingers. Neither of us moved for a while, our heavy breathing beginning to slow.

He kissed my shoulder just beside Noxie’s mark before turning me around and scooping me up into his arms to carry me to bed. I felt like I was moments from blissful sleep, my body completely spent.

He laid me down gently. “Do you want me to stay with you?”

I slid my legs under the covers and rolled onto my side. “Of course I do. Come cuddle me.”

He smiled and crawled into bed and settled behind me.

Then I was lost to oblivion.

* * *

Waking next toDrayce with his arm draped over my hip felt like a stolen moment of beautiful fantasy. Stolen from someone who didn’t have the weight of the world on their shoulders. I lay there and allowed myself to bask in it. I’d fought my desire for him for so long. Now I wondered how long we had left, wonderedwhyI’d fought it so long. I thought back over all the things that were said before the sex, before turning my thoughts to what we had to do. His words meant the world to me, but we had a mission to focus on before I could give them any deeper thought.

“You taste even better than I’d imagined.”

I huffed a laugh. “We sail for Ashenholt today, and that’s what you’re thinking about?”

“Oh yes. It’s likely all I’ll think about the entire trip.”

I smiled and shook my head. He kissed the sensitive skin behind my ear before pulling me into him further, our naked bodies without a hair of separation. He held me for a few silent minutes, our last moments before we’d chase chaos and death.

I took the time to memorize his scent, his heartbeat against my back, the steady rise and fall of his breaths before the inevitable ending of the moment came, and we got out of bed.

We dressed in our warmer black leathers and made a few pieces of toast to take with us on the walk to the council room. Reality set in as the first light of day crept over the horizon.

Aerie and Bramick were already there, like always, and over the next ten quiet minutes, the other leaders arrived.

“We’ll run through the plan one more time and then pack bags and head out,” Drayce said once we were all seated. “We sail for Ashenholt and anchor off the coast west of Ashthorn and avoid Dolvenar. Aerie and Noxie will stay on the boat as relay messengers, and Naci will fly in with the aerial scout unit.”

Aerie jumped in. “I had the Guilds build a saddle for Bernitha. In her vey form, she can easily carry Naci.”

The muscular female behind Aerie nodded, tucking a strand of her auburn hair behind her ear. I hadn’t yet met her, but even in her fae form she looked strong enough to easily carry me and a saddle. Every muscle was cut and accentuated on her bare arms. She was a bit scary actually, but she gave me a reassuring smile.