Page 137 of Sands of Atonement

I raised my brow, and she gave me a sly smile. Her fingers began to tug at my waistband, which was already loose from movement.

The column of her throat moved as she glanced below her at my length. Her cheeks brightened a beautiful pink as she felt and stroked me. “You do not ne⁠—”

“No, I want to,” she whispered.

She lowered herself, and I saw with my own two eyes her perfect, swollen lips taking me into her mouth. It was warm and wet. Her tongue and fuck⁠—

I could not control the groans of pleasure that came out of my chest, filling the room, when she kissed me there the way she kissed my mouth. Her tongue moved against my length, and so did the stroke of her hand. My fingers reached her head, wanting to touch more of her. Needing more of her.

I had not expected this.

Not in a thousand years had I thought we’d be touching each other like this.

I thought I had lost her forever. So I had only dreamed.

She raised her silver eyes, meeting mine as she took more of me in, tasting me. The voice in my head was so fucking gone, I didn’t care about being faithful to the Atrove.

I needed her—my chest tightened, and so did the rest of my body.

Her cheeks hollowed, and I felt her mouth tighten even more around me. She moaned and moved her hips against my thigh. She enjoyed this. She quickened her pace, and I couldn’t handle it. She didn’t move away when I tapped her shoulder, letting her know I was coming.

I had never experienced anything like it, and I came hard.

She then raised her body to me, her breasts pressing against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, and her face nestled into the crook of my neck.

Her body in my arms.

It just felt so right.

I never felt more right than in this moment with her.

Eshe and I jumped the moment my wooden door shook with a knock, bringing us back to reality. Reluctantly, I got up, my heart pounding against my rib cage. I was thankful my trousers were still just below my hips and pulled them higher. I shoved one of the green linen dresses to Eshe and snapped a finger for her to sit still.

She gave me a glare and a frown and yanked the dress on her. Her eyes told me I was about to hear a handful of words from her soon. My lips curved thinking of her becoming compliant, but knowing I would never change a thing about her.

I opened the door, and Norrah’s ghostly face appeared before me. My body tensed, knowing something was wrong.

“What is it?” I growled.

“I—I didn’t know who else to go to. I w—was walking an—and the—there was a body in the sands and—and,” she broke into sobs. “There’s a dead body and I—I couldn’t see who it was and r—ran to you immediately⁠—”

“Stay here with Eshe and don’t leave this room until I come back.”

Norrah nodded, inhaling her sobs, and stumbled into the room. I felt my insides squeeze, anxious to find what was going on. Eshe wrapped her arms around her and whispered some words into her ear while I grabbed my sword and dagger, hooking them to my belt.

“Ezra, I should come⁠—”

“Don’t even think⁠—”

“You know I can fight—you know that I’m useful,” she insisted. “I’m not going to just stay behind and let⁠—”

“Take care of Norrah. Make sure she’s safe. I can’t do both.” I reached for anything. I knew it was a lowball, but I couldn’t have Eshe out in the desert knowing there was a murderer out on the loose.

My heart was thrashing against my ribcage. It was like my body was preparing itself for something bigger. I couldn’t have her out there.

Her jaw tightened, and she took a deep, controlled breath. I could see her analyzing the situation quickly, the way she does when she’s calculating. She looked back at Norrah, who sat on our bed, trembling from head to toe.

Eshe swallowed and nodded her head, but continued to glare at me. Feeling relieved, I let out a unnoticeable, small breath.