Page 42 of Gilded Curses

With no other choice, she knocked on the door. And when he didn’t immediately answer, she hit it a little louder. She couldn’t bang too hard, or she might attract the attention of the guards in the hall, but she wouldn’t have another chance to talk to him until tomorrow night.

She had no doubt the dagadon servants would swarm in on them again tomorrow morning. Thankfully, they weren’t early risers, so she might be able to catch an hour or two of sleep before the farce of why they were here started all over again.

Sahira tried the knob. It twisted in her hand, but the door remained bolted on his side. She knocked on the door again, and this time, though she kept it low, she didn’t stop.

After thirty knocks, the slide of a bolt came from the other side before the door swung inward to reveal Orin. He ran a hand through the tussled black hair framing the elegant planes of his face.

His arrival at the door threw her back to Belda’s pub and another time when she woke him in the middle of the night. Then, she’d been convinced he was attacking her while she slept.

She later found out it was Radagast, but she’d accused Orin of it first, and he’d looked as delectable then as he did now. Why did the man always look so tempting? And why was his favorite state nude?

“Couldn’t you put some clothes on before you answered the door?” she demanded.

His sleepy-eyed look vanished as he scowled at her. “Excuse me for not preparing for company at four-thirty in the morning.”

Irritated with herself for wanting nothing more than to step closer, slide her arms around his waist, and kiss him, Sahira glowered in response. She crossed her arms over her chest to keep from touching him as she rocked back on her heels.

Unable to stop herself, her gaze flicked beyond him to the bed. The blanket and sheets were thrown back, but she didn’t see anyone else.

She hated the relief that flooded her. You’re in so much trouble.

Sahira didn’t bother denying it as she shifted her attention back to his lean frame with its chiseled muscles. Black ciphers ran across his upper chest and arms before ending at his wrists.

She suspected he had more of the dark fae markings—the sign of how powerful they were—but hadn’t seen them and probably never would. Orin wasn’t the type to let down his defenses enough for that to happen.

If he ever did…. She let the hopeful pondering trail off as she decided not to let her mind travel down a route that would never happen.

“Is there a reason you woke me up?” he inquired. “Or was it just to bitch at me?”

Her glower deepened as she grasped his wrist. Ignoring the thrill of electricity and excitement that ran through her at the feel of his warm skin, Sahira pulled him into her room.

Since she hadn’t examined his room yet, she said, “I’m feeling a little lonely.”

She looked back at his disheveled bed again before pulling his door closed and locking it. When she turned back to him, all of Orin’s sleepiness vanished as he grinned at her.

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

When he reached for her, she slapped his hands away and danced back a few steps. Before he could say or do anything, she placed a finger against her lips. He frowned but didn’t speak as he tilted his head to study her.

Sahira waved her fingers in an intricate dance while whispering the words to cast a silencing spell that wouldn’t let anything they said go beyond them. If the dagadon were listening somehow, this would probably make them suspicious, but they had to know Sahira and the others didn’t trust them.

Maybe this would confirm for them that Sahira suspected they were listening. But hopefully, they’d assume she sought to keep their sounds of passion from the guards in the hall.

When she finished, she lowered her hands. “Now we can talk, and they won’t hear us.”

“We can talk later. You just told me you were lonely.”

“I lied. We have to talk.”

“Talk?”

“Yes. You know that thing where immortals and humans exchange words in conversation.”

“I know what talking is, but I have far better things in mind, and you know what those things are. You enjoy them too. I know that because I’ve heard you scream my name while begging for more.”

She rolled her eyes as she tried to suppress the heat and enticing memories his words elicited. Oh, she’d begged, and he’d gladly given it to her. “Keep your dick in your pants.”

“I’m not wearing pants.”