Page 86 of An Oath at Midnight

Hunger filled his gaze, his chest pumping hard as I explored. He was like hot iron in my hand, his skin silky smooth.

“Tell me what to do,” I said, unsure and desperate to make him feel good. “Tell me how you like to be touched?”

His Adam’s apple slid up and down his throat. “Just having your hands on me is enough. Anything you do feels fucking amazing.”

I curled my fingers around him more firmly and stroked from root to tip. Hips rocked forward instantly, and his head dropped forward on a groan. “Like that?”

He nodded, breathing hard. His hair had fallen forward, hiding his face from me, and when I did it again, his biceps bulged, the veins in his forearms standing out as he gripped the railing tighter.

Fluid leaked from the slit at the head of his cock and I spread it with my thumb, using it to ease my way. I dragged my hand down and back once more and Bram hissed through clenched teeth.

His head lifted, and dominance rolled off him. His dark eyes were intense, utterly gorgeous. The transformation sent a delicious shiver through me. “Hold me tighter, baby,” he said. “Both hands.”

I did, stroking him again.

He held my eyes and started thrusting his hips, rolling them. He stood over me, still gripping the railing either side of me and I couldn’t look away. He was so beautiful. His tattooed arms and bare chest glistened with sweat, his muscles straining as he worked himself in my grip.

“Dreamed about this, Mags, kissing you, your hands on me.” He took my mouth in another hard kiss, wet and deep, hungry. He sucked my tongue and nipped my lips, making me dizzy from how good it was. “Fuck, I can’t get enough of you,” he said against my lips. “Tighter, faster,” he groaned.

His thrusts grew wild, brutal and I imagined how it would feel if he was inside me. Heat pooled between my thighs. I was panting as well, watching him like this was so incredibly hot.

Then he jerked, his cock pulsing in my hands as he came for me, his entire body jolting with each thrust.

Finally, he dropped his head to my shoulder, shaking, breathing hard.

I kissed his neck, working my way to his ear. “Goddess, Bram, you are so fucking hot,” I said, throat tight, body electric.

He lifted his head, fisted my hair and kissed me hard and deep and wild. I never wanted him to stop.

But then his fingers grazed my back, right over the vines stretching out from the center, reminding me that I had somewhere I needed to be, that this little pause from my task was over.

I didn’t want to go back, I wanted to stay right here forever, but I couldn’t do that.

I needed to get back to the city.

CHAPTER 22

Magnolia

I jogged down the stairs after a quick change of clothes, and there was an unmistakable tingling along the markings on my back and stomach. It’d started a few minutes ago.

Bram stood at the bottom.

“We have somewhere to be,” I said.

He frowned. “Yeah?”

Mom walked out of the kitchen. “Mags?”

The fear in her eyes said it all. Else had told her about my task.

She didn’t ask me about it, she just closed the space between us and pulled me into her arms, trembling. I let her hold me. My scars ached, but I grit my teeth and gave her what she needed, because there was nothing I could do to ease her fears.

Her smile was strained. “You must be hungry. I made you sandwiches. Let me get them.” She rushed off, and I let her do that as well, forcing myself to ignore the sense of urgency filling me, because feeding the people she loved was what she did, especially when she was feeling helpless and it was all she could do.

She handed us both wrapped sandwiches.

“Thanks, Mom.”