by Jenna Moreci
Tobias wavered. “I dream about you most nights.”
“Is that so? What kind of dreams?”
“Sometimes it’s just you and me together, like this. Other times we’re more…involved.”
Fire pulsed through Her veins, Her heartbeat echoing in Her ears.
“Apologies if that makes you uncomfortable,” he said.
“I don’t mind.”
Tobias met Her gaze. “Your turn.”
Leila summoned every ounce of courage within Her. “I dream of you most nights as well.”
The sky overhead morphed from black to wild pink. Leila reveled in the sight, while Tobias’s fingertips swept Her figure from Her ribs down to Her hip.
“Are you ticklish?” he asked.
“No. Are you?”
His silence was all the answer She needed. She launched Her hand into his armpit.
“Leila, you bastard!”
His cries fueled Her, and She tickled without remorse while he floundered beneath Her onslaught. “You betray me! Stop!” But She continued, the two of them rolling through the grass, laughing in one another’s arms. Escaping Her torture, Tobias latched onto Her wrists, pinning Her to the ground.
Leila’s lungs ached, Her giggles dying in breathless spurts. “I surrender.”
Tobias’s smile consumed Her vision. He lay on top of Her, stifling Her with his weight, but something about it felt freeing and good.
His eyes strayed from Hers, tracing Her form.
“What?” She said.
“You’re so beautiful.”
“So are you.”
Tobias chuckled. “I’m beautiful?”
Leila nodded, basking in his heat. He pressed his mouth to Hers, and the sugary taste of his kiss bombarded Her senses, filling Her to the brim.
She ran Her hands up his back, then through his hair, drawing him in. He lingered against Her lips before moving to Her cheek, down toward Her collarbone, leaving breathy kisses that seeped into Her veins. His tongue drew fluid circles on Her neck, eliciting wave after wave of pleasure that forced a moan from Her throat.
Don’t stop.
His mouth latched onto the curve of Her neck, loosening Her senses. He nipped at the soft flesh, and the pulsing between Her thighs turned fervent, desperate. Wrapping Her legs around him, She pressed him against Her, his hard cock digging into Her pelvis.
She wanted it.
She wanted him.
Leila ripped his shirt over his head, running Her hands down his sculpted stomach. Tobias’s breathing turned fast and heavy, and a second later his hips were circling against Hers, pressing his manhood between Her legs. He wants Me. It was vibrating through him, calling for Her to pull him closer, deeper. She pinned Her legs against his back, willing the thin layers of fabric between them to disappear.
I chose You instead.
Leila’s eyes shot open. This couldn’t happen. Not like this.
Tobias still writhed against Her, and She led his hand up Her thigh, stopping it at the slit of Her dress.
“This is where I draw the line,” She said.
Tobias froze, his gaze darting between Her eyes, Her leg. Long seconds of silence passed before he took Her hand in his. “And where do you draw the line on me?”
He pulled Her palm down the hard planes of his chest, and Her breath caught once Her fingertips reached his waistband.
“Here.”
Tobias nodded. “All right.”
“Things are complicated enough as it is.” Leila’s nerves stirred. “I just—”
“Leila, I require no explanation. The lines are drawn. And if they change in any direction, I hope you’ll show me as unequivocally as you have just now.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to. Or that I don’t think about it.”
Tobias’s eyes lit up. “You think about it?”
“Maybe.”
“Are you blushing?”
She turned Her head. “Don’t tease me.”
His laughter loosened the tension within Her. When She dared a glance his way, he was waiting at Her side, a smile on his face as his fingers danced through Her hair.
“I hope I haven’t ruined the moment,” She said.
Tobias snorted. “Of course not. Do you think I’m stupid? That I assume you exist simply for my pleasure? I’m perfectly content with holding you and kissing you for the entire night, so long as that’s what you want as well.”
“Well then, you should know I really, really want you to kiss me right now.”
“Where?”
“I get to choose?” Tobias nodded, and Leila pointed to the sweet spot at the base of Her throat. “Here.”
His full lips grazed Her skin, leaving a long kiss that sent tremors rolling through Her. His gaze locked onto Hers, and She teased Her fingertips down Her décolletage. “Here.”
His kiss only fueled Her temptation, Her mind wandering to places it didn’t belong. She tapped Her lips. “And here.”
She nearly lost Herself in his captivating smile before his mouth was once again pressed to Hers. His body sank into Her, but this time he moved gracefully, gentle in a way that spoke volumes, a tenderness She’d never known.
“Tobias?”
His eyes flitted to Hers. “Yes?”
“Nothing…” She shook Her head. “Well, no, it’s not nothing. I just think you’re the most wonderful man I’ve ever known. I wanted to tell you that. That’s all.”
Another grin lit his face, and when he kissed Her, She could’ve sworn She’d become weightless, free of every hardship that bound Her to the fortress.
Safe for the first time in years.
25
The Servants
Kisses trailed Leila’s neck as flecks of yellow and pink floated above Her like fireflies. Her garden used to be the most beautiful sight She’d ever seen, but not anymore. That title now belonged to Tobias’s colors painting the night.
“You’ve certainly found your favorite spot,” She said.
“You seem to like it.”
“I hate it.”
His head perked up. “You hate it?”
“Because I like it.”
Chuckling, Tobias resumed his worship, nipping at Her skin.
“You have me so conflicted,” She said. “On the one hand, I want you to stop, because you’re making it hard to behave. On the other, I want you to keep going, because it feels fantastic. Like your lips are traveling through my entire body.”
“How about I continue, and if at any point you misbehave, I’ll politely remind you of your manners.”
Leila raised an eyebrow. “You will, will you?”
Tobias laughed. “Don’t look at me like that. If anything happens between us, I want you to remember the moment with excitement, not regret.”
“You should know, as soon as things…uncomplicate themselves…I won’t regret anything with you. Not at all.”
He smiled against Her ear. “Does that mean you want me?”
She answered with Her touch, drawing fluid strokes down his chest, circling his stomach before teasing the line of his waistband. Swallowing a groan, Tobias flopped back onto the grass, his hands folded on his lap as he hummed to himself.
“What are you doing?” Leila said.
“I’m distracting myself from all of this.” He waved a hand at Her. “All of…you.”
Leila laughed, while Tobias clamped his eyes shut. “Don’t mind me, I’m a respectable man not without self-control. I can keep it together. I…” he let out a breath, “…can keep it together.”
“Oh, please.”
“Don’t oh please me,” he said. “You started it all.”
“I didn’t, actually. You told me about your dreams.”
“Right.” Tobias sighed. “Dammit.”
As he resumed his humming, Leila let out a snort. “Tobias, it’s only me.”
“Don’t pretend for a second I’m the first person to find you utterly tempting.”
“I’ve to
ld you. Men find me—”
“Intimidating, yes, I know. But trust me, all these intimidated men go off to beat their meat the moment you leave the room.”
Leila could hardly suppress Her giggles, Her hands planted over Her mouth.
“I’m serious! You’re gorgeous. You’re so, so gorgeous.” He rolled on top of Her, pressing Her into the grass. “You’re amazing.”
His kiss was passionate and raw. Leila responded in kind, raking Her fingers through his hair.
“I’m the luckiest man,” he whispered.
“Why?”
“I get to be with you.” He donned a cocksure grin. “But apparently no one else has ever tried, which certainly makes me smarter than the others. I might be the smartest man alive, actually.”
“Don’t flatter yourself.”
“I’ll flatter myself if I please, thank you very much,” he said.
“Well, I think I’m the smart one here.” Leila braced Herself, treading dangerously outside Her realm of comfort. “I don’t know if you’ve realized, but a large number of eligible bachelors recently entered the fortress.”
“I’m vaguely aware, yes.”
“I took them as fools. Might’ve referred to them as idiots on a few occasions.”
“You’re very astute, Leila. We are all idiots.”
“Not all of you.” She swirled Her fingertips along his chest. “As much as I despise this tournament, I seem to have found the goodness in it all.”
The night sky disappeared, blanketed by a sunset of joy bleeding straight from Tobias. He brought his lips to Hers, the smile in his kiss apparent, a spot of happiness that belonged solely to Her.
“We don’t have to leave anytime soon, do we?” he asked. Leila shook Her head, and his smile widened. “Good.”
Her eyes closed with his slow kiss, an indulgence She would relish for however long the night would allow.
Leila’s eyes flicked open. The sky was still awash in black, the grass fluttering against Her ears. Tobias lay at Her side, propped up on his elbow as he watched Her.
“Tobias… Did I fall asleep?”
“You did.” His voice came out deep and melodic. “You were so beautiful. A goddess of the night.”
She luxuriated in his palpable stare before eyeing him over: strong shoulders, a chiseled stomach, powerful thighs.
He was nude.
“Your clothes.” She sucked in a breath. “Where did they—?”
“The same place your dress disappeared to, I imagine.”
Leila looked down at Herself and froze. The whole of Her womanhood was on display, not a shred of Her pale flesh covered. “Oh God.”
“Shh.” He pulled Her close, running a hand down Her cheek. “It’s all right. You are breathtaking. You are mine.”
Leila relaxed in his embrace. Their clothes must’ve blown away with the evening breeze. Perfectly logical. He pressed his mouth to Hers, and a pulsing heat sank deep into Her belly, leaving Her yearning and wet.
“Let me make love to you.” Tobias spoke between kisses, cupping Her breasts. “Let me please you, again and again.”
“But we can’t—”
“Why? What’s stopping you?”
His gaze was overwhelming, two pools of the darkest chocolate deep enough to drown in. Why was She waiting? She racked Her mind but couldn’t remember.
“Nothing,” She said. “Nothing at all.”
Tobias licked his lips, pushing Her to the ground with a force She craved. Seconds later he was on top of Her, spreading Her legs wide, caressing Her face, pulling Her hair; how he managed to be all over Her at once, She hadn’t a clue. Pressing his cock against Her, he brought his lips to Her ear.
“Can I?”
“Please.” She trembled. “I want you.”
One swift thrust, and Leila moaned, pleasure spilling through Her in waves. Tobias undulated in strong, broad strokes, and She followed the movement of his hips, edging to the brink of climax.
“Come here.” He rolled back onto the grass and pulled Her on top of him. “I want to see you. All of you.”
She rode him with a confidence well beyond Her prowess, as if fucking Tobias was innate within Her, a gift She’d always known. He gripped hard at Her ass, his longing everything She’d ever wanted, nearly as gratifying as his thickness between Her legs. She panted his name, teasing Her breasts as She prepared to spill over.
Heat poured down Her shoulders—a blazing light.
The sun had risen, casting Her celestial skin aglow.
Tobias’s eyes widened. “Get off me!”
He shoved Her aside, collapsing Her to the grass. She scrambled to right Herself. “Tobias—”
“Don’t come any closer.”
Leila’s gut hollowed. The heat of the sun lost its power, as the look of abject loathing on Tobias’s face sent Her blood cold.
“To think I ever felt any affection for You…” He snarled. “God, it disgusts me. You disgust me.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying.”
“Is that right? Who then controls my tongue? Answer me this.”
Tears streamed down Her cheeks as She gaped at Tobias, a man She no longer recognized. He grabbed Her arms, lurching Her forward.
“What are you doing?” She shrieked.
The chill of Her veins turned to ice. Tobias was gone. Her father loomed before Her, spittle flying as he roared.
“Kill The Savior!”
Leila’s eyes shot open. Her cheek was buried in the prickly grass, the air still and silent. Tobias lay across from Her, eyes closed in peaceful slumber. A sigh of relief escaped Her as She took in the rise and fall of his shoulders, the gleaming bronze of his skin, the way the golden tips of his hair shined in the sunlight.
It was daytime.
She was glowing.
Panic gripped Her lungs. Slowly, She shifted upright, flinching with each movement Tobias made. She snatched up his shirt and Her blade before resting a hand on his shoulder.
To his chamber.
Fire burst through Her, and the grass beneath them morphed into a bed, the garden an empty wall brightened by the morning sun.
His chamber was illuminated.
Dammit.
She held Her breath, willing Herself to be silent. Tobias was still asleep, curled atop his bed as if he had always been there. She could make this work. As gracefully as possible, She placed Tobias’s shirt at his side and turned to leave.
Another bed sat at the opposite side of the room, and in its center was Orion. He polished the arrowheads in his lap, eyes on Leila.
“Your Holiness.” He nodded.
Cursing, She summoned Her light and disappeared from the chamber.
Leila collapsed onto Her bed, cradling Her face in Her hands. Orion knows. She kicked at the sheets and pounded Her fists into the mattress, ending Her fit with a huff. What if he threatens You? Puts You in a corner, like Raphael? Rolling onto Her stomach, She screamed into Her pillow.
Another man to manage.
Gathering Herself, She changed Her dress and secured Her blade before charging through the palace. It didn’t take long to plan Her next move, though each passing second felt like an hour She didn’t have. One servant led Her to another, who led Her to Mousumi, who informed Her that Orion, along with Kaleo and Flynn, would soon be heading to a reward with The Savior. “I see You’ve forgotten,” the servant keeper said with scorn, but Leila hadn’t time to find an excuse. She prepped Cosima for the formality, and then She waited.
One by one, the men left their chambers: first Flynn, then Kaleo, and finally Orion, heading down the corridor in a line. Leila glanced over the walls—no open windows, not a single trace of sunlight—then followed the competitors, catching up to the burly woodsman. As She opened Her mouth to speak, Orion broke the silence.
“I won’t tell anyone.” His voice came out low and even. “Your secret’s safe.”
Leila nearly started. “Have you known for long?”
“Known what? That You’re with Tobias, or that You’re The Savior?”
She hesitated. Flynn and Kaleo were far ahead, out of earshot, but She whispered regardless. “Both, I suppose.”
“Tobias says Your name in his sleep sometimes.”
“He does?” Leila said. “In a good way?”
“In a very good way.” Orion furrowed his brow. “I didn’t know You were The Savior until You…appeared in our room? In a cloud of smoke, it looked like. Very theatrical.”
“You’re not mad? About the ruse?”
Orion shrugged. “Haven’t thought much about it, to be honest.”
“The reasons are complicated.”
“I imagine so.”
“I’m in a world of danger,” Leila said.
“This is a dangerous place.”
“You’re so understanding.”
Another shrug. “Life is only complicated if you make it so.”
“Sometimes complications aren’t a choice.”
Orion cracked a smile. “Tobias is a good man. The best among us. You’ve chosen wisely. Though I wouldn’t expect any less of Her Holiness.”
Leila’s shoulders curled. “Please, don’t tell him who I am. That I’m The Savior.”
“He doesn’t know?”
Leila shook Her head, and some semblance of realization crossed Orion’s face. “That explains a lot,” he mumbled.
“I need to be the one to tell him. Eventually. It has to come from Me.”
“It means he loves You, You know.” Orion stopped in the hallway, eyes locked on Her. “He doesn’t know Your title, yet he calls Your name in his sleep. He longs for You, and in his eyes, he blasphemes for You. He loves You for who You are, in Your soul.”
His words shook Her. She hadn’t considered it before, too distracted by schemes and death, but now the thought rang loud between Her ears.
He loves You. Maybe She loved him back.
“You care for him a great deal,” She said.
“We’ve become close.”
“Thank you, then. For protecting him.”
“It seems as though You’ve been doing a much better job of that than I have.”
His lighthearted wink relaxed Her. Then Her gaze journeyed past him altogether, focusing onto the wall behind him—and the mirror hanging in a golden frame, carrying a reflection She didn’t recognize. A woman with deep copper skin, long black hair as straight as an arrow, and a sharpness in her cheekbones that contrasted the warmth of her dark eyes. Eyes that were on Orion.