She toyed with one of her own nipples as he sucked the other. “You feel different this way, like you fill me better.”
“You like it?”
“I like everything with you,” she said.
He grunted, and his cock twitched.
“But yes, this is very good,” she said.
“You’re good,” he growled. “I want you to come.”
She gave him a sultry look. “Well, I want that too.” She pushed his hand away from her between her legs and took over.
He let out a grunt.
“Harder, Haid,” she said, stroking herself.
“Yes, Sefoni,” he said, giving her a knowing smile.
“Give me what I need.” She locked eyes with him.
He went harder. His pleasure doubled on itself, then quadrupled, and he was afraid that he was going to go over the edge. “I don’t know if I can—”
“You can,” she assured him, and her voice was gentle but laced with the strain of her impending climax. “I need you to, so you can.”
He panted, holding her gaze. He didn’t think he’d ever done this, looked into someone’s eyes while they were both so close to their apexes. It was incredibly intimate. He felt as though she was the one inside him somehow, as if she’d seared herself on the backs of his eyelids and the walls of his heart.
She let out a series of breathy, expectant moans.
He tensed, somehow anticipating her breaking point.
And then he felt it, felt her convulsing around him, and she arched her back and tossed her hair and pushed out her beautiful breasts, and he thrust deeply into her and let go, and then they were caught up in an explosion of sparks and flame together as the heat within them combusted again and again and again.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“HUNGRY?” HAID WAS amused.
Sefoni smiled across the dining room table at her handsome husband. She kept looking up at him and knowing he was hers and feeling as if she was realizing it for the first time all over again. She hadn’t been sure of him before, but something had shifted between them. Maybe it was the sex or maybe it was his bare chest or maybe it was committing murder together—well, she guessed she’d done the murder part, but he hadn’t even tried to stop her—but they were bound now, bound inextricably, and she was certain of him, deep in her soul, in a way she’d never been so certain of anything else in her life.
He was hers. She was his.
They were together.
“What can I say?” she said, shrugging. “I must have worked up an appetite somehow.”
He smirked. “I can’t think how that could have been.”
“No?” She arched an eyebrow. “Well, it might have been all the very energetic sex we had.”
He laughed.
She had a plate full of sweetbreads, ham, sausages, potatoes, and dates. It was overflowing, and she fully intended to eat every bit of it. “Of course, there were other things I did that might have expended energy.”
“Right,” he said, and a look crossed his face, one that he’d given her in the wake of the Cowntess’s death. It was almost worshipful, and she couldn’t say she minded it. “You are magnificent. Have I ever told you this?”
“You may have mentioned it once or twice.” She speared a sausage with her fork.
The dining room was still mostly bare, but it had a table now and chairs, and curtains on the walls. It was definitely an improvement. Before it had been little better than a narrow cave of a room.
“After Rzymn,” he said, “do you want to come back here or do you want to stay in town?”
She chewed on the sausage, which was very good, musing over it. “Well, sometimes we should be back here, I think.”
“I was thinking about the sitting room in the west wing. It gets sunlight in the mornings, and I think we should set it up as a shanj room for you.”
“A room entirely for shanj?” She grinned at him.
“We haven’t played in too long,” he said. “And in case you’re wondering, I want you to play not because I want to use you for some scheme in my revenge but because I know you like it, and I live to make you happy.”
She giggled. “There’s no worry on that score, Haid. You want Rzymn, so I want Rzymn. I also live to make you happy.”
“You do make me happy.” His voice had dropped to a growl.
She gave him a coy look. “You make me happy too.”
“You make me exultant,” he said.
“You make me— Is that juice? Fresh squeezed berry juice?” She had just spotted the pitcher next to Haid, and she was already getting out of her seat to go and see to it.
“Ah, I see how I rate when it comes to juice,” he said, but he didn’t sound angry, only amused.
“You are a close second in my affections, I assure you,” she said, and now she was next to him, looking down at the pitcher. “Who did this? Who had the time? One of the new servants?”
“I have no idea,” he said, and he pulled her down into his lap.
She let out a mew of surprise.
He kissed her.
She wriggled around his lap, getting in better position to put her mouth on his, and he groaned against her lips, his hips jutting out into the soft flesh of her thigh. She gasped.
The kiss immediately took on another dimension, and she felt as though the connection between them surged with warm and sizzling promise, and she wondered if it was going to be like this between them all the time now. She didn’t think she would find it within herself to complain.
“What did you do?” The voice was low and even.
Sefoni pulled away, climbing out of Haid’s lap.
Haid pulled her right back. “No, none of that, Sefoni. Pairce is just going to have to get used to watching us like this, because I have no intention of keeping my hands off you in the presence of others. I have no control over myself in that way.”
“What did you do?” Pairce stalked into the room, and there was fury writ all over her expression.
“You’re going to have to be more specific,” said Haid idly, tracing a finger over Sefoni’s shoulder.
Sefoni brushed him off. “She’s talking about the Cowntess.”
“Ah,” said Haid in a different voice.
Sefoni got up out of her husband’s lap, smoothing her skirts. “It wasn’t planned, but she was going to have to die at some point, and Haid and I needed it.” She wasn’t sorry. She wasn’t sure why that was. She had always felt guilty about murder before, but… well, there had been that musqueteer she shot for Haid when they were fighting to free Cadon. That hadn’t bothered her either. When it was for Haid, it was different, that was all.
Haid stood up behind her, putting his hand on her waist, so that they stood together. “It just happened, Pairce. I suppose we haven’t thought through the ramifications yet, have we, love?” He glanced down at Sefoni.
She glanced up at him. “It could be a problem, I suppose.”
“Could be?” said Pairce, who was shaking, whose face was white, who had balled both of her hands into fists. “You threw everything away, everything that we’ve worked for, and for what?”
“It was necessary,” said Sefoni. “Haid and I, we needed it.”
“Why did you need it?” said Pairce.
“I…” She sighed. “It’s hard to explain.”
“What about Cadon?” said Pairce.
“The Cowntess said she couldn’t do it, anyway,” said Haid.
“Did you at least get her to tell you more information about where she got the spell?” said Pairce. “Did you do that?”
“Not really, no,” said Sefoni. She looked up at Haid. “We do need to fix Cadon, Haid. You’re going to have to come up with another idea.” She turned back to Pairce. “He will come up with another idea, Pairce, so don’t worry. It’s what he does. He’s good at plans.”
“Well, this plan was fine, until you ruined it,” said Pairce. “And neither of you seem particularly concerned about Cadon, no
t at all.” Her chin jutted out. “I wouldn’t put it past you to just find some way to use him like this, Haid. You’ll set him free in the sunlight, as long as it serves your job. You don’t care about him.”
“He doesn’t really seem to like me,” said Haid. “I, however, do wish him well, and I want to help him. So—”
“What is wrong with the both of you?” Pairce lifted her fists. “You killed a woman, and then you’re just practically rutting with each other over breakfast? What, was it some sort of foreplay?”
Sefoni didn’t know what to say to that.
“Oh, you both disgust me,” said Pairce, and she turned on her heel and stalked out.
They both watched her go.
Sefoni sighed. “Blazes.”
Haid’s arm tightened reassuringly around her. “I hope you’re not feeling guilty about it. I know, when you told me of burning men to ash before—”
“I don’t feel the least bit guilty,” she said. “I suppose I should—”
“No,” he said.
“I don’t think she was going to help us with Cadon at all,” said Sefoni.
“Neither do I,” said Haid.
“But I suppose I can see why Pairce would be upset.” Sefoni sighed again. She went over and picked up the pitcher of juice and went back to her plate. She poured juice into her goblet and sat down. She ate another sausage.
Haid sat down across from her. “I will come up with an idea, of course.”
“I know you will,” said Sefoni.
“But today, I think we should play shanj,” he said. “Pairce will come around.”
“Of course she will,” said Sefoni.
CADON HADN’T SEEN Pairce all day, and she had told him she’d come back to eat breakfast with him after leaving their bed that morning. It had been a good morning, waking up together, kissing, and then making love again. They had lain in each other’s arms and talked and she’d seemed hopeful and eager, talking of their future together, talking of his being in the sun with her.
But then she hadn’t come back for breakfast, only sent down food for him, and he obviously couldn’t go after her, so he had to wait.
He thought about venturing out to see if the sun was still out, but he was afraid that if it was, he’d rage out and go off into it, instead of back into the darkness, and he might hurt someone.
The thought made him feel guilty.
How could he be so selfish as to wish to keep this body if he knew there was some way to reverse it and to make himself safe again? He supposed all this time in the darkness, even getting to go outside in the moonlight, it had made him complacent, and he had forgotten of the real dangers.
It was only Pairce.
He now knew that he was foolishly in love with her, that there was no going back on that front, and he also understood that trusting a person, it was always a leap of faith. He couldn’t be certain of her, but he could choose to believe in her, and it was good that he’d chosen it because it made everything deeper and sweeter between them, and he… blazes, she destroyed him.
He worried when she didn’t come back.
Perhaps she had betrayed him somehow. Perhaps it was all an act between them and now that she had rutted with him, she had completed whatever task had been set out for her.
It was odd how little he cared about that, even though he had been so frightened of it before.
He didn’t want to be a fool, but he was a fool for her.
He couldn’t undo that.
Eventually, she appeared, and she was urgent as she took his hands and told him to follow her.
“Where have you been?” he asked her. “You didn’t come back as you promised.”
“Oh,” she said. “I’m so sorry. I completely forgot. Everything’s gone upside down, Cadon. We’re leaving.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve got the carriage waiting for us. Your stone coffin is in it, but we won’t need it until the sun comes up, so you can sit with me for most of the journey,” she said.
“Why are we leaving?” he said. “I don’t understand.”
“They killed the Cowntess.”
“Who did?”
“Sefoni burned her,” said Pairce, her voice twisting with fury.
He felt anger surge within him as well. “I wanted to kill her.”
“That’s your response?” Now her ire was turned on him.
“I wanted to hurt her more, at any rate. Was it quick, do you think? She didn’t deserve it quick.”
“I don’t think one can burn to death quickly.” Pairce shook her head. “I can’t believe we didn’t hear her screams, but I suppose your room is on the other side of the dungeon, and we were both very tired after we…” She tugged on him. “There’s no time to waste.”
They were walking.
That was when it dawned on him. “There’s no way to fix me.”
“Exactly,” said Pairce in a strangled voice.
“Did they find information from her?” Now, they were ascending the steps to get to the door and outside.
“No, nothing,” said Pairce. “And they weren’t even sorry. They didn’t even act as though it was a problem. They’re not even concerned.”
He let out an irritated breath. “That Haid, he’s a piece of work.”
“I know,” said Pairce. “I used to think he was good, but he’s got his priorities, and I’m not one of them. Neither are you. We’ll be better off without them.”
“So, they don’t know we’re leaving.”
“No,” she said. “But all is not lost. I spoke to the Cowntess last night.”
“When?”
She hesitated.
“Pairce, you were with me last night.”
“I left you after you were sleeping and went to her,” she said. “I made a deal that she would reverse what she did and then I would let her go.”
“What?” He pulled away from her.
She seized his hand. “Oh, please, don’t be that way. It doesn’t matter anymore. She’s dead, and she can’t go free.”
“That was specifically against my wishes, Pairce.”
“I know, but you were…”
He sighed. “All right, never mind that. You’re right, she’s dead. It doesn’t matter.”
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I just wanted you to be free of this awful curse, that’s all. I want us to be together in the light, and I know you think I want you to be this hulking giant man, but I want you any way I can have you, and what I’m trying to tell you is that I know who helped the Cowntess. A woman named Maib gave her the spell, and we are going to find her, and she is going to fix you.”
He drew in a breath. “Never do something like that behind my back again, Pairce.”
She swallowed.
“It’s not the way to build trust, you realize that?”
“I’m sorry, Cadon.” Her voice broke.
“This is my body,” he said. “If anyone gets to make decisions about what happens to it, it should be me.”
“You’re right, I… I didn’t think about… I should have, especially with everything that’s happened to me—I’m sorry.”
He pulled her against him, kissing the top of her head. “It’s all right. It’s all right. Perhaps I was just being selfish with wanting to stay this way. After all, the biggest problem with this body is that I don’t get to make decisions about what happens to it, because I’m lost as soon as I’m near flame.”
“I will get you your body back, Cadon,” she said. “I swear to you.”
“Let’s go, then,” he said. “You and I together.”
“Always,” she said.
“IT’S VERY LATE for visitors,” said the servant at the townhouse of Gaheris Wintereth.
“He’ll want to see me,” said Tristanne. “I guarantee it. Show me to a sitting room and go and fetch him. Fetch his ‘wife,’ too.”
If the servant heard the emphasis she put on the word wife, he didn’t react to it. He sighed heavily.
“Well, it would be terribly uncouth to turn aside a visitor, even at this hour. Please come in.”
Tristanne noted how small Gaheris’s townhouse appeared compared to hers. Of course Gaheris’s money came over from his meager business making shoes for the aristocracy. He had enough money to keep this house and a few servants, but he would never be truly wealthy.
She was pleased that she had more than him, with everything that she had amassed. She was more secure than Gaheris would ever be, and that was the most important thing.
The servant told Tristanne to take a seat, but Tristanne didn’t.
Instead, she stood in front of the fireplace, running her fingers over the mantel.
When the door opened, she turned.
Gaheris entered.
He was alone.
Tristanne smirked. “Where’s Mairli?”
“Tristanne,” said Gaheris. “What a surprise.”
“Have someone go and fetch your ‘wife,’” said Tristanne. “I’ll wait. I wish to speak to you both.”
Gaheris looked as though he was going to protest, but then he simply turned and left the room.
Tristanne wondered if she was being dismissed, but then Gaheris returned only moments later, Mairli trailing behind him. Mairli stole a glance at Tristanne and then looked away.
Tristanne clasped her hands behind her back. She nodded at the couch. “Sit down, both of you.”
Gaheris folded his arms over his chest. “Now, look here, Tristanne, if you think you can come into my own house and order me about—”
“Gail sent a letter about the two of you to The Laironn Tattler,” said Tristanne.
Mairli sucked in a horrified gasp.
“Oh, yes, mentioned you by name,” said Tristanne. She nodded at the couch again.
Mairli sat down.
Gaheris, sighing, did the same, sitting on the opposite side of Mairli.
Tristanne began to pace in front of the couch. “She didn’t know of your reputation, Mairli, but I guarantee you the gossip paper had put it all together and would have dragged up everything with the Cownt of Loth and Jacx Sair and the entire sordid story. You weren’t spared either, Gaheris. Your sister sold you out. You’d have been ruined. Probably would have damaged your business. What a clever idea you had to rid yourself of your inconvenient wife.”
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