A Dream of Fate & Flesh (Courts of Malice #2)

38. Into the Ether

thirty-eight

Into the Ether

Alessia

R ainer keeps his arms wrapped around me, hugging me to him as sobs wrack my body. I bury my face in his chest, desperate to breathe him in. He gently strokes my back, his touch reassuring me. It’s tender, romantic, and, unfortunately, a fleeting moment. I’m not a fool to think we can have this forever.

After I uphold the queen’s request, I’ll have a whole new world to navigate. I have no idea how to rule, lead, or exist beyond the tiny bubble I’ve lived in for so long. I barely know myself, and I’m just learning what it means to be worthy .

This moment right here… Rainer makes me feel loved. Honored. Worthy .

But he also has his own court to return to, and we both know he was meant to rule. His folk need him.

We change the bathwater, properly clean ourselves, and feed each other. Then, we wrap ourselves in the robes hanging behind the door. I rifle through the bag Ezamae gave me, pulling out the garments.

Rainer’s hand lands on my wrist. “He’s doing an awful lot for you.” He eyes the bag skeptically. “It’s concerning.”

“I didn’t realize you had such an issue with Ezamae.”

“I didn’t until he tricked you and seduced you.”

I sigh. “You know he didn’t actually seduce me, and I truly think there’s more to the situation with the queen. He’s adamant about helping, and I—” I cock my head, reading his expression. He bites his bottom lip, watching me carefully. “Wait a moment… Rainer Rohan Iorworth, are you jealous?”

He runs a hand through his damp hair, glancing away.

He is .

I plant my hands on his chest and push him backward until his calves hit the bed. He lands on the mattress with a soft plop. I straddle him. My robe rises around my waist. His eyes darken as he takes me in.

“I only have eyes for you .” I boop him on the nose, and he grasps my wrists, yanking me to his chest. His hands find their way to my bare arse, and I gasp as he grips me there, grinding me against his hardness.

His eyes flicker from pale blue to navy as he growls. “You are all I see, crave, and exist for, mo róisín.”

“Drink from me,” I whisper, holding his gaze.

He exhales heavily, eyes dropping to my lips, then my neck. “No.” He shuts his eyes, waging a silent battle inside his brain.

I pull my hair off my shoulder, baring my neck to him. “Look at me, Rainer,” I say softly. “You need strength.” Playing into his need to protect me, I try from a new angle. “You can’t protect me if you’re weak.”

“Alessia…” he warns, eyes steely.

“I need you,” I beg. “I need you to take me.”

“I—I’m not strong enough to say no.” He wraps a firm hand around the back of my neck, pulling me towards him .

The moment he positions his sharp fangs against my skin, I moan, rolling my hips. With the way we’re positioned, only the thin material of his robe blocks our most sensitive bits from meeting.

“I don’t want to ever cause you pain,” he mutters, his fangs scraping against my skin. “Tell me to stop.”

“Please don’t stop.”

His fingers grip tighter as he growls again, a low, threatening noise. It’s sexy, so feral that my core throbs in response.

“If you change your mind, tell me, and I’ll stop.”

“Stop talking ,” I groan, growing frustrated.

My heart pounds with a mixture of anticipation and desire. The heat from his breath tickles my neck, pebbling my skin. The silence stretches between us, causing tension to coil in my stomach. Then, a sharp, exquisite pain bursts through me as his fangs pierce my skin. I gasp as the sudden sting quickly shifts to ecstasy. A lightning bolt of pleasure shoots through the place his mouth meets my neck. With each gentle suckle, my body responds instinctively, leaning into him, desperate to maximize the buzz.

I moan, gripping him tight to me. “It feels so good… is it supposed to feel like this ?”

He pulls away with a slick pop , and I deflate until he meets my lips.

“It has never felt like this,” he whispers against my mouth before diving in for more. He kisses me carefully, mindful of his fangs, which scrape against my lips.

“Rainer… I…” At a loss for words, I fumble with his robe, opening it up to free him. My hand finds his thickness, and I caress him. “I’ve never wanted anyone like this before.”

I prop myself up onto my knees, lining myself up with the head of his erection.

“Wait.” He grips my hips, holding me in place. His chest rises and falls vigorously, the dark swirls of ink on his bare chest tempting me that much more. Combined with his mussed-up hair and the red smear of my blood on his lips, it’s almost more decadent than I can handle.

“We can’t,” he murmurs.

It snaps me out of my lust. “Why not?”

“I...” He glances away, that deep stress wrinkle appearing on his forehead.

“Am I rushing this?” I ask quietly, shifting off him. I sit beside him, yanking my robe closed and blinking away the budding tears. “I didn’t mean—”

“Mo róisín.” He scoots forward, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear and planting a kiss on the tender spot on my neck. “It’s not that. It’s…” His mouth opens and closes as if he can’t find the words. He blushes.

“Oh,” I say softly. “You’ve never…?” I gesture between us. This isn’t something we’ve ever done—not even in our dreams.

He squeezes his eyes shut for a moment. “I need to tell—”

The door bursts open in a gust of wind so powerful that our hair whips around us. I scream, clutching my robe.

Ezamae’s eyes grow to the size of dinner plates, his face paler than the sheets.

“The timing,” Rainer mutters. He’s slow to tuck himself away.

“Normally, I’d take time to appreciate such a nice cock, but we need to go,” Ezamae says quickly. “It’s rather unfortunate, but the brothel is on fire. ”

“What?” I jump up, snatching the bag off the floor.

Ezamae lurches for me and Rainer. I catch a whiff of smoke and burning wood just as he grips our wrists tightly, propelling us into the ether.