Page 42 of Sanctuary and Spices
“Do that again,” he growled.
I did, watching his control slip as I stroked the sensitive spot. His thrusts grew harder, deeper. Heat coiled tighter in my core.
“Up,” he commanded suddenly, pulling out. Before I could protest the loss, he’d flipped me onto my hands and knees.
He slid back in with a single thrust that had us both crying out. This angle let him hit spots that sent sparks shooting through me. My arms gave out and I collapsed onto my elbows, changing the angle even more deliciously.
His hands gripped my hips as he drove into me. The sounds of our pleasure filled the room - gasps and moans mixing with the slap of skin on skin.
One hand left my hip to reach around, fingers finding my sensitive bud. The dual stimulation had me rocketing toward another peak.
“Close,” I managed between gasps.
“Yes,” he growled, movements growing erratic. “Come for me again.”
His fingers circled faster and I shattered, crying out his name. He followed moments later with a roar, markings blazing like captured starlight.
We collapsed together, his weight pressing me into the mattress. After a moment he rolled us to our sides, keeping me tucked against him.
My fingers traced idle patterns on his arm where it wrapped around my waist. His markings still pulsed softly, matching the gradually slowing beat of his heart against my back.
“That was...” I trailed off, lacking words.
He pressed a kiss to my shoulder. “Yes.”
Questions crowded my mind - about what he’d called me, about these feelings between us, about the way the station itself seemed to hum in harmony. But exhaustion pulled at me, and his warmth was so comfortable...
“Sleep,” he murmured, pulling me closer. “We’ll talk in the morning.”
I drifted off surrounded by his scent, his markings painting dreams across my skin.
Warmth wrappedaround me as I drifted toward wakefulness. An unfamiliar bed, but I felt utterly safe. Ronhar curled around me, one arm draped over my waist.
Rainbow light danced across the sheets from the crystal formations studding his quarters’ walls. I stretched carefully, savoring the peaceful moment before?—
The festival. Opening far too soon.
My mental checklist exploded into being: Transport containers to load. Temperature controls to verify. Last-minute adjustments to the valthorn preserves...
I tried to slip free of Ronhar’s embrace without waking him.
His arms tightened. “Stay.”
“I can’t. We have so much to do.” But I couldn’t help smiling at his sleepy pout. This powerful ex-mercenary, looking like a disappointed child.
“Five more minutes.” He nuzzled my neck.
“That’s what you said an hour ago.” I turned in his arms, brushing my lips against his. “And as much as I’d love to stay...”
His markings flared brighter at the kiss. “You could.”
“The festival won’t set itself up.” I sat up, clutching the sheet. “Though I should probably figure out how to get back to the boarding house without everyone seeing me in evening wear.”
“I have something you can borrow.” He rose, moving to a storage unit built into the wall. The morning light caught the markings spanning his back, making them shimmer.
He returned with fabric that seemed to capture starlight - deep blue shot through with crystal threading that caught and reflected the room’s glow. “Traditional Devaali clothing. It wraps like a skirt.”
“It’s beautiful.” I touched the material reverently. So soft.
