Page 93 of Of Curses and Courtship

“Listen, for just one moment.” Her fingers clutch my shirt tighter. “I was at the ball, Emyr. You saw me there. We spoke at great length, and we danced…”

I nearly flinch away. Another person I don’t remember claims to have danced with me at a ball. Why does this keep happening? I would have remembered Ophelia. She already left such a mark on me before the ball began, in that little tavern in Far Water.

“I didn’t…” My brows furrow, and I shake my head. “I don’t recall. I’m sorry, but I had a fair amount of drink?—”

“No. You remember me.” There is tremendous pressure behind her words. “Iknowyou remember. Please, look at me, and see through the magic of that night. See me.”

I close my eyes.

Those lavender wings and eyes. That strawberry hair. It had been before me, but just out of reach. The magic of the night, indeed…

How is it that I, a great magician, couldn’t see through the illusion of moon magic?

Ophelia. She was in my arms all night.

“It wasn’t Minetta?” I whisper. Blood rushes to my ears, ringing.

“No. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I never wished to be another person deceiving you, and I don’t know why I?—”

It’s not Ophelia who needs to apologize. She didn’t do anything—or if she did, I’ve already forgiven her. Ophelia ran from me, and I ran from her in return, but Minetta…

“She tricked me,” I hiss. “It washer. You mustn’t apologize for her actions.”

She swallows. “Still, I’m sorry. I am.”

With a steady exhale, I press my forehead to hers. “Itmatters little that we should have been together all along. We’re here now.”

“We are.”

“No more wasting time.”

Her shoulders drop, and it’s as if her barriers go along with them. She opens up to me, leaning in. “No more.”

Her mouth seeks mine this time, and we tumble onto the grass, paying no mind to the rain. Warmth from my bones radiates, the sun’s energy, leaving us drenched in heat and water.

I was supposed to be betrothed to Ophelia all along.

Desire crashes and fully rouses what I’ve been pushing off all along. My want for her has been gentle and repressed, but as it fully awakens, it becomes a gripping need. She must feel proof of it pressed against her thigh.

Rather than pulling away or bringing us to a halt, she arches, taking my hand and leading it to her chest. Her nipple is hard beneath my thumb.

“May I…?” I whisper, lowering my head and looking at her through my lashes.

She nods.

I push down the top of her nightdress, revealing her pert breasts. Her thick thighs wrap around my waist, pulling me closer, and I grind my arousal against her heat. I wrap my lips around her nipple and suck, groaning at the taste of her floral flesh.

With a single sound of arousal falling from her lips, the breathiest of moans. I’m a being of desire, made purely of my need for her. I bite down harder, drawing out another sound, and grunt as I grind into her.

“May I taste you, little halfling?” The question comes out of me, pathetic and whimpering. “Please. Let me kneel between your legs and worship you, as if you are the moongoddess—for in my eyes, you are. You’re the only one strong enough to touch the curse. You’re a deity to me.”

“Emyr. Please.” She writhes beneath me and tangles her fingers in my hair, pulling me down. “Cease your constant chattering and do what you’re asking to.”

I chuckle, and she places me exactly where I want to be. Her underthings are soaked—in more ways than one. I remove them delicately. Burying my face in her heat is my new heaven. My nose brushes against her clit as I inhale and push my tongue into her soaked cunt.

It’s as if I am touching the moon and all of her magic. I need another taste, pushing my tongue into her over and over as I grind my face into her heat. Each gasp from her mouth, each moan, is magic to me. It’s magic that belongs to me.

She wraps her legs around my head and holds me there, pressed against her heat. Gods, can I make her come like this? May we stay here forever? I don’t leave until she’s quivering beneath me and her grip on my head finally ceases.