Page 86 of The Unseen Hour

“Several things.” He smirked. “Should I tell you all my most scandalous desires, Starlight?”

I’d sworn I wasn’t going to shy away from what this year might hold, not when it could all be taken away at any moment.

“You could, or you could show me.”

He was on me in a moment, pressing me gently up against the cool stone between the crystals, capturing my lips in his.

“Ry!” I couldn’t help letting his name slip out in a moan when he nipped at my neck.

“I could get us a blanket?” he offered, his breath sending delicious shivers down my spine.

“Yes. Let’s do that.”

I was tired of feeling any separation between us, and with Orion healed and Charon distracted, this was the perfect moment to rectify that.

I was so eager that I tripped forward in the sand as I moved for our satchels. Orion attempted to catch me, and we went tumbling. I landed on his chest.

“Ry! Are you okay?”

Blasted ghosts.

If I’d hurt him after he’d just fixed his leg, that might put a damper on things. Even if we did have a magically healing pool with us.

“Excellent,” he wheezed. “This was all part of my devious plan.”

He smirked, reaching up and pressing his lips against mine. I leaned into the kiss.

Ry wrapped an arm around me and rolled us so my back was in the sand. I laughed, at least until I looked into his eyes. The blue sparked, and Orion looked ravenous.

“Starlight,” he groaned, tugging the neckline of my shirt aside and leaning down to trail kisses along my collarbone.

“Why Starlight?” I asked, then gasped as his body pressed against mine. I could feel his hardened length pressing against my core. Heat shot through me, and an urgent need.

“Orion.”

He stopped, looking at me and running a hand through my hair.

“I called you Starlight because I’ve been trapped for a hundred years in a realm with no stars. The Ether may have beautiful lights, but as for stars, it doesn’t have even a single one. I’ve always loved the stars—watching them and planning my adventures. Thinking of how you can see the same constellations from every country in Rayus. You can’t see any here, and I’ve felt adrift for so long. Alone, and in the dark. Then you arrived, and you lit up this entire realm. Your presence is brighter than any star in the sky, and I knew I was lost to you the moment you entered the Ether. But also that my soul had been found again. It’s not the sort of thing you admit right away; I didn’t want to scare you. But I’ve been yours since you arrived.”

My eyes threatened to fill with tears, so I did the only logical thing. I wrapped a leg around him, pulling him even closer. His eyes widened, then his mouth met my own again. We were a desperate clash of limbs.

“Orion, I’m ready.”

“Really?”

I gasped as he nipped at my neck.

“Yes, all gods yes.”

I pulled at his back, desperate to have him closer. He’d mentioned grabbing a blanket, but I didn’t want to let him go. Not ever again.

Loud caws sounded, and the tree hoppers swooped into the cavern, flapping furiously.

“Bloody ghosts!” Orion cursed. “What could be⁠—”

Something loud and deep echoed outside the cave.

“Ry! Did you hear that?”