Page 48 of The Edge of Darkness

“Will I always run out that quickly though? Will I always have to sleep for a week?” The thought of the recovery time was almost more annoying than using all my power.

“When it comes to breaking wards the way you can, that’s something no one else can even do. It may not feel like a lot, but you spent a great deal of power each time you did it. And from the info I gathered, you did it four times in Benmoor. Then using the Alatyr on top of all that . . . Amarna was surprised you even succeeded in summoning anyone.”

“Geez, remind me to thank her for believing in me.”

He grinned. “You know what I mean. And no, you won’t always need to sleep this long after. It should take you less time to recover as you learn to utilize your power more efficiently.”

“Was my rescue effort not efficient enough for you?” I joked, pushing his arm playfully.

He caught my hand and moved to pin me against the bed. “Oh, it was. And you should know, I wanted to take you in the middle of that chamber the moment I saw you bend those guards to your will.”

“Niall! You were half dead!”

“Only half,” he argued.

I couldn’t decide whether to scoff or laugh as he slipped his arm around my back and moved me across the massive mattress.

He positioned himself above me, his eyes drifting down my silk-clothed body. “You must already be a goddess, because no one else brings me to my knees as quickly as you do.”

My skin sang with chills as he trailed kisses up my torso over my shift, but the image of his thrashing body—him calling out for me, and me being unable to get to him—lingered at the front of my mind.

“I had a nightmare,” I blurted out.

He continued moving his lips along my skin between my collarbone and neck. “Then let me take your mind off of it.”

His hand began roaming over my body, successfully pulling my thoughts from those dark depths and back to the heat of the moment as the warmth of his palm caressed over the curve of my hip.

I let out a breathy laugh. “I also just came out of a week-long sleep, and the first thing you want to do is ravage me?”

“A week is far too long to go without worshiping your body.”

“Mmm. You’ve always been a smooth talker.” I wasn’t complaining in the least bit, though. The evidence that had begun to seep through my undergarments was enough to say so.

“It seems to be working,” he said, lifting his head to meet my gaze.

“It is.”

I pressed my mouth to his, and his tongue swept in with a smooth stroke that ignited the growing fire within me. The images of the nightmare faded, and I was instantly lost in his touch. His hands were everywhere, as if he feared I would evaporate if he didn’t contain every part of me.

He reached to tug my undergarments down, flinging them across the room as soon as they came free.

“Why did I put so many pieces of clothing on you?” he mumbled as he slipped his hand up the silk shift, dragging it up and over my breasts.

“Two pieces is hardly anything,” I said playfully.

“It’s two too many,” he growled, tugging the fabric over my head and then catching my neck, guiding it back onto the dark sheets.

He sat up and removed his own shirt, and I marveled at his physique while he continued undressing. His shroud appeared to dance across his upper chest in the fire light, as if the markings were truly shadows come to life. Then my eyes snagged on his length as he freed himself from his pants. The sight of him had me aching with desire.

His pants hit the floor somewhere across the room, and I was met with another ravenous kiss.

He positioned his body over mine, but this time there was no taunting or playing beforehand. He pushed into me, seating himself in one smooth thrust, letting out a deep groan of pleasure that was even louder than the moan I released.

As he felt my core adjusting around him he leaned down and kissed me again, and I brought my legs up around his waist, urging him deeper. He filled me so perfectly, so fully. I never wanted our bodies to separate.

He began to pump his hips, and I clawed at his shoulder blades, desperate to get closer. Skin on skin wasn’t nearly enough. I wanted to drink him in and get lost underneath his body for eternity. It felt so good to be back in his arms, to feel the heat between our bodies.

“Niall,” I breathed, moaning at the delicious pace he set. “Niall, I need more.”