Page 149 of The Hunted

It smelled like it, too.

However, it was the only structure that Eryx felt was safe enough for them to use for the night. At the moment, it also smelled like his mate, him, their sex, and the crisp breeze coming in through the slated windows. That bit of wind brought with it the scent of smoke, too, but neither of them mentioned it though he knew she had to smell the fire like he did.

He didn’t mind the mustiness of the tower or the fact that they rested on a pile of their wet clothing tangled together because at the moment, he had better things to focus on.

Like Arelle.

And that she was on top of him.

Fucking him.

The same way she’d done all night. Well, in between short bursts of sleep that never seemed to last too long before one of them woke up again and reached for the other.

Her fingernails dug into his chest, and she showed him her teeth when she leaned down just close enough that he could almost kiss her. Almost, because she was keeping that from him this time. She very much enjoyed riding him because it gave her control, like now.

How fast she went …

Whether she came, or he did.

It was all on her terms.

He let her have it.

This time.

“Tell me a secret,” he heard himself say.

Even his voice didn’t sound like his own. No, it sounded high with her and their fucking and everything that should be right and good. He didn’t have to think about what awaited them outside of this tower, or a world that would be turned on its end.

“I would like to sit on your face instead,” she returned. “And then have you taste your cum coming out of me, yes?”

Eryx laughed, but it quickly melted into a prayer—her name—when she squeezed her muscles and sat down atop him harder than before. Her rhythm stilled, but her hips grinded against his body without her own lifting from his. Hard and sure, around and around on his cock until he was sure he was going to blow.

And then she stopped again.

“You’re killing me,” he mumbled against his palm.

His other was wrapped in the hair that had tumbled down her back.

“Do you still want a secret?” she asked.

“Are you going to let me come?”

“I may.”

Eryx grinned and she lowered just enough to finally give him a soft kiss. It wasn’t nearly enough, but he felt it even after she straightened back up and tightened her thighs around his body. “Then, I still want a secret.”

“I love you.”

He’d expected something different.

Anything but that.

Not because he didn’t want it—oh, he did—but rather, it seemed like the one thing she had managed to keep for herself. Everything else, she’d handed over to him. Control. Her life. The bond. Even her freedom was his at the end of the day to decide whether she could have it or he would keep it.

He was in her heart, sure.

He didn’t own it, though.