Page 36 of A Tale of Mirth & Magic

I started growing hard again at the image. “You were thinking about me?”

“Yes,” she panted.

“I thought about you too,” I said, nipping gently at the sides of her breasts, her belly. She lifted her pussy up to me, a pleading look on her face. I held her down with one arm. Moving ever so slowly down her body, I took my time as she squirmed. “I thought about the way you screamed my name last time. How much I wanted to hear that again. And what else I wanted to do to you.”

I spread Elikki’s thighs apart, burying my face in the sweaty musk of her bush. Licking her the way she seemed to like, I focused on the small twitches and movements she made. Exploring, I adjusted my tempo and pressure to meet her need.

When she finally came on my mouth, I felt the same deep sense of satisfaction that I’d experienced last time. She ran her fingers through my hair, mindlessly swearing as the orgasm rolled through her. I drew it out with light, sensitive licks until she settled, sighing into the mattress.

Then I picked her up, repositioning her correctly on the bed so that her head could rest against the pillows. I grabbed a throw blanket and covered her up.

When I hesitated over her, unsure if I should lay down, she grabbed my arm and tugged. I let myself slide down into the bed beside her. She threw the blanket over me too and snuggled into my chest. Suddenly exhausted, as if my mind had finally caught up and remembered how tired I was, I found myself sinking into the mattress. Elikki smelled so delicious. I felt boneless and happy, and she looked much the same.

“Mmmm,” she said, sleepily. “Good night.”

Was she sleeping here?

I guess she was. Her breathing slowed. Eyelids closed. A peaceful little smile touched the corner of her mouth. Tentatively, I wrapped one arm around her and lightly stroked her back. She made a contented sound and shifted closer to me.

The candles burned down and went out. The fire crackled to embers. I lay there, holding her and soaking up this moment, until sleep overtook me too.

13

ELIKKI

I woke up slowly, morning sun seeping through the wide window. As I came to, I took stock of my surroundings.

Naked under the covers—not unusual.

Cuddled up next to someone else who’s mostly naked—also not super unusual.

Feeling blissfully serene after a deep, peaceful night’s sleep—very strange. Almost alarming.

I sat up slowly, blinking at the bright sunlight. I almost never slept through the whole night. The early years of being on my own, when I often had to sleep outdoors or in dodgy places, had forced me to adapt to more of a cat-nap style. I usually slept lightly, waking to the smallest noises, often needing hours to fall asleep for even a short time. It was a habit I mostly hadn’t been able to shake all these years later.

Sex helped. A few drinks. A good solid lock on my bedroom door. But I could barely remember falling asleep last night. Just a calm warmth overtaking me, and Barra tenderly wrapping me with his blanket and his body.

It must have been the head. It was incredible, just as good as the first time, and it probably relaxed me so much I just drifted off. I’d also had a big meal. And a long day of travel. It definitely wasn’t because of Barra specifically. Even if he did make me feel safe and cared for. Secure…

I looked down at him, still sound asleep. Shirtless, his lavender body sprawled over half of the bed, and I admired the muscles and curves of his thick torso, the slight paunch at his stomach. Last night I’d run my hands all over them, and my fingers itched to do it again now.

He looked so serene in his sleep. All those worries and anxieties that often flit over his face when he was awake were swept away.

I bet he slept like a baby every night. His mas probably read him and his sisters bedtime stories and sang lullabies when they were growing up. Tucked into his bed with gentle hands, a kiss on the forehead. I pushed down my jealousy at the thought.

It had been the circumstances that overrode my sleep survival instincts, I told myself. Not him. He was just a person that was here for now. Soon he wouldn’t be. And that was fine.

I stretched hugely, enjoying the sensation of being well-rested and warm, comfortably swimming in this sea of a bed. Part of me wanted to lie back down and tuck into Barra’s arms again. Maybe watch him while he slept. Enjoy the drowsy look in his eyes when he woke up and saw me.

But I desperately had to pee. Slipping down from the bed as quietly as possible, I put on my robe and padded out to the hallway bathroom. After I’d done my business and washed up, I glanced in the mirror.

Oh, shit.

With everything that had happened last night, I never got around to combing my hair. It had dried tangled, and now there was a huge, knotted mess blooming around my head. This was going to take forever to fix.

Still—worth it. I pinched my cheeks and smiled at my reflection. Looking good, girl. Ravishing, as always.

Grumbling only slightly at the state of my hair, I stopped in my own room to throw some clothes on and grab a comb before heading back across the hall. Forgetting that Barra was sleeping, I banged the door open.