Page 54 of Fae Farewells

I plucked the book from his hands. “Pick a room and sleep, Druid. I need you rested.”

“Stone and Novak should be back soon,” he mumbled as he climbed to his feet and kissed the top of my head. “They snuck out to catch up with Valano. We should know if he’s ready to move your parents when they get back.”

“Vaughn said tomorrow, so I’m going to trust his word. Valano should be ready too.”

He yawned and nodded, his feet dragging as he stopped at the doorway of a bedroom. “Good night, Sweetheart.”

“Sleep,” I commanded.

I chose another room, hoping whoever was behind door number two wouldn’t mind company. And smiled when I found my wolf’s half naked profile basking in the early morning rays of the rising sun. It hadn’t risen yet, but it was edging the horizon.

I closed the curtains, stripped out of my clothes, and curled up against Briggs’ side, knowing I wouldn’t sleep. A sigh breezed past my lips as I pulled the duvet to my chin, happy to be toasty warm and snuggled up to my beast. He groaned in his sleep, tugging me closer against his chest. My smile grew into something unrecognizable.

It was silly, but this time last year I would have gagged over the idea of cuddling with anyone. I was like the crazy cat lady, except my cats were hellhounds in disguise who would light me on fire if I held them too long.

Maybe not Atlas.

But Cronus and Helios? Definitely.

As I let my mind wander, Briggs’ unconscious hand did some wandering of its own. His fingertips danced along my stomach, working upward until he traced the line of my mate marks. Heated breath tickled against the nape of my neck, fanning strands of my hair.

“Are you awake?” I murmured.

“Mmm,” he hummed, not actually answering or sounding coherent.

I tried to flip over and face him, but he snatched me back into his embrace, curving around me with a throaty growl that vibrated from deep within his chest. His fingers continued a torturous path along my bare skin, teasing goosebumps to rise in their wake.

Over my waist, across the curve of my hip, he lightly dragged his nails. I moaned quietly, not sure if he was awake and groggy or molesting me in his sleep.

Not that I was complaining about the tender touches.

But I would like to know where his line was…

York didn’t really have one. Awake, asleep, sober, intoxicated. The situation didn’t matter to him. Novak was the same.

I didn’t know what Briggs’ line was, or anyone else’s.

He dipped his fingers between my thighs, softly brushing my folds before he slid two fingers inside me. His palm rested against my clit, applying the slightest bit of pressure.

“Briggs?” I rasped.

“Shh.”

I laughed silently, my shaking shoulders causing him to growl once more. He nipped at my neck as he nestled his length against my lower back. The steady throb and beat of his heart lulled me into a peaceful state of relaxation before he started moving.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m just gonna fuck the attitude right out of you,” he confessed sleepily.

“Fuck the attitude right out of me?” I repeated. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

He chuckled, low and gravely, the sound traveling straight to the apex of my thighs.

“Oh, I don’t know, Barbie,” he crooned. “Something tells me I could help you take the edge off.”

“Something?” I parroted once more. “You must have not gotten that PSA, but you can’t just fuck the attitude out of me. It’s a natural—”

I stopped talking as the blunt end of his cock pressed against my entrance. He pulled my leg over his, spreading me further as he teased me with a glorious pinch of pain.