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"You'll find towels in there." His hand presses against the wall and a large storage rack slides out. "Help yourself to any of the products. They're labeled."
"That's amazing. I might commandeer your bathroom daily."
Reiks chuckles. "Please do. Someone ought to take the time to appreciate it."
I ponder his remark as he leaves. Councils, meetings at dawn, travels back to Anderkan, parties that are more of a political circus than anything else…he always seems busy. Does he do anything just for fun?
I get undressed and slide into the water, gasping in delight as the heat warms my bones. This might just be paradise.
I notice the subtle scent of honeysuckle and something else, an aroma that most definitely doesn't smell like Reiks. It's feminine, delicate. Did he choose it for me?
I shake my head, willing myself to be reasonable. A servant drew that bath. Reiks might have mentioned it was meant for a woman, that's all.
I close my eyes and lie back, relaxing after the stress of the day. If I'm honest, the nonsense from the three Cs didn't affect me nearly as much as expected. I was tense because I didn't know how I'd feel seeing him again after he fucked my brains out for hours. In fact, if it hadn't been for that anxiety, I would probably not have snapped at Camil. She deserved it, though.
I don't know how long I stay in the bath, but I have no desire to move until Reiks knocks at the door and leans on the frame. "Ready?"
I pout. "I don't want to go."
The water's colder than it was, but it's still delightful.
His jaw ticks. "I wish we could stay in tonight, feather, but this meeting's important."
"Oh?" I'm buying time. If he's talking about his stupid meeting, he's not making me get out of the bath.
"Mmhmm. The rebels have something big going on, in various countries. They might be targeting the food or water supply. We don't know what yet. Or when." His hand runs through his dark silky hair. "We just know where they plan to strike."
I blink. I definitely hadn't expected something genuinely urgent. I thought he would be talking about raising taxes or whatever. "Give me a minute," I say. "I'll come out."
"I'm not stopping you." His eyes have lost my green, but their silver is bright with mischief. I know he's teasing me. Another second and he'll turn away to give me privacy.
Reiks doesn't know me very well if he thinks I can be embarrassed by nudity. I rise out of the water and to the open cupboard. I've only just reached a towel when strong hands grip my bare hips. "We'll have to be fashionably late, then."
I glance over my shoulder, and Reiks's mouth closes over mine, as one of his hands moves to hold my chin in place. The other one reaches around me to slide between my legs, and starts to strum at my core. Why does he feel so insanely good? He's not even syphoning, I'd feel it if he was.
"You know, nudity isn't an invitation to do as you please," I manage to breathe, in between huffs and moans.
Two of his fingers join the one curving inside me, and his thumb presses against my clit. "Yeah? And I suppose your drenched cunt isn't begging me to fuck it, either."
I could tell him it isn't, but then he might stop.
"I wish I had all the time in the world to sate both of us, feather," he whispers against my ear. "I don't, and ladies always come first."
He lets go of my face and gets to his knees behind me.
Oh, god.
Reiks's tongue laps at me like I'm his favorite flavor of ice cream. For all his claims to be on a tight schedule, he's taking his sweet, sweet time exploring my every fold. I fall forward, palms flat on the marble, my knees so fucking weak. My core's a volcano, and all of my muscles are wound so fucking tight, ready to explode.
I told myself Baltaday had been the most mind-blowing experience of my life because of the call of Lughnasadh, because I'd been so unstable, because of Reiks's power poisoning his every touch. As I writhe and attempt to stifle my moans, I have to face the truth. It's him. Just him. He's a god when it comes to pleasing a woman, and for some reason, he's using his skills on me. I can barely hold myself upright, my legs quivering under me. I see the precipice approach, but I still don't expect the fall. I come so hard, so unexpectedly fast, I swear I would have fallen flat on the marble if Reiks's strong hands didn't hold on to me. He brings me to his lap and strokes my hair until I can breathe. And think. And move.
"The things you do to me, Alis." He gets to his feet, lifting me up effortlessly. "Let's get you some clothes before I give in, temptress. I can't miss this meeting."
CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX
THE VOTE
It’s my fourth year at Five and I have, so far, managed to avoid seeing the interior of the grandiose building housing the international council. The Hall of Peace is a fifty-foot tall, flat-roofed white building supported by five white columns and two black ones, to honor the original council building that used to be built in Anderkan, right in front of the Church of the Pillar’s principal cathedral. Back in the day, six gods used to preside over the councils, while there were only five mortal monarchs, so the votes were always tipped in their favor.
