“The last thing I expected to see was you, when Sara introduced you as her new friend. ” His hands had become busy now, and she felt a renewed rise of lust as he bent to one of her breasts. She admired the long, strong width of his neck and the swath of dark hair, just beginning to dry. His fingers moved to sift through the duo of silver amulets at her navel.
“Well, you hid that fact quite well. And when else?” she asked impishly. “When I had to change in the carriage, and you had to unlace my stays? I know you peeked, Max. Admit it. ”
His tongue caught the sensitive tip of her nipple, making her jolt with pleasure, and then he swirled it around languorously. She sighed and arched toward his mouth, her hand sliding down into the water between his legs.
“When else?” she asked, closing her fingers around him, smiling with satisfaction at his
sharp, indrawn breath.
“Hmm…,” he said, vibrating against her breast, then lifting to look thoughtfully into space. “There were too many times. And I’m certain,” he said, lifting her suddenly from the water, “that there will be many more times to come. ”
Quickly and easily, he settled her in place and slid inside with a smooth movement. Anything she might have said… or even thought to have said… became lost in a damp whirlwind of pleasure and rhythmic splashing.
Sixteen
The Negotiation
Max refused to feel guilty, though the emotion nicked at him like the tip of a blade. It nagged, but he ignored the incessant prickles and focused on the journey ahead.
This was the only damn way, the most efficient and only certain way to get the rings from Lilith. He of all people knew what she wanted. He knew how to manage her insofar as she could be managed.
Victoria didn’t.
The simple fact was, aside from him, the other thing Lilith wanted more than anything in the world was Victoria-Eustacia’s prodigy and Illa Gardella.
He glanced at Vioget, who rode next to him. They, along with Michalas, had left Prague just as dawn broke, Max slipping reluctantly from the chamber where Victoria still lay sleeping. As well she should be. It had been a very busy night after that bath. And during.
Hell. His fingers were still unsteady. Damn, and his palms grew damp at the mere memory of those last hours.
He didn’t know whether there’d ever be a repeat of a night like that again. Now his belly soured, and he thrust away thoughts of the future. One step at a time, one moment at a time.
Victoria would be damn furious when she woke to find him gone, even more bloody angry when she realized what he meant to do. His lips flattened, and he corralled his determination. Max had made his decision as he always did-the right one, the only one. He understood the repercussions.
She bloody well would have to understand and accept it. Just as he had.
She had to close that portal-and sooner rather than later, for next time there might not be a chance to rescue Wayren. Or beat those demons back.
There was no better way. She’d have to accept that.
Victoria was Illa Gardella, and she was bloody damn smart. After she got past the anger, the shock, she’d understand.
She might never forgive him, but she’d understand why.
The burn of rage and pain hadn’t subsided in the least since she left Prague, nearly a week ago.
Victoria rode like a fiend, stopping only for a few short hours of rest each night, driving Brim to keep up with her pace despite her increasing weariness. Wayren had returned to Rome at Victoria’s strong suggestion-where she might remain safe in the Consilium. They could call for her if she was needed, but Victoria wanted to take no chances with Wayren’s safety now that the Trial was over.
And Sebastian and Michalas had gone with Max.
She’d alternated between fury and relief that he’d taken them with him. He wouldn’t face Lilith alone-but how dared he circumvent her and sneak off into the night with two Venators. Michalas she could perhaps understand, for he’d worked with Max for years… but Sebastian as well?
The hope that she and Brim might overtake the others kept urging her on, but no matter how quickly they traveled, there was no sign of them, no word from anyone who might have seen the trio along the way. She wasn’t even certain where Lilith’s lair in Muntii Fagaras was, a fact she was sure Max had used to his advantage.
She didn’t want to think about what else he’d done to get the advantage. Making love to her, lulling her into complacency…
Promise me you won’t leave like that again.
I’m not going to promise that, Victoria.