“Do we have a deal now?”
“Yes.”
And, when he moves toward me, I only flinch a little. But I don’t inch away from him.
I’m breathing heavy, and that doesn’t have anything to do with my anxiety or fear or the damn charmed peach, either. Right when his fingertip is mere centimeters away from my face, it hits me that I’m actually waiting for his touch instead of actively avoiding it.
Crap.
It was the look on his face that did this to me. I know it was—and I can’t do anything about it anyway. Besides, he wants this so bad. And I’ve already agreed.
I gulp. Nine’s pale finger lands against my cheek. It’s chilly.
Then he strokes my skin.
It’s the most gentle caress I’ve ever experienced in my life.
The next heartbeat, I totally get what he means by effects.
Pleasure almost immediately replaces the pain. My stomach is still queasy, my throat raw, but a toe-curling pleasure starts low in my gut, a tightening coil that has my back arching as the heat spreads outward, filling me up entirely. It feels good.
Amazing.
When a husky moan escapes my lips, it has nothing to do with how shitty the peach made me feel.
It has everything to do with how bad I want to climb Nine like he’s a tree.
I’m delirious. Dehydrated, too. Scared out of my freaking mind.
And super, super horny.
It’s been so, so long since someone touched me like they wanted me to enjoy it. And I do. I really, really do.
“There.” Nine’s whisper echoes all the way to my soul. I don’t feel like any of it’s missing, though there’s a rich, throaty note to his tone that tells me that he was just as affected by his touch as I was. “I think I got it all. Now, lay down, Riley. Sleep it off. Come tomorrow you’ll be yourself again.”
No, I think. I won’t.
I’ll be his.
Like I haven’t been my whole life already.
“Lay with me,” I mumble. Punch-drunk and weak as a newborn kitten, I can’t stay upright. I sprawl on my belly, patting the stone floor next to me. “Stay with me.”
“I’ll stay,” he says. “But over here. It’s better that way.”
He’s wrong, but I’m too tired to argue. “Okay. Don’t go, though. I want you here with me.”
“I’ll stay until I can’t.”
Spoken like a true fae. “Night, Nine. Love you.”
“Don’t say that. You’ll only regret it later on.”
I might. Doesn’t mean it’s not the truth. And, still coasting on the pleasure his touch gave me, I find that I just don’t have it in me to lie right now.
From the time when I was a kid and all I had to look forward to were my nighttime visits with the Shadow Man, I’ve always loved Nine. I just could never tell him so.
It feels so freeing to finally get that off my chest.