Pyromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 1)

He moved slowly at first, and when he picked up his pace, her need started to climb again. He looked down to where their bodies were joined, his features twisted into a grimace of pleasure. Like this, the tormented boy she remembered looked wild and brutal as a fully-grown man, a very virile man, but he managed to keep his kisses tender. Sliding a hand between their bodies, he pressed a digit on her clit and rubbed in circles. Her hips lifted of their own accord, chasing his rhythm. This dance was easy with him. It felt natural to follow.

This time, she recognized the signs. Her inner muscles squeezed around him when her lower body clenched. She came with a cry, the sound muffled in their kiss. He thrust twice more and then stilled with a groan, keeping his weight on his arms. He stayed that like for several seconds before the rigidness of his body finally eased. They were both breathing hard. She stared into his eyes, looking for something she couldn’t name, but the crazed heat was gone. What was left was the mask, the indifference.

Pressing a kiss to her temple, he said, “That was worthy of an eternal memory. How are you doing?”

She forced her lips around a smile. “Good.”

He rolled onto his side, pulling out. “You better rest.”

His seed wasn’t cold inside her yet when he closed his eyes and shut her out. Left to stare at the whimsical light of the candles and to inhale the sweet perfume of the flowers, she’d never felt lonelier.Chapter 31Sometime in the night, Clelia woke with her back pressed to Joss’s chest and his heavy arm draped around her middle. Stiff, sore, and sticky, she tried to get up without waking him, but the minute she moved he opened his eyes.

“Everything all right?” he asked.

“I need to use the bathroom.”

He pushed back the covers, swung his legs over the bed, and picked up a candle.

She stared shamelessly at his sculptured ass as he crossed the floor and entered an adjoining room. Running water sounded. She was just about to get up when he reappeared in the frame.

“Don’t move.” He walked to the bed and scooped her up.

“This is silly.” She pushed on his chest. “I can walk.”

“I know you can,” he said in a dry tone.

“Then why are doing this?”

“Aftercare.” His face darkened. “Contrary to what you may think, I’m not usually the hit and run type.”

She pressed her lips together. He was referring to their first time when she’d run. If she’d hope he’d leave it at that, she wasn’t that lucky.

“Why did you run?” he asked, carrying her into the bathroom.

“I told you, you started acting weird, saying you wouldn’t let me go. I panicked. When I wanted to leave you tried to stop me. We fought, and I ran.”

He lowered her onto a rug next to a corner tub. “Did I hurt you?”

“No, but you scared me.” Her gaze slipped to his neck. “You’re not wearing your mother’s necklace.”

“I haven’t had it fixed yet.” Trailing his eyes over her, he added, “I had other priorities.”

Such as hunting her. Pushing the disconcerting thought away, she turned her attention to the tub that was filling with water. “I expected a bucket or a wooden tub.”

His lips quirked. “A wooden tub?”

“Like the ones in the movies that servants fill up with water heated on the hearth.”

“I had the bathroom renovated when I knew we’d need a place to stay. The rest of the place isn’t decorated or furnished properly. I had just enough time to get the water connected.”

“You had a hot tub installed in two days?”

“I have connections.”

Taking her shoulders, he pushed her down onto a bench, spread her legs, and knelt between her knees.

When he parted her folds with his thumbs, she exclaimed, “What are you doing?”

“Making sure you haven’t torn.” He planted a kiss at the top of her sex and straightened. “Everything looks fine down there. You shouldn’t hurt for long.”

The clinical examination as much as the words sent heat to her cheeks.

“Come.” After testing the water and turning it off, he took her hand and helped her into the bath.

The water stung. She couldn’t help but wince.

He got in opposite her and draped her legs over his. “Sore?”

“A little.”

“I’m sorry it hurts.”

She cleared her throat. “It’s not that bad.”

“Now the whole world will know you are mine, and nobody messes with what belongs to me.”

Her chest tightened. “Are you saying you married me only to protect me?”

He twisted her hair into a coil and draped it over the edge before pushing her with a hand on her shoulder to lie down in the water. “Why else?”

“I thought…” She stared at him, unable to figure him out.

“Thought what?”

“That you brought me here to use me as bait.”