Page 41 of The Midnight Arrow

“Yes,” I moaned. “Right there—gods, don’t stop.”

“Mmm,” Lorik groaned, capturing my lips as his hips drove into me harder, faster. His pelvis ground down into my clit, and it made me see stars with every thrust. “Going to come for me, little witch? I’m going to join you. Can’t hold back any longer.”

My nails dug into his back, and Lorik used his wings to propel him forward more forcefully, the gusts sending my curtains fluttering.

“You feel so fucking good,” he whispered against my lips, ragged and gruff. “So good, my love.”

The orgasm hit me hard, and I cried out, back arching off the bed, my pebbled nipples rubbing against his chest.

“Yes,” Lorik hissed, his hands on both sides of my head, holding the majority of his weight off me. His hips jerked, his rhythm becoming sporadic, punctuated by sharp thrusts as he followed me in his own release. The heat of his come felt searing—it felt like a brand inside me.

His head was thrown back, the tendons in his neck straining. Behind him his wings gave a gentle gust before sagging. He collapsed on top of me as my pleasure faded, and I gladly took the majority of his weight, though he did keep himself half-held to the side.

He let out a long sigh that rustled my hair, and I felt his lips press to my neck, peppering small, lazy kisses against me. I felt his sweat cooling on my skin and smiled in the afterglow, feeling more relaxed than I had in years. I brought my hand up to his hair, softly combing my fingers through it. He shivered when I scraped at his scalp, giving a little moan into my skin.

When I turned my face to kiss his temple, I savored the warmth and weight of him. Close to my cheek was his wrist from where he’d braced himself. And I?—

There was a mark on his wrist that hadn’t been there before. Something that shimmered like opals across his skin, something infused with magic, and I suddenly remembered his reaction in the garden. So sudden I’d thought a glowfly had stung him.

It looked like a crest. A shield.

My brow furrowed, and Lorik raised his head. I quickly looked down at him.

“Sorry—I’m crushing you,” he murmured lazily. Sleepy already.

“I don’t mind it,” I told him truthfully. “It feels nice.”

What had caused the mark to appear so suddenly? I was certain I would’ve noticed it before now. I’d been caring for him and his wound, had sat beside him while he’d been sick with infection for nearly an entire day, and he’d been undressed then. No, this mark was new. But what had created it?

And I knew just as certainly that Lorik wouldn’t tell me if I asked. There was a part of me that worried he was like Veras—secretive in his business dealings but no less dangerous. What was Lorik involved in? And did I want to know? Or did I justwant to enjoy him while I had him? Because even I knew this wouldn’t last forever.

Then again, I didn’t like to think of myself as a coward.

“Lorik,” I said gently, my heart suddenly pounding.

“Hmm?”

“What’s that mark on your wrist? I don’t think it was there before, right?”

He tensed briefly against my side, though he brought his arm around me, clasping me tightly to him. My bed didn’t allow for too much room, but that suited me just fine. His body was stretched behind me, and he tucked my bottom into his groin, his knees drawing up to lock against mine.

“No, it wasn’t,” he answered. “I’m being summoned.”

“Summoned?” I asked, softly incredulous. “Summoned by who?”

“I suppose you could say my employer,” he answered wryly. There was a hint of amusement in his tone. “Part of my duty, Marion, is to protect the Black Veil. Against Shades mostly. But when one strays too close to a village, for example, I get summoned to take care of it.”

“Then why haven’t you gone?” I asked, squirming to turn in his arms so I could face him. “When you say employer?—”

“No more questions, you inquisitive thing,” he said gently, pressing a kiss to my lips. His eyelids were heavy, but his gaze was soft. “I’m not allowed to answer most anyway.”

When he saw the brief flash of frustration cross my features, his expression turned pleading.

“Have patience with me, Marion,” he told me. “This is new to me too. A part of me has been alone this long because of this very reason. Because of what I cannot say. There are codes in your Healers’ Guild. You are bound to oath, as am I.”

When he put it like that…

“All right,” I whispered. I nodded against his chest. “I understand.”