Page 85 of The Last Hunt
She sits up as well and looks where he’s pointing. A swirl of purple and green wavers in the sky above the ocean. It twines like a ribbon of light through the black - dancing, shining. It’s joined by another ribbon of purple and green. And then another.
“What is that?” Maeve whispers. She feels like she’s witnessing something sacred.
“The aurora,” Aethon replies. “I guess the planet has recovered enough from Brimstone’s mining for it to be visible again.” He slides a hand down her thigh, squeezing her knee. Maeve wraps her hand around his arm. She can’t look away from the lights in the sky, mesmerized by their slow, hypnotic dance.
“It’s so beautiful,” she says.
“It is,” Aethon replies. He presses a kiss to her temple and Maeve looks at him. His eyes light up with joy. “That reminds me - I want to give you something.”
“I don’t want a ring, Aethon,” Maeve says, raising her brows. “You’re mine and I’m yours. That’s good enough for me.” She leans back on the bed, propping herself up so that she can see him and the aurora through the window at the same time.
He smiles and presses a kiss to her nose before shoving himself back off the bed. “It’s not that.” He rummages around in the top drawer of the dresser for a moment and Maeve puts her hands behind her head, content to watch the muscles in his ass flex as he moves. He turns back around, one hand clenched in a fist, hiding something. He lays down next to her and props himself up on one arm.
“What is it?” Maeve asks, looking at his closed fist with interest.
He kisses her again and then holds his fist up and releases his fingers. A delicate gold chain slips down between his fingers and hangs in the air in front of Maeve. A tiny croi crystal is strung onto the chain. Maeve can tell it’s not the one she lost, but it’s so very similar. A lump rises in her throat.
“I know you lost yours on Scimitar,” Aethon says, his voice low. “So I asked my mother if she had any croi crystals lying around. She had a few, and she was overjoyed to know that you would treasure this. I got the chain in town.” He gives her a small smile. “I know how much your necklace meant to you,” he says. “I hope this one means something to you as well.”
“Aethon,” Maeve says, her voice thick. “I - I -” But she can’t form the words. She takes it from his hand, rolling the tiny raw crystal in between her thumb and forefinger. “It’s perfect,” she says. “Put it on me?”
Maeve sits up and turns around, lifting her mass of damp hair so that Aethon can put the delicate necklace on. He links the chain together and the crystal falls just below her collarbone. Aethon presses a warm kiss to her scarred shoulder.
“Thank you,” she says. She turns and Aethon smiles as he sees how the necklace looks on her.
“Perfect,” he murmurs. “Just like you, chrissah.”
Maeve chuckles. “I’m going to remind you of that when I wake you up too early for your liking tomorrow morning.”
Aethon groans. “Mornings are for sleeping. Not exercising or banging around or whatever you do in the ungodly hours before the sun has fully risen.”
“How quickly he recants his praise,” she says, raising a brow.
“I still think you’re perfect,” he says. “I just think you’re annoying too.” He pushes her back against the pillows and slides a hand slowly over her body, stopping just below her navel.
“You’re more annoying than me,” Maeve protests. “You tried to blackmail me. I haven’t forgotten.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Aethon mutters, leaning down to suck one of her nipples into his mouth. Pleasure shoots down her spine. He releases her with a nip. “You knew it was an empty threat.”
“Shut up and put that mouth to good use,” Maeve instructs.
Aethon chuckles and kisses his way down her body. “Order me around more, chrissah,” he says. “Tell me exactly what you want.”
An idea sparks in Maeve’s mind. “How does your back feel, artrenn?”
“Excellent,” Aethon replies. He pauses over her stomach, his hands braced on either side of her hips. “Why?”
Maeve grins. “Lie down. I owe you a debt.”
Aethon raises one brow, but immediately flips over onto his back.
“What a good boy,” Maeve purrs. She pulls the pillow out from under Aethon’s head and then straddles his chest. He slides his hands up her thighs and his eyes light up as he realizes what she wants.
“Finally she pays up,” he growls. His eyes narrow with desire as she shifts up, settling her knees on either side of his head. Maeve’s core is already slick with need, her heart beating fast, her breathing closer to shuddering. She braces her hands on the headboard and sighs as Aethon pulls her into the perfect position.
“Are you sure -” she starts.
“Sit your pussy on my face,” he growls, his hands tight on her hips. “Let me taste you.”