Part 25 (1/2)

Nothing.

As he felt nothing but her last night. Her mouth on his c.o.c.k. Her s.e.x convulsing around him. Her eyes burning into him. Her little, inscrutable smile making his shaft ache.

He also tasted nothing but her either. Heard nothing but her whimpers, moans and cries. Her pleas for more. Or harder. Or faster.

Nothing.

But her.

He felt his c.o.c.k twitch.

”Is it morning already?” her sleepy voice asked, taking him from his heated thoughts and he gave her another squeeze.

”Alas, it is, poppy, and you must arise as we must be away.”

She blinked again.

Adorable.

G.o.ds, how he wished he had this for the next hour, the next day, as long as he could have it.

Not have it taken away when consciousness fully came to her and she understood the advantage he'd taken.

”I'll call for a bath, breakfast,” he told her softly. ”I'm sorry but you must prepare for us to be on our way. You can sleep in the sleigh.”

She lifted up on her forearm and asked, ”If I'm asleep, how can I steer the sleigh?”

She wouldn't have to. So she could rest, he'd be in it with her, if she allowed that, and he'd do it.

Torment would not like being hitched to the sleigh, but his horse would suffer that indignity for him. And with two horses dragging the load, they'd make better time.

”Leave that to me. Now, rouse yourself. I'll give you time and be back.”

She blinked yet again and her head tipped to the side, but thankfully, understanding of his selfishness did not dawn and she nodded.

He bent and brushed his mouth against hers. Pulling away, she blinked again, her eyes and the skin around her mouth soft and he felt that softness gather around his heart, memorizing her look because he was sure that was all he'd have.

”Rouse, poppy,” he murmured.

She nodded and he left her in the bed.

He went to his socks and boots, pulling them on. He then moved to leave the room, glancing at her in bed.

She was up on her a.r.s.e, the covers pulled up to her chest, the curls and ringlets of her hair tousled, gloriously framing her exquisite face and falling over her shoulders and down her chest.

She was gazing around, looking bemused.

That was adorable too.

But it would likely not last long.

A stone weighing in his gut, he unlocked the door and moved out of the room. His eyes cut through the door opposite but he walked down the hall and found a servant. He ordered a hot bath and breakfast for Maddie and one for himself in another chamber, bidding them to bring him fresh clothes from his trunk in their room.

He ended with, ”And I want a boy in the hall. If the man in the room opposite approaches my door, I want to know immediately.”

The servant nodded and hurried away.

As he watched her go, he thought distractedly that he should have thanked her.

Then he thought no more of that and went on about his business.

The morning preparations took some time as the water needed to heat, and it was time that seemed to crawl. There was little to fill it that took his mind from the unpleasantness he was sure to encounter imminently.

Twice.

So he thought of nothing but his upcoming confrontations, except when he went to the stables and ordered the sleigh hitched and trunks brought down.

But eventually, bathed and fed, he moved back up the stairs. He saw the young boy who'd started their fire yesterday standing outside his and Maddie's door.

He lifted his chin to the boy.

The boy dipped his and dashed by him to the stairs.

Apollo went to the door opposite.

He knocked quietly and within seconds, Derrik opened the door.

His clothes were rumpled, his hair in disarray, his eyes rimmed red.

He had not slept.

When he saw Apollo, his face went hard and his eyes went sharp.

”That didn't take long, brother,” he clipped.

Yes.

He'd heard.

”We need words,” Apollo told him. ”And not in the hall.”

”Is there something to say?” Derrik asked acidly.

”Yes,” Apollo answered. He made a show of twisting at the waist and looking meaningfully at the door behind him before he turned his eyes back to his friend. ”But not in the hall.”

Derrik looked to the door as well before he hesitated and finally backed into the room.

Apollo followed him, closing the door behind him.

He noted the lamps still burning but the fire was just embers in its grate. He also noted the bed was disheveled but had not been slept in.