The Staff and the Blade: Irin Chronicles Book Four by Elizabeth Hunter Page B

shields and let the unguarded thoughts of Damien’s soul flow over hers. She reveled in the way his voice caressed her mind. It was nonsense, a tumble of impressions and words in the old language. Feelings more than thoughts.
    Happy. Peace. Warmth. Love.
    So much love.
    Reshon .
    She turned in his arms and lifted her mouth to his, softly kissing his unguarded lips until his eyes blinked open.
    “Sari?”
    “Shhhh.”
    She kept kissing him, whispering kisses that trailed over his face. His soft lips. His rough jaw. Her fingers followed her lips, tracing the hard planes and arching brows. He said nothing, watching her cautiously until he gave in and closed his eyes, surrendering to her attentions. His chest rose and his hand skimmed down her side, sweeping along the curve of her breast and over her hip until he reached her thigh. He pulled up her chemise under the woolen blankets and stroked the soft skin behind her knee before he pulled up her thigh and hooked it over his hips.
    Bare. He wore nothing against his skin. Sari could feel the heat of his body and the heavy weight of his erection pressing against her. With a soft groan, she put her mouth at his neck and sucked, tasting the salt of his skin where he was warmest. His hand gripped her thigh when she used her teeth. She licked down his neck and across his collarbone, her tongue tracing the ink on his skin. She could feel his magic rising and reaching out.
    She was not his mate. Not yet.
    But she was his reshon.
    She should have told him, but her mouth was doing other things. More essential things. She wanted to know every inch of his skin. A strange, feral possession rose in her when she remembered her dream. She reached for the hand that wasn’t gripping her thigh, the hand that lay against her cheek, the rough pads of his fingers resting lightly, almost delicately, against her flushed cheek.
    He tried to pull away, but she brought that hand to her lips and touched the knuckles with her mouth.
    “I love your hands,” she whispered when he stiffened. “I do.”
    It broke whatever resistance had been holding him back. Damien tilted her chin up and crushed her mouth to his, holding her almost painfully against his chest. He stole her breath, then stole it again when he bit teasing nips along her chin. Sari wriggled against him until he cooperated and tugged the chemise up and over her head so she was naked against him.
    The shivering overtook her, and Sari trembled against his chest, but Damien took her mouth again and drank her in. As he did, a wave of deepest peace settled over her. It was as if her soul rose up, settled against his, and came to rest.
    “Sari,” he whispered her name over and over again. “Sari…”
    “Yes.” She turned her head to the side and let him put his mouth where he was wont.
    Her neck.
    “ Milá , do you like this?”
    Her breasts.
    “Tell me.”
    His whispering mouth at the crease of her elbow. Her wrist.
    “Tell me what you want.”
    “Everything.” She sighed out and pressed her hips to his. “I want everything.”
    She was swollen and aching and wet. Her body was like a raw nerve, and she felt every inch as he turned her to her back and settled between her legs.
    “Look at me,” he commanded.
    Her eyes rose and locked with his as he eased inside. Her mouth fell open in a soft gasp of pleasure at the aching fullness. His strength and control. He braced his arms on either side of her and lowered his body, the solid weight pressing her into the bed.
    “Am I dreaming?” he whispered against her mouth. “I think I am.”
    “We both are.” She kissed him and lifted her knees to hold his hips. “Love me.”
    “I do.” He reached back, wrapping her legs around his waist with a determined glint in his eye. “Sari, you feel…” He groaned when she lifted her hips.
    “Good?” she asked with a smile.
    “Mine.” He thrust once, then drew back and thrust harder as she gasped. “You feel like you’re mine