“Sure.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d smoked, but maybe it was exactly what I needed to ease the tension.
She handed me another stick, and I sat down beside her. Again, she snapped her fingers, and a flicker of flame lit up the end.
“I thought you said you weren’t practicing magic.”
A half-smile parted her lips. “Some magic is perfectly harmless. Other kinds, not so much.”
“Did something happen?”
Her head dipped slowly, eyes casting down to her clasped hands. “Yeah, something happened. A long time ago.”
“Sometimes talking to a stranger can help.”
“Nice try, son, but I’m taking that story with me to the grave.” She inhaled deeply and tilted her head back.
“That bad, huh?”
She blew out a puff of lavender smoke and sighed. “Worse.” She paused for a long moment, her eyes intent on the darkening sky. “They say family is supposed to love you unconditionally, but what if it’s not love at all? What if they only want to use you?”
Her words rang true, invading the deepest parts of me. That was exactly how I felt about Elrian.
Her lips slid into a tight line, and she shook her head. “Sorry. I don’t know where that came from.” She rubbed out the lila clove against the pavement and jumped to her feet. “I have to close up the diner but do yourself a favor and try to make things right with your girl. I may have sworn off love for myself, but that doesn’t make me blind to what others have.”
I nodded slowly and clenched the lila stick between my teeth.
“See you tomorrow, son.”
The word left a bitter taste in my mouth. It reverberated across the stillness long after Fay had left. I’d only known the woman for a matter of hours, and already I could feel the crushing disappointment lingering on the horizon if it turned out she wasn’t my mother. But how would I know for sure?
Even if Elrian did show up, my father was a master of deception. Shepherd was delusional if he thought the great king of the Fae would simply crumble at the sight of his former lover. No… there had to be another way to get the truth out of him.
I walked around the old inn for hours before forcing myself up those stairs. I’d been a complete ass, and now I had to apologize. The lila clove had helped clear my mind and numb the anger. None of this was Aspen’s fault. I only hoped she’d forgive me.
I gingerly turned the knob, and the old door squeaked open. The apartment was dark, except for a faint light in the kitchen. I tiptoed across the small living room to the bedroom where Aspen stretched across the bed. Pale moonlight snuck in through the window bathing her in a milky white glow. She looked like an angel, her lips parted, blonde hair splayed across the pillow.
I unzipped my pants and tugged my shirt over my head, tossing them to the floor. Our suitcases poked out of the closet, but I had no desire to search for my clothing. No, it was time to beg for forgiveness. In the only way I knew how.
I crept to the edge of the bed and whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Aspen’s lids fluttered, and she mumbled something, but her eyes never opened. I crawled over her and dropped a kiss onto her forehead, then moved to the bottom of the mattress. Her legs were parted, her silky nightie riding up her thighs.
Here goes nothing…
I slowly swept my finger up her thigh until I reached her panty line. Then I did it again on her opposite leg. A soft sigh escaped her lips, but still her eyes didn’t open. Emboldened, I gently lifted the end of her nightie, exposing her lacy panties. Dipping my head, I closed my mouth over the soft lace and breathed her in.
Another sigh.
Gently, I snuck my fingers beneath the fine silk and tugged her panties down. I hazarded a glance up. Her eyes remained closed, but her breaths quickened. I lowered my head between her legs, my heartrate accelerating. “I’m sorry,” I whispered against her slit before dipping my tongue inside.
She was soft and sweet—and already wet. My cock pressed against my boxers. Not tonight, my friend. Tonight, it was all about Aspen.
I slowly dragged my tongue across her center, and she let out a moan. “Is this okay?” I breathed.
Her fingers dug into my hair. “Yes, very yes,” she answered roughly, eyes still closed.
I ran my tongue over the tight bundle of nerves at her core, and her hips bucked against my mouth. I licked and nibbled, I devoured her. Gently, I added a finger, then two, until I filled her up. In and out, in and out. She squirmed beneath my touch, each flick of my tongue eliciting a sexy groan.
I wanted her to look at me. To see me between her legs, my tongue lavishing her sweetness. I wanted her to know it was the bastard Fae prince who drew the orgasm out of her, but I wouldn’t be selfish. Tonight, it didn’t matter who she was thinking of as I coaxed the pleasure from her, but tomorrow, I vowed she’d be moaning my name as I drove her over the edge.
3
THE ICE KING
The sound of rushing water eased me from a deep sleep. I’d had the most amazing dream…one that ended with a mind-blowing orgasm. My lady parts still vibrated from the toe-curling memories. Okay, okay, so I knew it wasn’t a dream, but it was easier to pretend it was. I hazarded a peek through slitted lids, not quite ready to face the cocky Fae prince just yet.
After he’d finished last night, his silver hair had popped up between my legs, and those lilac irises fixed on me and shimmered with pride. I’d given him a lazy smile, and he’d crawled into bed beside me without another word.
I wasn’t going to lie, it was the best apology I’d ever gotten. Fallon and I had no problem in the sex department; it was all the other stuff that got in the way. He was kind of an ass which was probably why I liked him as much as I hated him.
The bathroom door creaked open, and I buried my head beneath the comforter. I did not need to be seeing Fallon all wet and naked. It would likely lead to more sexy times, and I wasn’t quite there yet. Deacon had been on my mind all night, possibly even when another man’s mouth was between my legs. I was a horrible person.
Not to mention every day that passed brought me closer to the final family visit… with Knox. I hadn’t let myself think about him, but now that I knew he was next, I couldn’t get him out of my mind—or Kole.
“I know you’re awake.” Fallon’s voice drew me from my tangled musings. Busted.
I peeked out from under the blanket and let out a big yawn. “Well, now I am.” Throwing him a scowl, I rubbed my eyes, hoping he’d buy the act.
He let out a chuckle, the warm sound vibrating his bare chest as he stepped into a pair of boxers. My gaze shot to his arm and the tattoo crawling down his shoulder. I rubbed my eyes for real this time as I scanned the intricate design, a dagger buried beneath whirls and snowflakes. How had I never noticed it before?
Fallon must have read my mind, or I must’ve been wearing my confused face because he stepped toward the bed and sank down beside me. “It was cloaked before, along with all the other bachelors since we arrived on the island. Guess since we’re no longer at the villa, the magic wore off.” He shrugged.
I couldn’t help my fingers from drifting over the silvery snowflakes that sparkled at my touch. “That’s kind of a giveaway.” I grinned.