Page 134 of Sands of Atonement

“How long are we planning on staying here?” Casimir asked.

I brushed a palm down my horse’s long neck and shrugged. “A couple more nights, then I’ll head back with Eshe.”

“I’ll stay here with Norrah.”

I nodded, going over our plans.

“She’ll be safe here.”

“What about Eshe?” he asked.

“She wants to go to Zyriah. We’ll most likely head to Urnaz first and prepare ourselves for anything,” I said.

After making sure the horses had enough attention and were settled for the night, my brother and I walked back to our rooms.

I found Eshe lying on the right side of my bed, her eyes closed, facing the window, her soft curls framing her heart-shaped face as I walked to her. Her chest rose and fell deeply, letting me know exhaustion had taken her.

Leaning forward, I brushed her curls over her ear and placed my lips over her warm forehead, breathing in her jasmine scent. I couldn’t believe I kissed her earlier, but it felt so right with her in my arms.

She wriggled deeper under the sheets but remained unconscious.

No more repressing, no more running away from my own primitive instincts. It was there for a reason.

I needed her more than I’d needed anything else in my life. I had an overwhelming sensation to mark her entire body like I did her neck and claim every inch of her skin as mine. She hid her mark from the others, and it enraged me. It woke something monstrous in my core, something I wasn’t sure I could tame anymore.

I hadn’t felt this alive in years. From the moment I gave her to Salazar, I never saw her again. After that night, I felt an empty deadness inside me. I was too selfish now, too wrapped up in her to go back to the way things used to be. For too long, I repressed myself from finding her. Too long, I had tried to replicate the feelings I had for her with other women. Too long, I had fueled my hate for her instead of diving deeper into desire because it was easier. I didn’t realize she’d be back this time in my arms.

Tracing the bruise on her neck with my fingers, I could feel her pulse slow and steady. I brought my fingers to the curve of her breast, over her linen dress. I brushed the top of her raised nipple and heard a hitch in her breath.

I raised my eyes and found her silver moon-like eyes on mine. She was my personal moon.

God, she was perfect. I wanted to worship every inch of her body and soul. I hardly recognized myself when I was around her.

I was someone different with her. Someone unmasked. Someone unleashed. She was like a drop of water in the desert, and I was like a drought, starving for her rain.

I knew I shouldn’t, but I had to have a taste of her.

I lowered my lips to touch her breast, not letting my eyes off hers for a moment. My arms were placed on either side of her, lowering myself above her.

Her lips parted, and her pulse quickened. I took the fabric in my mouth along with her nipple, biting it softly, at first.

I could feel her slight tremble.

“But you can’t⁠—”

“Don’t speak unless it’s my name,” I gently warned her.

“What if⁠—”

I nipped her breast, and she whimpered, writhing under me. “I’m not finished with you.”

“We never even started,” she panted.

“Are you always this argumentative when someone wants to touch you? Actually, don’t answer that. And we started a long time ago.” I moved my lips to her collarbone and then to her jaw. The thought of another man touching what was mine flashed across my mind and boiling blood sputtered in my veins. I moved her face to the side with my nose, licking a soft spot, and then bit her neck again.

Eshe’s hand pressed against my shoulders. “Are you always this abusive to women?”

“Just the ones who need it.”