Page 104 of Nightshade

Jericho shuddered against her, every muscle tense and trembling, and he let out a tortured growl. Like a feral beast that had ravaged her. His thrusts slowed, and he stilled against her. Breathing. Their chests moved in tandem, and he rested his forehead against her throat, not bothering to remove himself from inside of her.

It did not trouble her, though. There would be pain afterward, but right then, she only felt the warmth of his body against the cool evening breeze, heard the sounds of the forest--the rattling of leaves and chirping of insects. The peaceful monotony of heaving breaths.

As a sense of joyful contentment swept over her, she stared up at the stars, and tears slipped down her temples. Somehow, in the thick of her gratification, a nagging sense of doubt still plagued her mind. “Was it enough, My Lord?”

“It was everything. I will never desire another after this night.”

Neither would she. But it was a realization Lustina had decided long before that night.

33

Jericho

Through the window, I watched the girl head out to the stables, the three dogs trotting alongside her. Still confounded by their loyalty to her, I sipped my absinthe, letting the warm liquor straighten my thoughts.

Those eyes. Damn her beautiful, mesmerizing eyes.

The speckles of gold, purple, and green that looked like a messy starry collision. The same eyes I’d watched roll back in ecstasy. Eyes I’d become obsessed with.

An unwelcomed ache in my groin brought to mind her time in my office, when I could smell her arousal, could practically taste the sweet flavor on the air, so thick, it’d watered my mouth.

For my own amusement, I’d toyed with her in our meeting, a tactic I’d often used during sex but found quite useful when trying to extract information. Seemed Miss Ravenshaw wasn’t so immune to me, after all. Or I to her, for that matter. A reminder to be careful around the tempting little vixen. For reasons I couldn’t explain, I was drawn to her, somehow. Felt an intense pull every time I was near her, one that wouldn’t relent its grip.

My thoughts drifted back to our earlier conversation, about her father.

The old man had said a number of crazy things that night. Prophecies and Bible verses. Mostly crazed gibberish--but I could recall six words spoken clearly and precise: You must remember to protect her.

Protect her. From what?

“So, this is what you do all day, when you claim to be working in your office.” Remy’s comment drew a smirk to my face, and I diverted my staring just enough to catch a glimpse of him standing alongside me. “What is it about her that’s so …”

“Appealing? She doesn’t belong here.”

“You think she crossed?”

“I know she did. She finally admitted to it. With a little coaxing. And I think she may try to go back.”

“And you’re troubled by that because …”

Riveted on the way her dress moved around her slender thighs, while she leapt and danced about the yard, I took another sip of my drink. “I’ll keep my reasons to myself for now. I’d like you to help keep a close watch on her. But know that she’s off limits.”

“Another one off limits. It’s a wonder you don’t tire of hoarding all the females in this place.”

“Who’s to say I haven’t?” Twisting away from the window, I set my drink on the desk, as Remy plopped into the seat across from me. “I need to show you something.” I lifted the paper with the sketches that Farryn had drawn. “She mentioned this afternoon that a feather had been left in her bedroom.”

“Uh. Wasn’t mine. I can tell you I’ve not done anything--”

“Her bedroom in the mortal realm.” Twisting the paper around, I showed him the images she’d sketched. “She said this one was etched on the feather.”

Remy’s brows came together, his shoulders bunching. “Cassiel? What the hell? Why would he show up in her bedroom?”

“From what I’ve gathered, she is no more privy to the reason than we are. She seems to believe the Pentacrux are after her.”

“Pentacrux?” He snorted, tossing the paper aside. “I’ve not heard that name in centuries.”

“Nor I. Apparently, she was instructed in a dream to seek me out here in Nightshade.”

“You think Cassiel brought her over?”