Into the Fire (The Unseelie Court Book 4) Gwen Rivers (sneezy the snowman read aloud .TXT) 📖

“As my lady commands,” he bows low over my hand.

“None of that,” I wait until he stands upright then press my lips to his. He tastes of coffee and cold air and Aiden. His unique scent of cedar and sage mingle with the wildness of the man I love. The wolf I love.

He holds me close, allowing me to play, to kiss and touch him as I will. So new. These feelings are fresh, bright and shiny. For me, for both of us. The building heat, the surge of need to get closer. To be closer. Yet they are right.

“Nic,” he breathes. “That’s a gallows kiss.”

I pull back. “Maybe it is. Maybe I’m worried.”

He traces my lips with his fingertip. “You, my brave beautiful mate, have nothing to worry about. Nothing will keep me from you. Not your mother, my father, not even the end of the worlds.”

I swallow and nod. “You promise you’ll come right back?”

He nods. “Right back. But that’s not for several hours yet. Do you have any ideas on how we should pass the time?” His grin turns wicked.

I look around and raise my eyebrow. “Here?”

He shakes his head and snags my hand in his. I feel my body coming apart a bit at a time as he shifts us to sparks. Then we are drifting up and up and up into the air, back to the house and in through the open window to my attic room.

We come together, minus any sort of clothing.

“Do you want to get punched in the nose again?” I hiss. “You are courting Garret’s wrath.”

“I’ll risk it.” He pulls me in tighter. “For you, I’ll risk everything.”

His fingers tunnel into my hair and he cups my head, holding me in place while he slowly explores my mouth.

My skin tingles at every point of contact. I touch his body in a sensual exploration. His hands shift lower. I shiver under his touch, goosebumps rising along my arms and legs.

“Cold?” he murmurs.

“It isn’t that. I’m just so aware. Physically, I mean.”

His eyes are burning green flames as he leads me over to the bed. “You know now that I am going to have to take shameless advantage of that admission.”

“Rogue,” I tease.

He laughs. “I love this.”

“What?” I tilt my head.

“Seeing you happy.” The skin around his eyes crinkle. “Maybe even because of me.”

He’s so strong, almost indestructible. He knows who I am, what I can do and yet he admits that vulnerability to me.

But I’ve changed, too. “You definitely have something to do with it.” I frown, trying to put into words what it was like being separated from him for so long. Somewhere along the way I’ve changed for this man. Maybe because of him. I never used to be a person who teased. Who cared.

“I know, Nic. I felt your absence acutely.” He takes my palm, raises it to his lips then places it over his heart. “Every beat is tainted without you.”

With the worlds coming down around our ears and my life in turmoil, there’s nothing to anchor me.

Except for Aiden.

His touch is soft as he sweeps one fingertip over the column of my neck, down through the hollow of my throat. My head falls back, my eyes sliding shut at the contact. This is what I’ve been craving, been yearning for every night. More of this.

More of him. My Aiden.

He takes his time, tracing my collarbone first with his fingers, then with his tongue. “So beautiful,” he murmurs before delivering another light lick.

My fingers tunnel in his midnight hair to hold him close and keep him exactly where he is. For all time. “Make love to me,” I breathe.

He pulls back. “You’re sure?”

I roll my eyes. “It’s not like you’re going to get me more pregnant.”

“That’s not what I mean.” He threads his fingers through mine. “I wanted to wait until you were really ready.”

“I am really ready,” I tell him. “Give me a night to remember, Aiden.”

“The first of many,” he growls.

And then does.

Through the Man’s Eyes

“Why do you have to go already?” Nic asks as he climbs from the bed.

She is beautiful there in the dawn light, the sun’s early rays bathing her white-blonde hair in their glow. The ends are darker, where the dye has grown out. He can’t help but reach out and run his fingers through the spun silk.

“I didn’t mean to wake you. I just heard someone—”

Three quick knocks on the door and then a tentative voice calls through the door. “Nic?”

“Just a second, Sophie.” His mate struggles out from under the sheets and plucks a t-shirt off the ground.

“Find your pants,” she hisses at him.

Aiden glances around, finding the rumpled denim. Nic makes an impatient gesture with her hand, until he is covered.

“You could open the door, you know. She already saw all there was to see.”

She wrinkles her nose as if the thought of her mother beholding his nude body is unthinkable.

The zipper is stuck and he grates, “Half the pack was naked on her property yesterday.”

“So not the point. She’s my mother.” Nic shakes her head. “We’re going to have to agree to disagree about the nudity thing.”

“Just as long as I get to see you unclothed whenever possible.”

The corner of her mouth curls up as if his honest statement pleases her.

“I can come back,” Sophie’s tone is hesitant.

Nic opens the door. “Hey, Sophie. Sorry, I know I owe you an explanation. Do you want to come in?”

“It’s okay Nic. I think…whatever it is that’s going on is a bit outside my comfort zone. So please don’t try to explain.”

Nic squeezes the doorframe so hard her knuckles turn white. “We’re leaving today. And we’ll get the house fixed.”

“Don’t worry yourself, honey.” Sophie shakes her head and then holds out a stack of men’s clothes that smell of her husband. “Those…men are asking for Aiden. I figured he was with you.”

He nods. “Liam is probably ready to go.”

Nic doesn’t speak,