Forged in Ice

C
opyright ©
2016 Alyssa Rose Ivy

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written approval of the author.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

Photo and cover design by Sara Eirew Photographer

T
here was absolutely
no post-sex awkwardness. It was as though we’d been together for years, and it scared me. Nothing was supposed to be this easy. Relationships were hard. Sex only complicated them.

“You okay?” James whispered in my ear as we lay together in the darkness.

“Yes. Surprisingly.” My body felt more alive than it ever had. Nothing hurt, but I desired plenty. My body desired more of James, and I wasn’t sure what to make of the feeling.

“Surprisingly?”

“This is the time when I’m supposed to be awkwardly searching for my clothes.” Or overanalyzing every moment of what just happened.

“And you don’t want your clothes?” The stubble on his chin tickled my cheek.

“No. Not at all.” Instead I wanted to stay in his arms. His body was hard but warm, and I couldn’t remember a time when I’d been as comfortable.

“And this is a bad thing?” His voice was teasing. No one had ever made teasing sound so sexy before.

“No. Just a surprising one.”

“You would probably need help with your dress anyway.”

The mention of the dress brought it all back to me. Somehow the details of being in another world had disappeared, and all I’d been thinking about was James. “Yeah… that dress.”

“You’ll get used to the dresses… or you could start wearing pants. I like the dress on you though.” He ran his hands down my body making me question whether he liked me wearing the dress, or if it was more about taking it off of me. I shivered thinking about it.

“I doubt I’ll be here long enough to get used to anything.” I wasn’t sure if I actually believed the words I spoke. The thought of saying goodbye to James stung, and combined with the want already building up again it almost seemed impossible.

“Where were you planning to go, you know since you have no interest in putting your clothes on?” He ran his lips over the sensitive skin of my neck.

I gripped the blanket with both hands. I needed to stay in control. I’d never wanted someone more. “You mean it isn’t considered proper in Energo to run around without clothes on?”

“Not exactly.”

I snuggled into James’ arms. “Too bad. I thought it would be fun to go streaking.” The snuggling backfired as I came into contact with the indisputable evidence of his arousal.

“That fun has to be limited to inside my house.”

“So I can’t just find someone else’s house?” My teasing words came out far easier than normal for me.

“Not a chance. I am not letting you go.” His voice had a rough edge to it I hadn’t heard before. It didn’t scare me, but it made me pause to study his face in the moonlight. His expression was neutral, but his eyes were heated.

I pushed off the blanket and enjoyed the light breeze on my warm skin. Sleeping in an atrium open to the sky had its benefits.

“This is when I wish there was more light.” He cupped one of my breasts in his hand. He squeezed lightly, making me moan. “Now that’s a sound I love.”

I closed my eyes. “Can we skip the part where I beg you for more? I’m embarrassed enough about it as is.”

He turned us so he was hovering above me. “Do you really think you will ever have to beg me for anything?”

“I don’t know. I probably should know you better considering what we’re doing right now.”

He moved onto to his knees. “You know me well.” He brushed his lips against mine while his knees pressed against me.

“Do I? Do I really know you well?” I struggled to calm my racing heart. He was so close. I could have him in seconds if I only adjusted our positions.

“You know me better than most.”

“That’s not saying much.”

“I am an open book. You can ask me anything.” His knees pressed more firmly against me.

I couldn’t take it. I reached up and pulled his head to mine. He took the hint and kissed me hard, quickly pushing for access into my mouth, while his hand once again squeezed my breast.

I reached up and took him in my hand. I moaned again.

He broke the kiss. “I am going to take all this as a good sign you want more of me already.”

“I need you.” Need was the right word. Want didn’t cover what I was feeling.

“I am here.” He thrust into me, skipping over any foreplay to give me exactly what I asked for.

I closed my eyes and opened up to him, drinking in the sensation of him moving inside me as though he were the water I needed to quench my thirst. He moved from his knees so his weight pressed against me. I wrapped my legs around him, as I held onto his back. I needed all of him, and I had no patience.

“I’m here. You can have me all you want.” He seemed to be reading my mind as he answered my unsaid request for more.

“I want all of you.” I thrust up against him.

“You have all of me,” he whispered against my neck while he pushed me further than I’d ever been pushed before. “You can have all of me anytime you want.”

“You promise?” I panted.

“I promise.” He continued to move inside me until he pushed me over the edge. He reached his release a moment later and stayed inside of me.

“I’m not usually like this.”

“Like what?” He made no motion to move.

“This needy.” Now that I’d had him I felt silly about wanting him so bad. I had no idea what had gotten into me, but it wasn’t normal.

“Neediness that involves wanting to have sex with me is not a bad thing. In fact, it is wonderful.”

“Why am I not surprised you’re saying that?”

“Because you are everything I want.”

His words sent a thrill through me. I wanted to be wanted by James. I wanted to have his attention and never lose it. “Good.”

“But in all seriousness, that means you have to stay with me. I cannot let anything happen to you.”

“You mean until we figure out who broke into the house?”

“Or longer. I am not letting you out of my sight until I know for sure.”

“Out of your sight? Isn’t that a little bit extreme?”

“No.” He pulled out, leaving me feeling slightly empty. “Your safety is important to me.”

“So what now?” I leaned up on my elbow.

“I guess that depends.”

The barest hint of sunlight revealed itself above us. “Depends on what?”

“Whether you have had your fill.”

“My fill?” I could joke about my desire for him now that the need had been satiated.

“Uh huh. It is nice to be wanted though, so do not worry if you need more.”

“I’ve had my fill.” I had. I was happily satisfied even though I already knew I’d want more of him soon.

“For now.”

I laughed. “The same could be said for you.”

“Absolutely. I am not pretending any of this is one sided.”

“So assuming we’re both satisfied, what now?”

“We get breakfast. I meet with a few contacts. You get to explore more of the castle.”

“You meet with contacts while I explore the castle?” I arched an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like keeping me in your sight.”

“I will amend that. Keep you in my sight other than small periods of time when I leave you with Charlotte.”

“Why Charlotte?” I appreciated he wasn’t sexist and insisting I stay with a guy.

“She is powerful and understands how important you are to me. You will be safe with her.”

“What if she doesn’t want to babysit me?”

“It is not babysitting, and why would she mind the company? She always complains about the lack of women around.”

“All right. But you’re going to have to start filling me in on these meetings.”

“I will when I have something worthwhile to share.”

“You promise?” I ran my hand down the side of his face. I was already beginning to memorize the lines.

“You really like getting me to promise things.”

“I do, but only when it’s for a good reason.”

“Sure, sure.”

“Wow.” I gazed up at the rising sun.

He followed my gaze. “Nice, huh?”

“I suppose this makes an alarm unnecessary.”

“I have never understood the appeal of waking up to an artificial beeping noise.”

“There is no appeal. It’s out of necessity.” And I preferred music to the beeping.

“Do you find that sort of depressing?”

“I wouldn’t call it depressing. Just reality.”

“Then are you glad your reality has changed?” There was hopefulness in his voice that made me pause before giving my answer.

“Is this really a new reality? I mean, it’s not permanent.”

“Would it be so bad if it was? Are you really that anxious to return to your jobs?”

“Not my jobs.”

“Or your family?” He spoke softly.

“I need to see my mom eventually.”

“And you will, but that does not mean you need to return to that life.”

“Let’s not worry about this now.” I rested my head on his chest. “Let’s watch the sun rise.”

“That is a great idea.”

“Don’t say I don’t have any.”

“I was not planning on it.” He kissed my forehead.