The Darkling Lord: Court of the Banished book 1 (Annwyn Series 4) (8 page)

“And what would I have to give up in exchange? There is always a price with fairies.” He got up and walked toward the door.

The Greys he hung around with had obviously given him more than a passing knowledge of fairies and Annwyn. Was he deliberately staying within Annwyn’s rules to avoid drawing attention? If she made a deal with him, would she be breaking the rule about making deals with the banished? She didn’t know exactly where Henry fell; darklings that lived into adulthood were so rare that no one had probably given it much thought in Annwyn.

She liked survivors. Henry had played the odds and discovered that he held the winning hand. She just needed a peek at his cards.

Darah held her breath as he reached the door. Had she pushed too far, too fast? She didn’t want to let him leave, not yet. It had been a long time since any man had looked at her with lust. What could she say to make him stay? She wouldn’t beg. Couldn’t. She was fairy.

He placed his hand on the wood. For a moment he didn’t move. Hope flared as she waited, counting out the heartbeats. Then he shut the door and turned to face her.

Her lips curved as he walked back toward her. There was no fear or concern in his eyes even though he knew that he couldn’t trust her. No doubt he was watching her as closely as she was watching him. Despite the lack of trust and gossamer honesty between them, the attraction couldn’t be hidden or faked…only acted on.

“No deals. No promises and no games.” Better to be safe than sorry when it came to Annwyn’s rules. Plus she had nothing to gain from binding Henry in deal when she could learn as much from being in his bed. She’d almost seen enough to make her preliminary report to the Lady of the Hunt.

Darah pushed that thought aside. It tasted too much like betrayal. Her words to Dylis would have to be carefully chosen.

Henry walked toward her. His gaze skimmed over her. “A fairy handing out a free pass makes me even more suspicious.”

“Are you always this paranoid?” She would be in his place. She beckoned him closer.

He smiled, the half-smile of a man with secrets. “Your presence gives me reason to be concerned.”

“That’s not the only thing it does.” She watched him for a moment. He was expecting something from her. He played cautiously, with his cards held close, giving out just enough that she thought she was getting to know him. He would do very well at Court…the old Court before Felan had thrown everyone out and told them...what was the mortal phrase? To get a life. She reached her hand out and then lay back on the bed, leaving him no choice but to follow. “I want you.”

“That I believe.” He moved onto the bed, his body framing hers. Then he brushed his mouth over hers in a kiss that was far too delicate for the heat in his eyes.

It was hard to believe that he wasn’t a fairy. The way he moved, the way he looked, even the way he kissed. It was careful without giving away how much desire was banked behind each move.

She wanted more than the carefully constructed routines she got at Court. She’d spent a year and a day as a shadow servant, she deserved more. But only if she gave more. She released a shuddering breath. Right now that wasn’t on her agenda. Henry was a means to an end, and she had to remember that and not give into the raw lust now spiraling through her body.

It was just because it had been so long and he had qualities that she admired in a man. That was all. That was all it could ever be, because he wasn’t fairy. The pretty package hid the ugly truth about the way he lived.

His lips had caused more death than joy.

And yet when his mouth moved against hers, all she wanted was more. Her fingers curled into the bed sheets instead of reaching for him. His hand skimmed down her side and slid under her t-shirt to caress the bare skin above her hip, and his lips brushed her jaw and down her neck.

Lust was never revealed in Annwyn, as it could then be used against you. She’d done it. Fairies had no scruples when it came to using anything and everything to get what they wanted. That she wanted Henry just made what she was doing easier. It also meant that she had to be careful not to be consumed.

She undid his shirt and smoothed her palms over his chest. His fairy blood showed through in his perfect physique, although for all she knew he also exercised. His skin was also marked with old scars, soft and smooth beneath her fingers. There’d be time for questions later, once she was closer. Once he trusted her more.

But it wasn’t trust that she wanted. He needed to fall for her and be blinded to all else. Fairies could fall in love, she knew that, but she had never experienced it. Wouldn’t know what it even felt like.

Terrifying, uncomfortable, and dangerous were all words that followed the idea of falling in love with anyone. It went against everything she’d ever worked for. Love was something that could be exploited, and after Shea she’d vowed that she’d never be taken advantage of again.

She could control the desire. Use it. Revel in it for just a little while. His skin was cool beneath her fingertips, or maybe she was too hot, burning up from the inside. It had been too long. Even longer since it had been for anything more than to seal a deal. The lust became a hunger to be truly desired instead of a pawn.

Darah pushed his shirt off and he managed to shrug out of it without taking his lips from her body. Then he rocked back so he was kneeling over her. He lifted the edge of her t-shirt and slowly eased it higher. He kissed her belly. Her ribs. Her skin tingled from his touch. She was going to enjoy this more than she probably should…there was too much desire sliding though her blood for this to be called one hundred percent mission related.

Right now she didn’t care. Taking something for herself felt good.

Henry wasn’t acting as though he’d never had sex before. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the details.

She lifted her shoulders as he eased her shirt off. When he looked at her this time, he wasn’t trying to hide the heat in his gaze. The ice blue of his eyes sent a shiver of longing through her. Yet his touch still remained cool, as if he was reining in control, determined not to give in. He was trying to keep this from getting out of hand as much as she was. The thought was almost amusing. Both were too fairy to let the other see too much. There were too many walls and secrets between them…but that would change.

His hand slid between their bodies and undid her jeans. For the first time she missed the dresses of Annwyn. As her lips found his and she claimed his mouth, her hands slid lower to claim the rest of him. The hard ridge of his erection pressed against his jeans. Her mouth curved in a small smile as she took a little pride in the knowledge that she’d had that effect on him without even trying.

No, they didn’t need to trust, or even like each other to have sex and enjoy it. Unlike mortals, fairies knew the difference between love and lust. One was dangerous and the other more so. Sex in Annwyn was something to trade as well as a way to have fun.

Today was a little of both even though it shouldn’t have been. This shouldn’t be fun, or exciting. That her body responded too easily to his touch was as concerning as it was pleasurable. Why shouldn’t she find something to enjoy while stuck here?

She opened up the fly of his jeans and pushed them down, along with his briefs, with a desperation that wasn’t all faked.

Don’t get caught up.

But she wasn’t listening to her own warnings. Her fingers closed around the hard flesh of his shaft and stroked. He groaned, a small noise that remained locked in his throat, as if he didn’t dare let it out.

Oh he would, before she was done with him.

Darah released him and pushed him onto his back, and he went willingly. Then she shucked her jeans and dragged his off, leaving their clothes in a pile on the floor. Naked, she crawled over him.

She kissed a scar on his calf, then one on his thigh. He was scarred all over. Fairies didn’t scar, once the wound was healed there was no trace. His scars were old, full of stories about his life. His shaft lay thick and hard in front of her. For a heartbeat she deliberated what to do. What she wanted warred with what she should do. No, she had to give him something to come back for. Offer a hint of what else she could do for him, to him.

Her breath whispered over his shaft and then she moved on, licked his belly and then one nipple. There were other scars on his ribs. She’d love to know how he’d gotten them all—obviously his life hadn’t all been casinos and luxury. Another time…

If they had time.

He drew her closer, and cupped her breasts. His thumbs brushed over her nipples and sent jolts of pleasure deep into her belly. Then his hands moved lower, over her ribs, down to her hips. His fingers kneaded her butt, drawing her down until his shaft was nestled against her. He was hot against the slickness of her sex and she couldn’t help but move against him. A shiver traced over her skin.

It had definitely been too long.

She wanted to feel him within her, but if she rushed would he want more?

This wasn’t just about what she wanted and needed, this was about doing her job. One of his hands slid over her thigh and dipped between her legs.

He smiled as his fingers teased. “When did you decide that you wanted this?”

“Before I kissed you.” And not just because she wanted information. She wanted to indulge in the lust that existed between them. It was something she couldn’t do in Annwyn. As he touched her, she realized that too many of her encounters had been cool and calculated. Had she been missing out by playing it safe?

“Hmm.” He circled the sensitive little bud. “Do you slum it with mortal men often?”

She shook her head, the ends of her hair sweeping over her shoulder. “No. I rarely leave Annwyn.” Another mistake? Fairies who wanted to revel in desire often did so across the veil. As one of Eyra’s ladies, she hadn’t had that luxury. “Besides, you aren’t mortal.”

“I am once a year.” His face became unreadable again, all emotion shut down.

She wanted to know more about that too, but she bit her tongue. She was going to lose him if she didn’t act. They weren’t close enough for honest conversation, yet. They’d get there. She rolled her hips. “Do you often sleep with fairies?”

“You would be my first Court fairy.”

But not fairy. He’d slept with either banished or exiled fairies then. That virtually confirmed her theory about Marlis. She didn’t pause to work out how that made her feel exactly, but she’d hoped to be his first fairy.

“You are my first darkling.” Darah lifted her hips, and he didn’t need any other invitation. The head of his shaft nudged against her folds and then she was sinking onto him. She shuddered as her body adjusted. A sigh escaped her lips as she moved.

She’d missed having sex. A year and a day of her life had been wasted. While she had a long life compared to humans, everything had changed during that year.

His gaze fixed on her, but aside from lust there was nothing else to see. His hands remained on her hips, but he didn’t pull her down hard or try to take control. Part of her wished he would, if only to prove that this meant something more to him than just the scratching of an itch.

Or was this as much about business for him as it was for her?

Usually someone always had more to gain.

This time she wasn’t sure it was her. That was unnerving.

He lifted his hips and met her thrust for thrust. Was he not going to make sure she came? If nothing else a fairy man could be guaranteed to put on a good show, something that she wouldn’t forget in a hurry, even if did lack the burn of true desire.

“What do you want?” he murmured.

Damn him. She was tempted to say nothing and take care of herself later…however, giving in and answering, even though it stung her pride, might be a better course of action.

“To come.” She leaned forward so her lips were just over him, an almost kiss. Kissing was the one thing she could give him. She could feel his breath on her skin, and could imagine the racing of his heart only inches from hers.

She wanted to feel his mouth against her, his tongue dipping past her lips. For a moment she was tempted to let go of the reins to see what would happen if she gave into lust completely. But she couldn’t. There was too much at stake.

His fingers found the bud again, and he circled it with delicate pressure. She ground her hips down harder, unable to resist any longer. Desire was hot in her blue blood. So close…

She closed her eyes and let the sensations wash over her, grip her and then pull her apart. She moaned—that was the only expression of pleasure she’d allow herself, too much and he’d know how much he affected her—then he was kissing her and holding her hard against him.

His body tensed as he came, and his groan was swallowed by the kiss.

For a few moments neither of them moved. It was nice to be touched by another person. He hadn’t pushed her away, goal achieved and business complete, and his hands were still touching her, smoothing over her skin. She eased back carefully, still enjoying the feel of him inside of her.

She ran one fingernail up his chest, his skin so pale compared to hers, then she cupped his jaw. “I think you’ve done that before.”

“I don’t kiss.” He gently turned so she had to roll off him. “However, I never claimed to be innocent. Lost that a very long time ago.” There was a note of sadness in his voice that tugged at her heart. Had he accidentally killed the first woman he slept with? He got up and started dressing. “Tomorrow you’re going to help Kaid get some supplies.”

Darah sat up. “Help Kaid?”

She didn’t even know what he was. And she was pretty sure that he didn’t like her.

“Is that a problem?” Henry looked at her. He had his jeans on but no shirt.

The sight made her heart do a little flutter—which she quickly swept aside.

“I thought you’d want me here.” She sat up, the desire cooling and leaving her uncertain about who had gained more from that encounter. Had Henry used sex to make sure she’d do as he asked?

Henry picked up his shirt and buttoned it. “I do, but I also need supplies so we can start rebuilding.”