Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 171450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 857(@200wpm)___ 686(@250wpm)___ 572(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 857(@200wpm)___ 686(@250wpm)___ 572(@300wpm)
“We’d need a strong group of High Priestesses, and we’d need to do it by the light of the moon. It’d be stronger on a full moon, but we just had one. So we can make do.”
“When can we do it? Tonight?”
“At least a week,” Niamh said. “I’d need that long to prepare.”
Kierse groaned. “That’s right before Amberdash’s party. Did you get an invite to that, by the way?”
“No chance. He hates Druids.”
“I got one, and Graves didn’t,” Kierse explained. “He’s trying to find a way inside if we can’t scrounge up a second invite.”
Niamh nodded. “I’ll ask around.”
“Thank you.” Kierse stood and ran a hand down her face. “And thank you for the spell. I really appreciate it.”
“Anything for you, babe.”
Kierse swallowed. It was only another week. What was the worst that could happen?
Chapter Twenty-One
It was easier said than done.
Especially because every time she left the house and the protection of the wards, the connection was so much stronger. She could feel Lorcan hovering on the edge of her periphery. Whether he meant to or not.
She joined Gen and Ethan for their training. She trekked down to the Lower East Side to consult with Gen’s mom, Colette. She checked in on Maura, who was still vomiting regularly. Ronan hadn’t heard of anyone else getting an invitation except Nova, which wasn’t surprising, since she had killed Nate.
She hiked up and down Manhattan, investigating every crevice as she watched her beloved city simmer like a pot set to boil. If she hadn’t lived here her entire life, she might not have seen it, but everyone was tense and jumpy. The tourists huddled together in tight-packed groups. The gangs set up patrols on the corners, brandishing guns at anyone who looked suspicious. And the goblin fruit was everywhere. It made her sick to see as she ambled back into the brownstone.
“I’m going to pass out,” she told Graves, landing face first in the bed.
“I got you a new dress.”
That was when she realized he was in a tuxedo. She came up to her elbows with wide eyes. “You got the meeting?”
“Just came in.”
She came to her feet and reached for the black bag in his hands. “I haven’t done a thing to my hair.”
“Wear it up.” His hand stroked up her neck as he tugged lightly on her hair. A soft moan escaped her lips. “I like it up. And I know they’ll like it up, too.”
“Okay, but if you keep tugging on my hair like that, we’ll be late.”
“No complaints from me,” he said, tilting her head backward and baring her throat. His lips landed on the sensitive skin, kissing down her throat to her collarbone.
“Graves,” she groaned.
“We’ve been so busy,” he murmured into her ear. “I haven’t had you all to myself enough. We need this.”
“Yes,” she gasped. “But the meeting?”
“We have time.”
“Please,” she whispered. She’d been running herself ragged. She needed this sweet release. She needed it.
“On your knees.”
Her eyes widened, defiance rearing up in her chest. Then she let it slip away, and she slowly lowered herself before him. He still had her hair in his hand as she unclasped his pants and dragged the zipper down. His cock was lengthening as she pulled him free. He was thick and rigid in her hand.
“Graves,” she groaned.
“You’ve been gone a lot,” he said.
Her eyes flickered up to his. “We’ve been busy.”
“We’re going to have to talk about this at some point.”
His eyes weren’t hard or angry. They were conciliatory. They were both hiding behind their own problems. She wanted more than ever for the binding to go quiet as it was when they were away and the one precious night she’d bargained for.
“I know,” she told him.
He nodded once. Accepting that there would come a point where they would discuss it. Knowing her well enough to give her the space to come to him in her own time.
“Do you think that you can take all of me?”
She swallowed as her eyes returned to his cock. Her lips went to the head, and Graves made an unseemly sound that went straight to her core. She was wet just from the sound and the salty taste of pre-come.
“I want to fuck the back of your throat.”
She shifted, desperate for friction on her clit. She was sure she’d come hard and fast at the lightest provocation. But she didn’t have that, and no amount of wiggling was making that happen. So she leaned forward and took him in her mouth.
When she felt resistance, it was nowhere near all the way in. Still, he guided her forward by her hair. The tug on her scalp a gentle prod as he filled her mouth. Her lips were spread wide, and she grasped his powerful thighs.
“Keep going,” he assured her.
She gagged around him, retreating to get more air. Then she dove back in, taking him farther than before.