His head fell against the back of the chaise, and his bleary eyes watched as I writhed and bucked over him.

I took my time, adjusting to the fullness of him.

Those molten eyes locked with mine. His callused palm glided up the curve of my waist, the divots of my ribs, until he palmed the whole of one breast.

I bowed my spine, pushing into his palm. Roark pinched and tugged at my nipple, then adjusted on the sofa and took the other side between his lips, sucking and licking until the peak hardened.

I cried out his name when he rolled the tip between his teeth while his fingers worked the other. I rocked against him, gasping when he bucked, striking a new depth.

Heat pooled low in my belly.

My head fell back, his name cascading over my tongue again and again; my body shuddered through my release.

Roark gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him again. The heat of my pleasure still throbbed in my core, but when I followed his gaze down, looking at us joined together, watching as his length still moved in and out, I thought I might lose myself again.

My arms rested on his shoulders, but I gripped the back of the sofa, keeping my head down so I would not miss a moment.

Roark’s breaths were hot against my neck. One hand gripped my waist, holding me in place as he deepened his thrusts. Each motion shifted the wooden legs of the sofa a little more, wood scraped over wood. We didn’t stop, didn’t slow.

Roark freed a rough groan and went taut. His cock twitched and the warmth of his release spilled into me.

Spent and breathless, Roark tucked a lock of hair behind my ear, meeting my gaze.

I dipped my head and kissed him gently. For a long while, I didn’t move off his lap. We stayed there, joined for a time. Roark held my head to his heart, and sometimes his lips would press into my hair.

On my bare spine, his fingers moved in deliberate patterns, and it took me a moment to realize he was repeating the same thing over and again.

Yours, body and soul.

When Kael arrived at the door, Roark was the Sentry again, steadfast and standing watch near the window.

Kael pressed a kiss to the top of my head and took a seat beside me. “I’m assuming you’ve been filled in on King Damir’s plans.”

“I’m to be his sacrifice.”

Kael clenched a fist over my knee. “We’re going to find a way to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Yes.” I cut a glance at Roark. “So I’ve heard. Trouble is, I’m not sure how either of you can declare loyalty to me when you are bound to serve Damir.”