His hands roamed my thighs, squeezing the delicate skin hard enough to make me moan into his mouth—a sound he swallowed with a smirk. He pulled back to nip and suck at my jaw and neck, and when he spoke again, I felt the rumble of each word vibrate deep in my chest.

“You had to wait for me this morning. It seems only fair that I make it up to you.”

I hummed, pretending to think about it, though my cock had already decided to get on board. “Yeah, I think that would be acceptable.”

Cair laved at my nipple as he lowered the waistband of my sleep shorts and palmed my dick, coaxing me to full hardness. I let out a questioning sound as he tugged down his own pants and lined his cock up against mine, taking us both into his fist.

A gasp escaped my lips at the first firm stroke.

“Today, I feel like covering you in my scent,” he said, gazing at me, his black eyes glinting with possessive hunger. “I want everyone in the palace to smell it on you.”

Fuck.

* * *

I knelt on the dirt path, leaning over the flower bed to inspect the progress of the nathrach I’d planted two months ago. They were sprouting beautifully, not quite in full bloom—they had a week or so to go yet—but a few buds were beginning to split, the blushing pink petals peeking out from underneath.

Warmth swelled in my chest, and the smile that spread over my face was entirely out of my control. I felt immense joy knowing that I’d nurtured another species to life—one previously unknown to me—with my predominantly human hands. This particular variety could be used as an antidote against naga venom, but even if their only purpose had been to sit there and look pretty, I would still be proud of every single seed that didn’t fail. And as I sat back on my haunches, glancing over the colorful patches dotted around the garden filled with a variety of different plants, I was able to see just how many that was.

It was these simple triumphs that had played a huge role in helping me settle in. Immersing myself in nature, finding a purpose and being accomplished at it, made me feel more fulfilled than I ever had in the human realm. I missed Edenglas—of course I did—it was all I had known for so long. Plus, with Alex and Tee there, and everyone else at the club, I’d always have a tie to that world, no matter what, but since we had the choice to return freely, the guilt I’d once felt for leaving it behind was slowly dwindling. It may have been my Fae blood nudging me toward my roots, but I thought I’d be happy to live the rest of my immortal life here.