Chapter 44

Finally getting rid of the Eye of Oris felt like moving from the bottom of a human pyramid to the top. With my arm still linked through Remy's, I practically skipped along the cobblestones. Remy knew of a confectioner called the Sugar Plum that Alix said served ice cream, so we decided to go there to celebrate.

Delicate white curtains covered the Sugar Plum's windows, and inside the walls were a cheerful pastel pink. I lingered in front of the glass display cases brimming with candies, chocolates, and pastries, while the aroma of sugar and fruit wafting from the back room made my mouth water. Remy led me to one of the small, round tables in the corner and we sat on delicately wrought chairs with heart-shaped backs. A hand-written sign listed the shop's ice cream flavors as vanilla, strawberry, lemon, and chocolate.

"What do you want?" Remy asked.

"Mmmm. Strawberry."

He returned in a few minutes with two bowls of strawberry ice cream, and we spooned it up. The cold, creamy texture sent a delightful shiver down my spine as the sweetness burst across my tongue. I smiled at Remy and licked the spoon. This was like a proper date, and I'd never had one of those. I'd always been too busy trying to prove my worth to accept that someone might just want to spend time with me.

When we had both scraped our bowls clean, Remy sat back and said, "What now?"

I sighed, unwilling to leave this little sliver of happiness and return to my problems. I still faced the task of finding new rooms and some sort of job. The Fae Council couldn't keep the Enforcers on every street corner forever, but for now, the guild's operations were severely curtailed, and I needed to eat. Since there was no longer a threat to my safety, I didn't want to impose on Ralph's hospitality.

"I guess I should retrieve my belongings from The Stony Mug and stay in the Vaults for now." I propped my elbows on the table and dropped my chin in my hands. "I can't go back to my bedsit until I can pay for the damage Polix caused." I wrinkled my nose. "I want someplace new, but in either case I have to find a job first. It doesn't look like the guild will be active anytime soon."

One corner of Remy's mouth kicked up. "I was actually thinking more along the lines of a walk in the park or going to the penny gaff theater. Or if you want to go to the Mug, Ralph probably has a fiddler in tonight. We could dance."

I blinked at him like an owl in the sunlight. "Oh." A giggle bubbled up unexpectedly, and suddenly, I couldn't stop laughing until my eyes were streaming.

"I'm glad my suggestions amused you," Remy commented sardonically.

"I'm just happy," I said as I wiped my eyes and got myself under control. "And I love to dance."

Remy was right and there was a fiddler that night in the tavern. Patrons had pushed aside some tables to create a small dance area, and we had barely claimed seats at a table when Remy pulled me up to dance. I followed his lead as we moved in time with the fiddler's tune. We twirled and spun, our bodies moving as one, lost in the music and the moment.

When the music slowed, I basked in the warmth of Remy's arms around me and his breath ruffling my hair. My head rested on his chest as we swayed, and I could feel his heart thumping like a rhythmic drum. My own heart raced, and my body tingled with the thrill of the dance. I felt safe and protected in Remy's embrace, his solid arms holding me close.

We danced until my feet hurt, and I was gasping for air. Talya brought ale for Remy and cider for me, and we gulped thirstily. Ralph caught my eye from behind the bar and gave me a wink and a broad smile. I grinned so widely back at him my cheeks ached.

After we had caught our breath, Remy doodled in the wet rings on the table left from the cold mugs. Without looking at me, he said, "If you need a place to stay, you could come to my house."

I froze in surprise. When Remy had offered to provide for me in the Vaults, I assumed he meant to set me up in a room somewhere. He hadn't wanted me; he had wanted my cooperation with the Eye. That proposition was just an easy way to bypass my argument about needing money. This was different. No one knew where he lived, and he took great pains to ensure no one would find out. Not even Ralph or Alix knew.

When I didn't respond right away, Remy continued, "No strings. You could have your own room and come and go as you please." He glanced up at me, then immediately back down at the table.

My chest tightened, and my throat felt thick. He'd said many times that he didn't want commitment, and this sounded like he was giving himself an out. Why was it so easy for everyone to walk away from me? "What if I want strings?" I finally whispered.

He grabbed my hands and gazed into my eyes. "You do?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

He took a deep breath. "I just meant that if you want your independence, I won't stand in your way." He closed his eyes and squeezed my hands. "But I want you to stay. I need you."

My eyes stung with tears, even as my mouth widened into a smile. Leaning forward, I threw my arms around his neck. "Yes," I breathed.

A few hours later, gas lamps cast a warm glow over a row of brick townhomes that lined the street. I stood on the sidewalk, clutching the satchel containing what remained of my belongings, while Remy fumbled briefly with the key to one of the front doors. A gentle breeze lifted my hair and rustled the leaves of the saplings lining the street. The neighborhood was a mixture of working class and solidly middle-class homes and nothing like what I had expected.

The townhouse's well-maintained brick fa?ade held an understated charm and sense of quiet dignity that didn't seem to match Remy's keen wit and often irreverent attitude. Tall, narrow windows implied high ceilings inside, and a delicate wrought-iron balcony stretched above the solid front door. Flower boxes dangled from the windows but, unlike his neighbors', they contained only bare dirt. They were probably the only item on this street that I would have guessed belonged to Remy.

"You live here?"

He looked over his shoulder and lifted one eyebrow. "Did you think we were breaking in?"

"It doesn't seem like your style."

He shrugged and pushed the door open. "No one would think to look for me here. Plus, I like it."

It was hard to reconcile the cheeky man who was at ease in taverns, drinking and talking to everyone, with the man whose need for privacy bordered on compulsive. The one who was comfortable in the worst slums in the city yet lived in an upwardly mobile neighborhood. I wasn't sure I would ever understand him.

As Remy held the door, I crossed the threshold into a dark entranceway. He lit a candle in the wall sconce, and I could see a sitting room on the left and a dining room on the right, with additional rooms down the hall.

"This is a lot of space for one person. Why did you rent such a big townhouse?"

He put the tinderbox down on a small table and said, "I don't rent. I own it."

My jaw dropped and I stared at him. It was not uncommon for people to have living quarters above shops and businesses that they owned, but folks like us didn't own townhouses. That was a luxury reserved for people of means.

"Are you rich?" I squeaked.

"Course not. But I apprenticed with the guild when I was ten and began my own jobs at fifteen. Living on the streets taught me to be frugal, so I saved nearly every copper I earned."

I shook my head. I'd seen plenty of the troupe members throw away their money on drink, cards, and women every time they had two coins to rub together. From what I could tell, many of the guild members lived the same way. Admittedly, I'd never witnessed Remy gambling or buying rounds in a pub, but that didn't mean he didn't.

"Do you want a tour now or in the morning?"

Fatigue suddenly caught up with me. It had been a very long day, and I just wanted to get off my feet. "Tomorrow," I said.

Remy retrieved the candle from the sconce, clasped my hand, and led me up the steps. As we stepped into the master bedroom, I stared around wide-eyed at the grandeur. Moonlight filtered in through the tall windows, bathing everything in a silver glow. In the center stood a large, four-poster bed made of rich, dark wood with a canopy draped in a luxurious fabric. Opposite the bed, there was a stone fireplace, its mantel decorated with a small sculpture and a few books.

Remy took my satchel and placed it next to a walnut wardrobe that had been polished to a high sheen. "Is there anything you need?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I can't believe you live like this."

His white teeth flashed in the moonlight as he grinned. "Don't be too impressed. Only three rooms are furnished."

I laughed and stepped across the room to him, my feet sinking into the thick carpet. He stood still as I approached, and for the first time, he looked uncertain. I studied his intense blue eyes, the intriguing, long brown hair tipped with black, and the soft scruff on his jaw before placing my hand on his hard chest. His heart was pounding fast under my palm and shivers shot down my spine. I leaned in and touched my lips to his, tasting the faintest hint of apples.

His arms wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me closer. It was a slow, passionate kiss, filled with longing and desire. One hand slid up to tangle in my hair as he deepened the kiss. Every inch of me craved his touch, and I could feel his body responding to mine. When his hands dropped to my hips, I jumped up and circled his waist with my legs.

He groaned and murmured, "I dream about your supple body wrapped around mine."

I ran my hands down the firm muscles of his back. "Oh, really?" I asked as he carried me to the bed.

I could feel his smile press into my forehead. "Often."

His lips found the crook of my neck, and he nibbled lightly on the sensitive skin. He kissed and nipped his way up to my ear, pulling my head to the side. I hissed as electricity raced down my body. It felt incredible.

I fumbled with his shirt, eager to slip my hands inside. But Remy gave me a wicked smile and started tickling my sides before tossing me onto the bed. I landed with an indignant squawk that rapidly turned to a giggle. Remy dropped his vest to the floor, discarded his shirt, and toed off his boots before diving on the bed beside me.

The sight of his sculpted torso made my breath catch and heat pool in my core. The moonlight streaming through the window accentuated the curves and ridges of his musculature and gave his body an ethereal glow. His skin was hot, and I ran my hands over his chest, relishing the feel of smooth skin over hard muscle.

Taking my face between his hands, he hungrily kissed me. His tongue traced my lips, and I moaned as I opened my mouth to him. Our tongues danced together as his hands trailed down my neck to squeeze my breasts. He stroked and pinched my nipples through the material of my tunic. I squirmed against him as my body demanded more.

Remy raised his head, and his eyes bored into mine. "I want to taste every inch of you."

Shifting to kneel between my legs, he started pulling the tunic over my head. I wriggled out of it so he could remove it all the way. He leaned back, letting his scorching gaze rove over my body, and I shivered at his avid expression. He was the only man to ever make me feel desirable, and I ached for him.

Slowly, he bent forward and took one breast into his mouth. He laved the taut nipple with his tongue and sucked gently. Then he switched to the other breast to give it the same attention. Mounting pleasure had me bowing off the bed, and I dug my fingers into his shoulders to hold on.

A groan rumbled through his chest, and he pulled away to look down at me. "So beautiful," he murmured before bending down again. The wet heat of his tongue made my skin tingle, and then he was moving down my body, dropping hot kisses as he went.

Remy slid his hands under my rear and peeled off my leggings. He took his time, trailing his fingers up and down my bare legs, watching my every reaction. I gasped when he found the sensitive spot at the top of my thighs and his agile fingers expertly stroked my wet center. My hips bucked against his hand, and I rolled them in time with his caresses.

My breathing grew more ragged as he sucked his finger into his mouth. His eyes flared with lust as he studied me. He continued to stare as he lowered his head to replace his finger with his tongue. I cried out and grabbed the back of his head. My back arched as a white-hot wave exploded through my body, washing away all thought. With each lap of his tongue, my body climbed higher and higher.

When he pushed first one and then a second long finger inside me, I thought I would shatter. Wrapping my legs around him, I dug my heels into his back and cried out. Remy rocked his fingers in and out, stroking something deep inside me. My body tensed and I wasn't sure how much more I could take.

I grabbed his shoulders and started to pant. "I can't…I'm going to…"

He pulled back, and his chest rose and fell rapidly. "Let go," he rasped before lowering his head once more.

His fingers moved faster, and his tongue continued to lash me until a bright light flashed behind my eyes. I cried his name as a tide of pleasure washed over me. My body shook, and Remy carefully slid his fingers out of my slick heat.

I shivered as the last of the aftershocks raced through me. Remy kissed my stomach, and then he raised his head to look down at me. His eyes were molten with desire, and the sight of him made me throb with renewed need.

I tugged at the buttons on his trousers, desperate to feel all of him. As I wrapped my fingers around his erection, Remy closed his eyes and his muscles tensed. He was hot, large, and rigid in my hands, his skin silky and smooth. I caressed and stroked his length, running my fingers up and down the shaft. He shuddered, then stood up long enough to peel off his trousers before returning to the bed.

"You are remarkable…" Remy breathed. He captured my mouth with his, kissing me fiercely, and I tangled my fingers in his hair.

Remy nudged my thighs apart and settled between them, his weight on his elbows. The broad head of his shaft pressed against my entrance and my breath caught as he pushed inside me. I twined my legs around his waist, and he slid deeper. Remy was hard and thick, and he felt amazing inside me.

Remy rested his forehead on mine and began to move. We matched each thrust, and I felt the tension building once more. Digging my nails into his back, I urged him to move faster, harder. I could feel the tension in his body as he held back, waiting for me to climax again. His breathing was rough, and he drove harder and deeper.

His movements grew more forceful, his focus unwavering as he pushed us both toward the edge. Remy reared above me as our bodies moved together at a pace that had me gasping for breath.

"Ziola…" he groaned, his voice strained as he powered into me with a relentless rhythm.

My own gasps and moans echoed in the room, matching the primal sounds pouring from his throat. His gaze, raw with desire and a wild need, locked onto mine. With each stroke, I felt him reaching my very core, his body and mine becoming one.

"Remy," I cried, and my world shattered as wild pleasure coursed through me.

With one last thrust, Remy held perfectly still as I spasmed around him. He bit his lip, and a low growl escaped him as he spilled into me. I watched his face as he climaxed, loving the passion I saw etched there. Loving how he made me feel beautiful. Loving him.

He lowered me gently back to the bed and rolled onto his side, taking me with him. I snuggled closer and rested my head on his chest, secure in the comfort of his strong arms and cedar scent. He pulled a blanket over us, but his body was so warm, I doubted I'd need it.

After all my nomadic years with the circus troupe and the stress of trying to establish myself in Sageport, I had finally found my home. Right here in Remy's arms. With him, I didn't have to prove myself or be smarter, faster, stronger, better. I could just be me.

Just before I fell into a deep sleep, Remy kissed the top of my head with impossible tenderness and whispered, "I love you, Ziola."