“I am more than happy to grant that desire.” He drew back and led her toward the horse, then put his hands on her waist and went to lift her.
“On the horse?” Her voice was little more than a squeak.
“I have somewhere special in mind, but the doorway is further away.”
“I can’t ride.” She’d never gone near a horse in the mortal world, but she could drive a car—something she was willing to bet Verden couldn’t do.
“I’ll be with you. It will be fine.” He lifted her onto the horse before she could argue again. A moment later he was behind her, his arm around her waist. “Relax.”
It was hard not to lean back against him as he urged the horse forward. The horse covered the distance, her stomach flip-flopping with every step. She saw two carved stones, then the horse passed between them and it was daylight.
She was back in the mortal world.
It took a moment to realize she was on the flat top of a stone pyramid. Stairs broke the smooth slope. A ruined temple in the jungle. It was only small, not tall enough to break through the cover of the trees. Birds screeched at the sudden disturbance.
Verden jumped down and then helped her. “Can you guess where we are?”
She looked at the trees and vines, the lushness. While Annwyn was green, it lacked the vitality that this place had. Annwyn had magic; it thrummed with power, but this place had life. Heat and humidity wrapped around her, the constant noise of nature instead of the weird almost silence of the forest of Annwyn. She grinned and turned around. More jungle and ruins spread before her. “South America?”
Verden pulled off his waistcoat and draped it over one of the stones that formed the doorway to Annwyn. “There used to be many doorways here. Death was as important as life. We were worshipped as gods.” He shrugged. “All before my time, but apparently sacrifices used to be far more common.”
“It’s nice to know we’re more civilized now.” She walked around the horse, her hand on the animal’s flank, the fur like velvet—not what she’d expected at all. Not where she’d expected him to take her either. But then, how many doorways to the wilds still existed and how many had been destroyed by humans?
Verden’s gaze followed her. “Are we? Or do we just hide it better?”
“Maybe both?” Here she didn’t have to hide. “Did you want to show me some of the ruins?”
“Some.” There was a gleam in his eyes like he had other plans too. He took her hand and led her down the stone steps.
“Do you come here often?”
“No. The doorway is too far away and I don’t want the spotted cats expecting fairy horse for dinner.”
Taryn stopped on the last step. “You mean jaguars?”
Verden looked at her and frowned. “The wild fae here call them balam.”
She glanced back at the horse standing on top of the temple. Maybe being here wasn’t such a good idea. “Is the horse safe?” Are we safe?
“For a while, but I wouldn’t want to impose. Wild fae expect the natural order of things to continue. Stopping a balam from eating the horse breaks those rules. However, I think we will be okay today.” He gave her hand a small tug. “I swear we will be safe.”
She took the final step down into the soft red dirt. “Why are there no tourists here?”
“Tourists?”
“How come no one comes here?”
“It’s hidden. Partly because of the magic, partly because of the wild fae. But magic needs to be fed and it’s been a long time since anyone worshipped here.” His fingers traced her cheek.
“So how many other women have you brought here?”
“None.” His hand fell away. “When I use the old doorways, I go alone. I don’t see the reason to remind the others they exist.”
But it wasn’t the doorways she wanted to know about. It was his other lovers. He was hundreds of years older than her. He’d be her first fairy lover…she wanted to be something to him other than the one he shouldn’t have.
“You confine your trysts to Court?”
He looked away. “What do you want me to say? There is no right answer to that question. Yes, I’ve had lovers. I even liked some of them. Some were just part of the game, maybe I was part of their game—I probably was. A bet, a dare, securing a deal.” He shrugged.
Taryn looked at him for a moment. “You’ve never had sex just for fun? Because you could? Because you wanted to?” If he said no, that would be tragic. Insects buzzed in the background, the jungle hummed with life and magic. They were the only people for miles. “Verden?”
“I was thinking.”
“I already know the answer because you took so long to respond.” She placed her hand on his arm.
“No you don’t. It was just so long ago I’d buried it. It was before I went to Court.”
And he’d been at Court for quite a long time—in mortal years anyway. She wanted to ask about his life before he became Hunter, but now wasn’t the time or place.
He lifted his gaze to her face, his lips curving in a smile that promised all kinds of pleasure. “Maybe that is about to change?”
“That depends…I’m not about to lie on the dirt.”
“Have some faith in me.” He led her a little bit away from the temple to where another building was now being reclaimed by the jungle. Vines grew up the sides and the roof and two walls were missing, tumbled into a pile of gray rocks. What was left was beautiful, carved with pictures that must have once told a story.
She knew if tourists started tramping through here, the magic would dissolve. The only reason it still remained was because it was uninterrupted. Her fingertips tingled. The magic she could do in the mortal world was small because she was so young. Here she felt like she could do anything. Rebuild the wall? She almost needed to do something. Verden cleared the floor of old leaves and fresh ones appeared with a sweep of his hand.
“Did you check for spiders?” Then she decided to try it herself, but there was nothing in the building—just her and Verden.
As if they were the only people now in existence.
His lips pressed against hers and all her concerns melted on her tongue. Her blood was hot, her skin sheened with humidity, and her clothes stuck to her. Around her the air thrummed with power. The ancient site and old magic intensified every sweep of his tongue or brush of his fingertips along her skin. He kissed her neck as his hands traced down her back and cupped her butt, drawing her close. The length of his erection pressed against her stomach and her belly contracted as longing filled her. Her nipples peaked against the thin dress.
His fingers traced the curve of her butt, a caress that was more teasing than anything. His eyes were bright and luminous, as if he was truly alive instead of going through the motions. “You make me remember why I came to Court. I was looking for something. I thought I’d found it when I became Hunter, but I was wrong. The women just wanted me for what I could get them.”
She drew back a little. “I’m no different. I wanted to escape Court.”
“I offered; that is the difference. You never tried to hide what you wanted.” His fingers found the buttons on each side of her dress and he began to flick them open.
“Yet I do with every breath at Court. I can’t ask directly for what I want, and I can’t speak to you.” She undid his shirt and pushed it open. His skin was smooth, like silk, planes of muscle dipped and curved. Perfect, but had she ever imagined anything less?
“Then I shall speak to you in public.” He undid the last button, so her dress gapped at the sides, then his hand slid under the fabric. His thumb swept across the underside of her breast. “And drag you away at every opportunity.” He lowered his head and took one nipple in his mouth, sucking through the fabric.