Chapter 16
I woke to a cold stone against my bare skin and the deep ache between my legs that reminded me exactly what we had done.
My body felt used in the best and worst way. There were bruises on my hips in the shape of his fingers. My thighs were sore. The bond still carried the heavy satisfaction of how hard and deep he had taken me the night before. For a few seconds, I kept my eyes closed and reached out for the solid warmth of him beside me.
My hand met empty space.
I opened my eyes.
The spot where Kael had collapsed against me was empty. The blankets were cold. His clothes were gone. There was no sign of him in the small outpost at all.
I sat up too fast. Dizziness hit me. The bond that had been so loud and full the night before now felt stretched thin, like something had pu
