A Stroke Of Midnight   ::   Гамильтон Лорел

I trailed my fingertips down the front of Kitto’s leg, until I traced alongthe top of his foot. I knew he was ticklish there, and it earned me a smile, but his eyes stayed closed. I held his foot in my hands, and licked along the top of his foot where I had touched. It made him squirm and laugh. He opened his eyes, sinking his legs below the water and sitting up. Galen’s arms spilled around his shoulders, holding him more securely against his own body.

I moved in against the front of Kitto’s body, straddling his legs. I brushed myself over the loose thickness of his groin. It drew a sound of pleasure from him. But when he put his hands at my waist, it was to stop the movement of my hips.

Kitto’s voice was a little strained, but his small hands were very firm at my waist, stopping me from pushing harder against his body. “It is Nicca who is meant to be with Galen and you this night.”

“I am content to wait my turn,” Nicca said from where he knelt beside the tub. His wings fanned gently at his back as he reached to trail his fingers in the water.

Kitto shook his head, water trickling down his face from his sodden hair, his black curls flattened against the white of his skin.

I moved my groin against his, and his hands on my waist could not stop it. His fingers tightened, and again he said, “No.” But other parts of his body were already responding to even the light touch he was allowing me.

“Your body says otherwise,” I said.

He swallowed hard and blinked those blue on blue eyes up at me. “I cannot be your king, Merry. Word has come from Kurag, Goblin King, that Holly and Ash have laid challenge on any goblin that takes their prize before they can.”

I frowned at him. “And that means what?”

“Any goblin that does anything to become your king before Holly and Ash have had their chance will be challenged and killed by them.”

“They have no right to dictate to you, Kitto,” I said. “You are sidhe now. You have a hand of power. That is sidhe magic, not goblin.”

He gave me a sad little smile. “You do not know them as I do. I would not anger them, not for anything in faerie.” He touched the side of my face where the blood still clung. “Let me help you and Galen clean yourselves.” He smiled, and it was a real smile, not so sad. “I am honored that Galen reached for me first. I know that that is not his way.” He leaned in against the taller man’s body and smiled up at him.

Galen smiled down at him and ran his hands down the other man’s arm. “I wanted to see you smile.”

Kitto smiled wider, amost a grin.