Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [95]
Off I went in my daze.
I was hoping Raphael wouldn't be there when I returned, but it was late, twilight falling over the City. I gazed out the window of the carriage, taking comfort in the purple gloaming and wondering if I'd just made one of the most idiotic choices of my life.
It was quite possible.
Not only was Raphael already home, but he heard me return and emerged from his study to greet me.
"Well?" He looked amused.
My face grew hot. "Well?"
He folded his arms and leaned against the door-jamb. "Was it educational?"
"Oh, yes." The hot flush crept down my throat. Despite having used the wash-basin at Cereus House, I could smell my own arousal mingled with the scent of Jehanne's. "Very."
"Good." Raphael smiled lazily. "Mayhap later you'll show me what you learned."
The image of Jehanne with her lips wrapped around the aide d'amour flashed behind my eyes. That was before she had shown me its other uses, which had left me pleasantly sore. I cleared my throat. "It's been a long day. Tomorrow, mayhap?"
"All right." He pushed himself away from the doorway and came over to kiss me, holding the back of my head hard when I tried to pull away from him, sure that he would smell her on me. His tongue delved into my mouth. My body, still tuned to the key of desire, responded mindlessly. Raphael cupped one of my breasts and squeezed, his thumb teasing the erect nipple through the cloth of my gown. "You're sure?"
I closed my eyes. "Please. Tomorrow, I promise."
"Did you think of me?" he asked insistently.
"Aye." I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and lied to him. "I thought of you the whole time."
Raphael let me go. "Good girl. Go freshen yourself; dinner's to be served shortly."
In my borrowed chamber, I sank onto the bed and buried my face in my hands. Stone and sea! I wasn't sure what I was feeling. A complicated knot of pleasure and guilt and confusion lay heavy in the pit of my belly.
"My lady?" There was a knock at the door.
I lifted my head. "Aye?"
Daphne entered with a ewer of fresh water for the basin. "Are you all right?" Her shy, sweet, open face looked worried. "Was it not nice?"
"No." I smiled ruefully. "It was nice."
She looked relieved. "Oh, good." Water splashed into the basin. "All the Houses of the Night Court have their specialties. But they say that Cereus House is the first and oldest and best." Daphne bustled around the chamber, examining the ball of soap to determine whether or not it needed to be replaced and laying out fresh linen towels. She glanced at me and lowered her voice in a conspiratorial manner. "Did you know that Queen Jehanne herself served as an adept at Cereus House?"
"Yes," I said softly. "So I heard."
Daphne's expression took on an unwonted hard edge. "They say her beauty and her wiles cured King Daniel of his grief after his first wife died a few years ago. He wed her out of gratitude and dotes on her yet." Her voice dropped another octave. "Even to this day, his majesty is willing to put up with all manner of her transgressions, including her dalliance with Lord Raphael."
"Oh, aye?" I rubbed my eyes. "Well, from what little I've seen, her majesty can be… compelling."
"That's one word for it," Daphne said darkly.
Somehow, I survived that night's dinner. For a mercy, Raphael didn't press me for details of my assignation. He was caught up in some arcane business at the Academy to which he eluded in a vague and offhand manner. Since he was being cryptic, I listened with only half an ear, caught up in my own concerns.
"May I count on your assistance, Moirin?" His eyes were intent. "Your gift may make the difference."
I shook myself. "In what?"
"The project," Raphael said