“Yes, I’m asking,” he said, rolling his eyes. “I told Bellinor that I’d behave. He likes you.”
Isabelle narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out what kind of game he was playing.
“What do you mean?”
“He likes soft, pretty things. It reminds him of when he was human. But he likes the way you crave him most of all.”
“I don’tcravehim,” she scoffed.
Rul cocked his head.
“Why do you resist? Clearly you enjoy reveling in pleasure as much as we do.”
He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world, and it boiled her blood. A physical reaction was not the same asreveling in pleasure,no matter what he tried to say.
“Lust is a sin.”
His brow quirked in amusement, his smile igniting her rage.
“How can it be a sin when it feels so good?”
“It means nothing,” she said quickly, crossing her arms over her chest and turning away.
She felt his presence behind her, then his arms wrapping around her and pulling her close. He leaned in, brushing her hair over her shoulder and whispering in her ear.
“What? Sex is only good if it’s in the pursuit of procreation? What a shallow way of thinking.”
“It’s a violation of the Goddess’ will.”
“Do you really believe that?”
Isabelle didn’t have an answer, not when her body was already igniting with arousal just from his strong arms wrapped around her, his erection pressing against her lower back. She wanted to know what that strange cock could do, wanted to know exactly how each of these objects worked, wanted to be numb to it all like the way she was in the bedroom with Bellinor.
“Let’s play, Isabelle. I promise I’ll be easy on you.”
His murmured words tingled her skin, and she leaned back, offering her neck.
Rul took the invitation, bringing his mouth to her throat, pressing soft kisses down to her shoulder before increasing the ferocity.
“It’s selfish,” she murmured, arousal pooling between her legs at the sensation of his teeth grazing her skin, his wet tongues tasting her flesh.
“Perhaps you deserve to be selfish. Why must you always give and never take?”
For so long, she’d devoted everything to the temple. All of her spare time, any extra money she’dmade after accounting for her basic expenses, her chastity and piety. It was the right thing to do, to help others who were less fortunate. Self-gratification made you weak, distancing you from your moral integrity and spiritual commitment to the moon mother.
A commitment she was straying further from with each kiss and touch, her body succumbing to his ministrations.
“What do you think? Will you let me give you what you deserve?”
Tears burned in her eyes, and she swallowed hard, trying to stop them from spilling. Whatdidshe deserve? She was the reason both of her parents were dead. She was the one who had led two nice men on. She couldn’t control her illicit desires, no matter how hard she tried.
The Goddess would never forgive her, but maybe she’d always been beyond forgiveness.
“Yes,” she answered simply, and Rul squeezed her tight, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest.
“Don’t be frightened,” he said, scooping her into his arms like she weighed nothing.
He pressed a kiss to her lips, the sweet, smoky scent warming her body and forcing her muscles to relax.
