He was being light just to set me at ease. His eyes were also fixed to my breasts.
I crossed my arms over my chest, and his smile was knowing. "There were others, though," I said.
"Women?"
"Omegas," I said.
His eyebrows rose and then, astonishingly, he shook his head. "No. I'm a quick learner. She may only have manipulated me for a night, but I realized that wouldn't always be the case. I've behaved myself in the Hills since then."
My eyebrows rose. He would've lived like a monk for decades?—
"In theHills?" I pressed. I was mad for digging this up, for demanding to know every instance, every woman. If my reaction to his first experience was any indication, it wouldnotserve to make me less charmed by this man. My alpha.Myalpha.
Torion laughed and covered his face with his hand. "You're a bloodhound."
"As you might've assumed, I've only ever had one man in my bed and?—"
"Don't mention Barr," Torion growled, pulling his hand away to reveal a storm over his features.
"—I'd never experienced what you—what we—I just—" I scowled as I stumbled over the words, not even properly sure I knew what I was trying to say, but Torion's expression softened all the same.
"If I tell you, will you let me wake you up with my face between your thighs? Or sucking on those lovely little breasts you're trying to hide from me?" he teased.
I shivered and pretended it was a bristling irritation that made me sit up straighter, my thighs clenching together. "If you must."
Torion's smile was dark, and he sat up momentarily, one wing shifting so they were spread flat across the top of the bed. "I avoided my father's ruts by spending a month or so around those times on the Craven Sea with the alpha there. But last cycle, I returned when it should've been safe and…felt as though I was experiencing something like one of my own. Not quite so mindless, but still risky. I spent a few days at a brothel in Skybern," he said.
My eyes widened, surprised to find I wasn't outraged but curious. "A brothel?"
Torion blushed and nodded.
"For days?"
Torion fought his own smile. "That's why I think it was something like a rut."
"And there you…"
"Brigid!" he laughed, rubbing his hands over his flushing face.
"With one woman?"
He groaned and threw his arm over his eyes.
"Several, then," I said, finding my own lips smiling. "And you were more vigorous there than you were tonight?"
His laugh grew louder, even muffled beneath his beautifully sculpted arm.
"If you learned what you did tonight from the omega?—"
"I did notlearnto fuck a woman with my tongue, Brigid, I simplydesiredto do so tonight," he bit out, moving his arm out of the way to show me his glare—an effect ruined by the crinkled humor around his eyes.
"I cannot imagine what you might've learned fromseveralwomen at a brothel over the course ofseveraldays."
Torion was quiet for a moment, staring at me. And then in a low, purring tone he asked, "Would you like me to show you?"
This is fun, I thought, a little wistful. It would be easier later if I could avoid enjoying Torion's company so much, but I could already tell that would be impossible. So perhaps it was better to let myself savor him. Surely small, careful doses would be safe.
"Yes, but not tonight," I said, bracing my hands on his chest and then settling back down at his side.
