“You’re staring,” he said, voice rough.
“You’re worth staring at.” My hands traced lower, following the trail of marks that disappeared beneath the vines. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re obscenely gorgeous?”
“Not in those words.”
“Then everyone you’ve met has been a coward.” I leaned down, pressing kisses to follow where I’d painted. The mushroom glow made his skin look almost ethereal. “I’m going to take my time with you.”
“Elle—”
“Shh. My turn to explore.”
When my hand finally wrapped around his cock, his sharp intake of breath was gratifying. He was substantial—impressively so—and the look on my face must have shown my thoughts because he actually smiled.
“Is that concern or appreciation?” he asked.
“Definitely appreciation.” I stroked slowly, watching his eyes darken. “With maybe a touch of ‘this is going to be interesting.’”
“I’ll be careful—”
“I don’t want careful right now.” I reached for one of the chocolate-flavored leaves, showing it to him. “Do you know what a lollipop is?”
“A… what?”
“Earth candy. You lick it.” I traced the leaf along his length, coating him with the chocolate essence. “Let me educate you.”
The moment I took him in my mouth, chocolate and salt and him, hemade a sound that wasn’t quite my name. His hands found my hair, not pushing, just holding on like I was the only thing keeping him anchored to reality.
“Root and Bloom,” he gasped. “What are you—”
I pulled back just enough to answer. “Showing you what a lollipop is. Educational.”
“This is not—” His words cut off as I took him deeper, the chocolate leaf creating a sweetness that made the act even more decadent.
The peppermint leaves came next, alternating sensations—cooling, warming, the slight effervescence of the mushroom glow still on my lips. I could feel him trying to maintain control, trying not to thrust, trying to be careful even now.
“Let go,” I told him, my hand working where my mouth couldn’t reach. “I want all of you.”
His control shattered beautifully. Through the bond, I felt his pleasure building, felt the moment he stopped fighting it, and when he came with my name on his lips, I stayed with him through it—taking everything he gave, feeling powerful and desired and absolutely perfect.
When I finally pulled away, his chest was heaving, marks pulsing erratically across his skin. He looked thoroughly undone. His eyes bulged when I ran my tongue along my lips, swallowing the last of him.
“That,” he said when he could speak again, “was not educational.”
“No?”
“That was devastation.” He pulled me up to kiss me, tasting chocolate and himself on my lips. “You’re dangerous.”
“You like it.”
“I’m obsessed with it.” His hands were already exploring again, returning the favor. “Your turn.”
He pulled me up, kissing me deeply, tasting chocolate and peppermint and want. When I pulled back, he was already hard again—impossibly quick recovery that made me raise an eyebrow.
“Fae stamina?” I asked.
“Among other benefits.” His marks pulsed with renewed hunger. “Ifyou’re interested.”
“Very interested.”
