She stepped into his arms as if she had done it a million times before.
Tilting her chin up, he kissed her, soft at first, then deeper as she melted against him, tasting of wine and tomatoes and Tula.
10
TULA
Tula had expected to be the seductress tonight. Esag had seemed so hesitant, so unsure before, but he was different tonight. It was as if a switch had flipped inside of him, and he was taking control effortlessly, naturally.
It felt good. It felt right.
For five thousand years, she'd always been the one in charge. It had been her armor, her identity. She knew precisely what she wanted and how she wanted it, and she had never been timid about taking what she needed. But the moment Esag's mouth met hers, slow and certain, yet sweet and gentle, she became curious. She wanted to explore this new dynamic.
His kiss didn't demand.
It invited, it coaxed, and it claimed.
He pulled her closer until her belly brushed the hard plane of his torso. The baby shifted at the contact, a small flutter, as though startled by the nearness of a new presence, and Tula inhaled sharply.
Esag stilled.
"Are you alright?" His breath ghosted over her lips.
"I'm fine." She slid a palm along his jaw, feeling the grain of his beard. "The baby is aware of your presence."
His expression softened with a tenderness that threatened to undo her. "Is he jealous about another male kissing his mommy?"
Tula smiled. "He'd better get used to it because his mommy likes this male."
"I'll move more slowly."
"Not too slowly," she murmured, leaning in again. "This mommy is low on patience."
His laugh vibrated against her mouth—low, warm, intimate.
This felt so different than what she was used to.
Five millennia of human lovers. Five millennia of trying to prevent the inevitable pregnancy. The constant fear lurking in the background that, despite all her precautions, she might conceive and her baby would be taken away from her.
None of that was relevant in this moment, and the freedom was intoxicating. Perhaps that was why she was finally letting go and allowing him to take control. Perhaps it was because she no longer needed to defend herself against the cruel reality of the harem in the only way she'd known how.
He kissed her again, deeper this time, and her thoughts dissolved into sensation.
When he led her away from the dining room, it was with unhurried confidence, his fingers laced through hers. She could feel his restraint in the tension of his arm, the careful way he positioned his body just slightly ahead, as though shielding her, guiding her, and courting her all at once.
That should have irritated her.
She didn't need shielding.
But tonight was different. Esag was different. And she didn't mind his protectiveness.
The lights in the bedroom were dimmed, but the door was open, and the glow coming from the flickering candles in the dining room was enough to see clearly by. The faint scent of basil lingered in the air, a reminder of their discarded dinner.
Esag paused in the center of the room and turned to her, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "Are you sure you want this?"
She laughed. "Do you want me to show you how sure I am by throwing you over my shoulder and carrying you to bed? I can do that, you know. Despite how big you are."
Amusement danced in his eyes. "Well, that answers my question without leaving any room for misinterpretation. It also proves that this is really you and not a figment of my imagination. I don't think any woman, human or immortal, has ever threatened me with throwing me over her shoulder."
