Despite everything in her soul telling her that she needed him, too. Needed tobewith him. Despite the way her magic called to his. There was still a small part of her, one that was louder than the rest, that told her she couldn’t. Not until her cousin was handled. Not until he was no longer connected toher.
“We—” she swallowed thickly, “We can’t.”
A sly smile pulled across his lips. “I promise you, we can.”
Auraelia’s eyes locked onto Daemon’s, the gold within them turning molten as it slowly engulfed the green. Between the desire in his eyes, the heat of his body seeping into her own, and the promise of his words, it was a struggle to keep from squeezing her thighs together.
“Daemon—” though it was low, her voice betrayed her. Want bled into her tone, and the slight dilation of his pupils proved that he’d heard it.
His smile grew, his hold on her throat tightened, and he somehow managed to press further into her. “Just sex, Auraelia.”
Again, he’d used her given name. And again, it was like a stab directly to her heart, but she couldn’t blame him. He was doing as she asked and not calling hermy star. But she had to admit that she missed hearing it. Missed the way her heart would kick up a notch every time he said it.
Taking a deep breath through her nose, she asked, “Just sex?”
His smile grew into something sinister as he wedged his thigh between hers. When he applied pressure right where she needed it, she couldn’t help the whimper that escaped.
“Yes, just sex. Unless you have a counteroffer?” Smug satisfaction dripped from every word as his other hand slowly slid up her torso. Even with her tunic and corset separating their skin, she could feel the heat of his touch as he grazed the side of her breast.
Auraelia opened her mouth to protest—though at the moment, she wasn’t quite sure why—but the feel of Daemon brushing his nose across her cheek made her falter.
“Tell me you hate me if it will make it easier. Curse me from here to Arcelia; I don’t care. But you need this just as badly as I do. I know you do.” Daemon’s leg began to move between hers. Adding delicious friction to the steady pressure he’d provided. “I feel it in the way your pulse flutters in your neck. See it in the swirls of your eyes. You can’t hide your desire from me, Auraelia. Say yes, and I will make you come until you forget your own name.” He nipped at the tender flesh of her ear. “Just say yes.”
His whispered words sent shivers throughout her body. He was right. She did need this. Goddess, did she need this. Between her ever-growing magic, the stress over an impending war, and pent-up frustration—regardless of how much training or self-pleasuring she did—she was wound tighter than a top.
She needed a release.
She neededhim—in more ways than she cared to evaluate at that moment.
Daemon loosened his hold on her throat as he pulled away to look her in the eyes.
Just sex…she could do that, couldn’t she? Every fiber of her being begged her to relent. To give into the delicious temptation of the man in front of her. Even her magic vibrated beneath her skin, pushing against the hold she kept on it.
Auraelia took a deep breath and locked her gaze on his. “Yes.”
That wicked grin spread across his face once more before he shook his head and tsked at her. “You know better than that. Tell me how much youneed me.”
Letting a sly smile of her own tilt up her lips, Auraelia snaked her arm between them and palmed the hardened ridge in his pants. “I believe it wasyouwho said you neededme.”
Daemon groaned, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as his hand tightened around her throat once more. “You’re going to regret that, Princess.”
A rush went through her at his tone, and her smile turned devilish. “It’s Your Majesty—” she said, tightening her hold on his cock as she slowly ran her hand along his length, “And somehow I doubt that.”
A growl rumbled deep in Daemon’s throat, and his mouth was on hers a second later. There was nothing soft or gentle about the way he kissed her. It was hard and bruising as their tongues battled for purchase.
Releasing her throat, Daemon slid his hands down her sides until he reached her thighs. Keeping her pressed against the wall, he lifted her from the floor, and Auraelia wrapped her legs around his waist. The move had him pressing his hips into hers, his erection hard against her center.
His fingers dug into the flesh of her ass as he ground into her, and she moaned against his lips as his hands slid closer to her core. Auraelia tugged at Daemon’s shirt to free it from his pants, but with their close proximity and position, it wouldn’t budge.
A disgruntled moan worked its way up her throat. She needed more. Needed to feel the heat of his skin beneath her fingers.
Twisting her hands into the silky strands of his hair, Auraelia tugged his head back. “Are you going to fuck me or not?” Pure, unadulterated lust filled her tone, and a mischievous grin stretched across Daemon’s lips in response.
“As you wish,Your Majesty.”
Daemon’s hold was firm as he fused his mouth back to hers and turned away from the wall. Maneuvering his way through the room, successfully side-stepping the furniture in the sitting area until he made it to the small dining space.
Magic sent the few items that graced the table’s surface crashing to the floor—though she wasn’t sure if it had been his or hers—and there was primal hunger in his eyes as he laid her out on its surface. Between the table and how he looked at her, it felt like she was his own personal feast, and he was trying to figure out where he wanted to start.
