I can see the hesitation in his eyes as he searches mine. His heart is thumping erratically beneath my palm, so I drop my hand from his chest and take hold of his own under the water, guiding it up to cup the side of my face. Kiahn’s eyes widen as I lean into the cradle of his palm, enjoying the sheer size of him, along with the feeling of certainty that I am safe with this guy who could so easily hurt me.
With the flick of his wrist, this man could end me if he chose to. And there would be no repercussions for a Prince. He is so much more powerful than I could ever imagine, and I am so much more vulnerable than I am used to being for the majority of my life.
And yet, I feel blanketed in a feeling of safety with Kiahn.
I wouldn’t still be here; naked and alone with him if I didn’t.
“I think this contract will be a good thing,” I tell him. “For me, and for you.”
“You do?”
“Yes.”
Both my hands feel small in comparison to his as I press them to his giant one currently cradling my face. Slowly, I move his touch past my jaw, and down my throat. Kiahn’s mouth goesslack as he watches the descent of his hand with rapt attention. I leave him there a moment, his fingers wrapping around the very place he so clearly,desperatelywants to bite.
Kiahn wets his lips. “You know, I could just grant you protection in my court without the contract. If- if that is what you’re worried about. You don’t need to let me touch you at all for that.” His eyes flick briefly up to mine, but they can’t help but fall back down to where I’m guiding his hand lower still.
I’d mulled this thought over before. But now, with the clarity of Kiahn’s venom on my tongue, I can clearly see the problem with that line of thought.
I don’t belong to him, I belong to his aunt.
And I was bought for one purpose, and one purpose only.
Wouldshemake sure me and my friends are safe if I don’t uphold my end of the bargain?
I can’t guarantee that.
So, my hands continue to urge his slow descent, until his large palm engulfs my left breast. This elicits a choked-off sort of groan to escape the prince, and I can’t lie; that noise makes little ol’ me feel quite powerful right about now.
“But, Iwantthe contract,” I tell him, pressing his touch more firmly to my flesh. “Andyouwant tobreed me. Don’t you?”
“Fuck,” Kiahn hisses, biting out the curse. “Uh-” he stalls, his big chest starting to rise and fall more visibly now. “Yes,” the prince admits with a strained voice. His gaze flits from meeting my own, to being drawn beneath the waters where he starts to gently knead my breast with my encouragement. “I want that.”
“Well, then… don’t fight it. I trust you.”
Kiahn still looks torn, and almost… guilty.
And, it’s then that I get an idea. “You know, I think your venom has helped me to see clearly that I really am comfortable with your earlier suggestion.”
Kiahn’s brows crease together while his eyes keep darting to where he’s still cupping me, oh so gently. “My earlier suggestion?”
“Mm-hm,” I nod, tugging him forward as I step back before turning us, and urging him to sit on the ledge of the pool. He sits without much prompting, the warm waters swirling around us as he watches me carefully. I finally push his hand away from my breast, as I climb onto his lap. Straddling Kiahn’s thickly muscled thighs, I feel somehow powerful in my vulnerability. I don’t know if this is some kind of high from taking his venom, but it feels like he’d do anything I’d ask of him with the way he’s looking at me right now. I’m still mostly covered by the lagoon water, but I can feel the movement of the water’s surface play around my nipples, so I know he’s getting a peek every now and again. “I think we should try your suggestion from before,” I repeat, using one hand to keep myself steady, propped against his chest, and slipping the other lower, and lower down my body. “I think we can prove that you can control yourself.”
Kiahn drinks me in, and I see the exact moment he realizes I’m touching myself again. His head falls back and he lets out an almost pained groan. “Nissskaahh,” he rumbles, dragging out the sound of my name like he’s caressing each syllable with his husky voice. “You have too much faith in my restraint, little female.”
I laugh then. I can’t help it. It was Kiahn who came up with this whole idea in the first place. His head pops up again and the look on his face is almost incredulous, like he can’t believe I’d find any of this amusing. “You’re not even wearing a collar,” he protests weakly with a tone to his voice that is definitely related to a whine. “Do you know how easily I could bite that pretty little exposed neck of yours right now? You wouldn’t be able to stop me.”
His eyes are fixed on my throat, so I reach out and take his hand, placing it right around the center of his focus. “Cover it yourself, then,” I challenge him, his palm cupping my neck and his long, thick, dark gray fingers curling around one side, his thumb resting at the hinge of my jaw, right below my ear.
Kiahn’s fingers flex where they gently hold me by the throat, and I never thought I had this particular kink, but I’m starting to see the appeal. Besides, with the clarity of his venom still running through my mind, I know I need this man to trust himself with me, or he won’t go through with this contract.
And anyway,this thrills me.
It thrills me to let him be in such a dominant position with me, and yet knowing, deep down, that I still have power over him. I can see it in his eyes. He’s desperate for me to let him take me, but he’s equally desperate that I come to no harm.
It’s a delicious dichotomy that does nothing but wind me up, and urge me on.
“Touch yourself, too,” I tell him, my voice much more breathy than I had intended.
