I'd already come three times in quick succession, and in theory it should take longer for another. But as Reece leaned over, kissing me—I could taste myself on his lips—I found the buildup already growing. "I'm going to come again," I cried, slightly frustrated at not being able to drag it out a little bit longer. "Do you have to be amazing at everything?"
"Yes," he shot back, lips quirking into a teasing smile, even as his body destroyed mine with the powerful strokes. "You’ve spent years denying your passions, and now your body is taking advantage. You should listen to it."
"Oh— I'm— I'm listening."
The speed of his thrusts increased, and as his length buried deeper each time, I dug my nails into his skin. When he lowered his mouth to my nipples, my hands fell to the side, clawing into the sand to find the traction I needed. Silver energy rose to join the strength of Reece’s and mine, imbuing us with the power of the ancients.
As I had that thought, my body lifting to meet each thrust and Reece reached down to slide a finger across my clit. My energy expanded while darkness danced across my vision, the release flowing through me in sharp, jerking motions that had me crying out and holding onto the sand like my life depended on it.
Reece's roar joined in with my cries, and I felt the swell of his cock and power, his thrusts jagged as he rode out the end of his orgasm. "Damn," he whispered against my neck. "The power of the grotto is not to be underestimated."
Truer words had never been spoken, only it wasn't the grotto that one should never underestimate.
It was Reece.
37
By the time my head stopped spinning and the last tremors left my body, Reece had moved us back into the hot spring. As I relaxed into the swirling depths, I sighed at how good the water felt against my sensitive skin.
Reece remained silent at my side, and I could swear he was already distancing himself. "Why haven't you asked me about my sexual partners overs the years?" he asked out of nowhere, when we’d sat in silence for too long. "I asked about yours because I was tempted to murder any who’d touched you, as irrational as that is… But you never asked about me. Do you not care?"
My chest ached with dueling emotions. "We only have a few more days in the deserts. Is there really enough time to discuss the many females you've been with?"
Reece was silent, and it was clear my attempt at humor had fallen flat. Time to try the truth. “I really don’t want to know,” I admitted.
This got his full attention. "You're jealous?” he asked, gaze stripping me to my core. “Melalekin, who’s had males from all the worlds chasing her from the moment she could wield a sword, is jealous of attention I’ve had?"
"I’m not jealous, you arrogant asshole" I shot back, lying to save face. "It's just not worth discussing."
Reece let out a cynical laugh. "I want you to be jealous, Lale.”
I blinked at him, unsure what he was saying. “Clarify, please.”
“Jealousy means you care,” he said softly, wrapping his arm around me and bringing back a touch of the closeness we’d had during sex.
With a long breath, I pushed my pride aside and said, “Even as a robot it was torture thinking of you with other females. I’m not sure I could have seen that and not killed you both.”
Reece didn’t show an ounce of concern over my threat to murder him. “There have been no others, Lale,” he finally said. “I was angry for many years, but when it came to females, none compared to you. No matter how much I tried to destroy our bond, it never happened."
I’d been shocked by much that had happened between us in the Desert Lands, but this was the moment my heart finally seized in my chest. "You—You—What?” I cough. “You haven’t had sex in centuries?"
Reece shook his head. "No one could satisfy me, so I didn't bother. My hand was better company."
Still gasping like a fish out of water, I managed a sob. "You're not like that with me. You clearly love sex and foreplay...” I groaned. “The foreplay is... damn."
His laugh was strangled. "That’s with you, Lale. It's always been like that with you. I was a fool to ever think I could hate you out of my life."
I had to press a hand to my chest to keep myself together. "You gave it a solid shot," I finally said, and needing relief from this conversation, I stood. “We should go."
Reece didn't argue, rising with me. We were quiet as we strolled onto the sand, my body and hair dry before we got out of the springs. Nothing from this grotto would leave with us, not even a bead of moisture—a prediction proven as we stepped out of the silver sands and back onto the red of Rohami and I looked down my naked body to find not a speck of silver remained, even on my feet. He was also right about the loss of energy hitting me like a ton of bricks.
“Fuck,” I groaned, half leaning over with my hands on my knees.
"It'll take a few minutes," Reece said from nearby as I closed my eyes in an attempt to keep it together.
For many long seconds I felt powerless, but then the natural ebb and flow of my energy base returned, and I was once again able to breathe deeply and focus.
"Wow, that was intense,” I said when I could speak. “You were right not to bring others here. One could easily lose themselves to that feeling of invincibility."
