Instead of focusing on that, I push it away and change the subject. “How do you know all about the Culling? About what happened to us?”
“Caligos have spies everywhere,” he says simply. “When they chose me as their champion, they committed to doing everything in their power to ensure my win. That includes preparing me for every part of the trial.” When I don’t answer, he adds, “Your patron was supposed to do the same, Phoenix.”
I can’t do this right now. The cold that grips my insides is hard to bear as is. I need to find a way to warm up. Otherwise, something within me will never be the same.
So, I tip my chin up and look at his lips. Daegel takes the cue within a heartbeat and brings his mouth to mine.
When he kisses me, my head goes light. It’s as if I’m floating amongst the clouds.
Daegel’s lips are desperate as they chase mine from one kiss to the next. His hands are hungry as they roam my body, pushing me against him as if he’s scared at any moment I’ll vanish. Or walk away.
I can’t blame him for it.
I cling to him, digging my nails into the taut skin of his back just as desperately. I need him as close to me as humanly possible. My soul aches to merge with his, as if that’s even possible.
Daegel breaks the kiss to say, “I miss you, this, us, so bad it hurts.”
Breathless, I blink and nod. His lips find the sensitive skin of my neck and I tilt my head back with a moan. I bury my hand inhis hair, and grip the back of his neck with the other hard enough to break skin.
Daegel grunts, his hardness pressing into my stomach. The Ezkai leathers I wear serve as a barrier between us. One I’m eager to shed.
It’s as if Daegel can read my mind.
His fingers are quick to unhook the corset I wear while his lips continue to explore my neck, earlobes, and my jawline. He leaves a trail of soft kisses that send a shiver down my spine.
When he rips the corset off me and throws it aside, I gasp. He doesn’t bother removing the undershirt—he rips it in half and I scramble out of it.
My breasts are heavy, and the cool morning air caresses the sensitive peaks in the most pleasant way, until Daegel’s hand cups one breast and he sucks a nipple between his lips. He swirls his tongue around it. I’m ready to melt in his embrace.
“Daegel,” I murmur. He nibbles on the nipple, which draws a sound from me, somewhere between a moan and a desperate whimper. “Not here…People—your people will see us.”
“I don’t care,” he growls against my flesh. “And they won’t.”
But he does move us out of sight. One moment, we’re standing in the open, and the next my back hits the trunk of a plum tree.
“Now they definitely won’t,” he murmurs over my mouth.
We lock gazes. I lick my bottom lip. The air between us is charged with longing, and tension. I’m grateful I’m wedged between him and the tree. Otherwise I wouldn’t be able to stand straight.
He caresses my cheek, eyes roaming my face. “I love you. You know that?”
I nod. “I love you, too.”
He nods to himself, lost in thought for a moment. And then, his mouth crashes into mine and I’m pushed against the tree so hard I can barely breathe.
His clever hands find the buttons of my leather pants and he undoes them with ease. Daegel shoves them down my hips and goes to his knees in front of me to help me out of them.
I stand completely naked in front of him, breathing hard, my back pressed to the trunk. Daegel’s eyes take in my naked flesh, so much adoration and desire in them it takes my breath away.
Then he grabs the back of my thigh and tosses it over his shoulder. My core burns with the need to feel him. To have him.
Daegel inhales and moans, “You smell so good it’s almost painful.” I gasp when he runs his finger through my folds. “I love how wet you get for me, princess.”
I don’t get to answer, because the moment his mouth closes around the throbbing bud, all thoughts scatter from my mind.
Masterfully, Daegel flicks his tongue over my clit until I fist the hair at the back of his head. He alternates between sucking, and licking, toying with me until I start rolling my hips with desperate need for release.
The tree bark against my back is harsh, scraping my skin with each movement. But I don’t care. The pain mixed with sweet pleasure feels too good. It’s exactly what tips me over the edge, into the oblivion, as with one last flick of Daegel’s tongue over my clit I’m consumed with pleasure.
