I’m feral and relentless in my attack, raining down blow after blow. Aeson slams us into the sand, fracturing my momentum and momentarily knocking the air out of me. But I’ve been held down and tortured by the Tainted for months. Pain and empty lungs aren’t going to override my bloodlust.
Aeson wraps a hand around my throat and bellows in my face, deep and long and menacing. I feel the dominance reverberate through me, the claim, the demand to submit. So I open my mouth and roar right back because fuck that and fuck him.
Out of nowhere, something visceral, something primal, weaves its way around me, sinking into my depths and latching on. It tugs and coaxes, and then…my dragon stirs.
My other side slinks just under my skin, stretching and keening for a way out. A buzz of power fills my limbs and hums in my head. Unmistakable desire floods my system and then Aeson’s lips are suddenly on mine. Shock and confusion fire through my synapses, but his mouth moves, demanding access, demanding everything, and abruptly I’m lost to a wave of lust and need that wholly consumes my entire being.
I open for him, meeting his tongue with my own, claiming dominion over his full lips and drinking him down. His hand tightens possessively around my throat, and I moan my approval into his mouth. His tongue strokes and taunts, his lips conquer and imbibe.
He rolls his hips into me, and I spread my legs, needing every inch of him closer. The gritty sand on our skin abrades and scrapes as we press against one another, demanding more. My dragon rides the tide of desire, stoking my hunger and heating my blood until it’s molten and searing.
A deep purr rumbles out of Aeson’s chest, and his kiss grows rougher, more dominant. His other hand grabs my ass, pulling me tighter against him as he grinds his hard length against me. I nip his bottom lip, my own need for dominance demanding I give as good as I’m getting.
He hisses, but the enthused purr that slips out of him has even more fervor pooling between my thighs.
Out of nowhere, a grating tone rings out and a monotone voice declares, “Simulation over.”
The sand underneath us disappears, and the hot sun above us is replaced by bright lights. My back is pressed against a cold, hard floor, and mystification has me pushing Aeson away and sitting up.
“What the fuck is going on?” I demand, looking around and instantly remembering where we are and what we’re supposed to be doing.
Aeson’s Wing is positioned directly outside of the simulator, their expressions blank but their body language tense.
“Why the fuck did you pull us out?” Aeson snarls at Sondar, and indignation and chagrin heat my cheeks and drip down my throat.
Holy fuck, I was just grinding and kissing Aeson in front of all of them.
“I didn’t pull you out. Ever disqualified herself,” Sondar rushes to defend.
My head snaps in the direction of the guard. “What? No I didn’t. We were…” I pause, gesturing between me and Aeson.
My face suddenly feels like it’s on fire, and I try to scoot back from Aeson. He immediately drones his objection to any more space between us.
“And then it just stopped,” I finish.
Sondar suddenly looks as though he’d rather be anywhere but here, and his eyes flit around the room like he doesn’t know where to let them rest. “It says you breached a hard limit. You were disqualified when you…uh…bit the commander.”
I open my mouth to argue, and then it hits me. I nipped him. It was the sensual kind, but… I pinch the bridge of my nose and blow out a frustrated breath.
Fuck.
I push Aeson away and quickly get to my feet. He rises with me, looking just as frustrated and not nearly as embarrassed as I feel. He takes a step closer, but I skitter back, needing space.
Irritation and anger froth through my veins, but I don’t know if I’m pissed at Aeson or at myself.
What the fuck was I thinking?
“Look at me,” Aeson commands. It’s gentle, not forceful, and somehow that makes everything worse. “Ever?” he presses, but I shake my head.
My stare is fixed on my hands, and I search for any sign of my dragon, but just like every other time when I need it, it’s nowhere to be found. A hollow ache starts in my chest, and the driving need to get as far away from this place and Aeson Noctis is suddenly overwhelming.
I move toward the wall of the simulator, and thankfully, a door appears, letting me out. Aeson is tight on my heels, his presence silently demanding, but he doesn’t say anything as I pull the tactors off and then grab my clothes from the ground.
Stupid, stupid fucking move, Ever,I chastise internally as I pull my shirt back on.
Be attracted to him, fine. Kiss him, sure, why the fuck not. But don’t lose control. Don’t lose sight of what you’re here to do. And don’t lose on a technicality that you fucking imposed.
I wrap my corset around my torso and refasten the top clasp, which activates the others and pulls everything tight until it’s once again hugging every curve. I shove one leg into a boot and start lacing it up.
