Her core burned.Still. But it was to a much lesser degree, nothing like the mindless lust and haze of desire of last night. Nothing like the purely animalistic need to mate.
She felt sore from the way her muscles had contracted throughout the multiple orgasms she’d experienced. She felt sore from fighting against the way Cruxan had needed to restrain her, sore from thrashing against him in an effort to assuage her need. Her sex tingled still from the seemingly endless orgasms she’d had, sensitive and swollen.
Oh God, she thought, swallowing hard. Howcouldshe face him? After how horribly she’d acted last night? She’d thrown herself at him—repeatedly—only to be rejected and held off at every turn.
Crystal was staring up at his face, trying to keep her breaths as even as his, when she thought:he is good.
That knowledge didn’t surprise her as much as she thought it would.
He’d been respectful, he’d been honorable, he hadn’t tried to take advantage of her, though she’d been begging for him. He could’ve easily taken what he’d wanted.
Crystal had seen the torment, the agony, the pain on his face from that want and need. Never had it been more obvious to her, how much hewantedher. She felt dizzy from that realization.
Yet, he’d resisted. He told her she would regret her actions, that she wasn’t herself.
He’d been right. If they had had sex last night…Crystal didn’t know how she would feel right then, considering sex was so complicated for her.
She knew she was his mate, that his Instinct had awakened for her. She’d said as much last night, drunk on desire, but truthful nonetheless. And yet, he’d resisted her advances. Would any other male have done the same?Couldany other male have done the same, considering the power of a Luxirian’s Instinct?
Even though she was lying still, it was as if his Instinct sensed she was awake because she watched as his eyelids flickered open, his pupils contracting on her immediately.
Crystal couldn’t help but stare, cheeks flaming, lips parted, no words coming out.
He made a dark grumbling sound in the back of his throat, the sleepiness in his gaze slowly giving way to a kind of calm satisfaction. It fascinated her. It frightened her too because that look made her feel…warm.
Crystal’s tongue darted out to lick her bottom lip and she said, “How can I ever apologize enough for last night?”
Cruxan’s eyes flickered. His arms shifted around her back, tightening, as if afraid she would scramble away.
“I thought I told you to stop apologizing for things you do not need to apologize for,” he said, his voice gravelly and rough and absolute delicious from sleep.
“I put you in a difficult situation,” she whispered. “That warrants an apology.”
She remembered the feel of his fingers on her bare sex, remembered the way they’d curled, almost unconsciously, into her. The memory sent a tingle down her spine and her core gave a throb, which made him groan. He must still be able to smell her.
“You were under the influence oftevvax.Undilutedtevvax, in its most pure form. Ask any Luxirian and they will tell you you have nothing to be ashamed of,” he told her. “As your mate, you certainly owe me no apology.”
Your mate.
It was such a surreal moment, lying in his arms, feeling both nervous and embarrassed and yet comfortable, after the night they’d had.
“How about a ‘thank you’ then?” she asked, giving in. She licked her dry lips again, swallowing the lump in her throat. “For preventing me from doing anything I might regret later.”
His gaze shuttered a little, though she didn’t know why. “That I will accept,” he murmured a moment later. “How do you feel this morning?”
Her gaze darted a bit but then returned to his eyes. “Back to normal. Almost.”
His pupils dilated when she said that last word. She still felt a little…on edge. But he’d be able to smell that anyways.
“Can you travel?”
“Yes,” she said, trying to steer the subject away from last night. “How far away are we fromKrorataxnow?”
“Less than three spans perhaps.”
She nodded and said, “Good.”
Something in his gaze shifted. “Eager to get back to your goblins?”
