Seerin was frowning when I focused my attention back on him. For a moment, I wondered if this was how my parents had felt about one another. I thought that my mother’s grief would’ve been justified after my father had been killed. Because thinking about Seerin simplygonefrom this world? It didn’t make sense to me. It was unfathomable.
“But I’m here now,” I said softly. Looking to lighten the mood, I said, “And I think it’s time I finally make good on my promise to be youralukkiri.”
He allowed the change in subject, though his eyes told me he knew what I was doing. He jerked his chin up and I climbed off him, stepping out of the bathing tub. Seerin stood after me, helping me dry off as I shivered slightly before drying his own skin.
“Leave it off,” he rumbled when I reached for my tunic. I paused at the command and then released the material. “I will keep you warm enough tonight,rei thissie.”
Wicked demon, I thought, watching as he went to his cabinets and returned with the familiar bottle of oil. He handed it to me and I uncapped it, pouring a small amount in my hands, noticing that it smelled earthy and pleasant. A droplet of water from my damp hair landed on my chest and ran over my breast. Seerin’s gaze followed it and it felt like his tongue—not his eyes—was tracing its path.
Reaching up, I smoothed the oil over the tops of his shoulders, where I’d first seen the dryness of his skin, before running my palms down his arms. Despite the fluttering I felt between my legs, I was all business at first, working the oil into his flesh methodically and thoroughly.
He made a sound in his throat when I ran my fingertips over his dusky nipples and I quickly ran my hands over his ridged abdomen, biting back a smile. After I finished his front, I went around his back, my smile dying a little when I saw hisVorakkarscars up close for the first time. His back was nothing more than scar tissue and I wondered how he’d managed to survive it.
Gently, I smoothed my hands over his flesh. His skin felt tight underneath my fingertips, but I made sure to reach every inch and when I was done, I couldn’t resist leaning forward. I pressed a soft kiss to the middle of his back and let my lips linger.
He stilled. A harsh sound emerged from his throat.
“Nelle,” he rasped.
My hands trailed down to his firm buttocks and I spread the oil there too. They were muscled and tight and I kneaded the flesh as a choked laugh came from him.
“You will be the end of me, starling.”
For a moment, I froze. His words were so similar to hispujerak’s, yet I knew Seerin had meant it only in teasing.
“Nelle?” he asked, sensing me still. “What is it?”
“Nothing,” I replied, my voice coming out husky. I came around his front and reached for more oil. “I’m already halfway done,” I murmured, smiling.
His cock was throbbing and swollen. It twitched at my words and twitched again when I kneeled in front of him.
I ignored his cock and spread the oils over his legs, his calves, the back and front of his thighs. That same possessive streak hit me as I rubbed, suddenly grateful and relieved that he’d never taken analukkiri, that another female had never done this to him, as far as I knew.
Because it felt intimate. I could feel every rippling muscle, every shift in his body. I could feel his heat and power and the way he tensed and relaxed whenever I hit a sensitive place.
When I was done with his legs, I set my eyes on his cock before craning my head back to meet his gaze.
His grey eyes were hooded and intense, looking down at me on my knees in front of him. I was kneeling before aVorakkarbut I didn’t feel powerless. I felt strong.
“Here too?” I whispered.
His exhale was sharp and his hand reached down to drift across my lips. “Kiss it first,rei thissie.”
With my thighs squeezing together, I asked, “Is that part of analukkiri’sduty?”
“Nik,” he rasped. “But you are mine and as my female, you will learn every part of me. As I will learn every part of you.”
Thud, thud, thud. My heartbeat beat out a quick, excited rhythm in my chest at his words. I liked him calling mehisentirely too much.
Grasping the base of his cock, I pulled it down, away from where it pressed tight against his abdomen. Leaning forward, I felt a little shy as I kissed the glistening head, letting my lips linger on his heat even as I met his eyes.
A rough growl echoed around thevoliki, followed by his loud, audible swallow.
“Again,” he rasped.
Between my thighs, my clitoris was throbbing. I remembered himthere, licking and kissing and suckling softly. I wanted to reciprocate that pleasure because I wanted him to feel as good as he’d made me feel.
Holding his gaze, I kissed him again before running my lips down to the middle of his shaft. I kissed him there too.
