To find him closer than expected, regarding me with his head propped up on one hand, eyes glowing gold.
“Bell,” he said, drawing out my name. “You smell so very delicious.”
“I...” My voice came out breathy, uncertain. “I don’t know how to respond to that.”
But this was no longer what Ravik had accused me of back in May.
I was definitely aware of my arousal now. Could feel myself clenching below as Zion held me in that golden gaze.
His eyes scanned my face. He didn’t have fangs, but it felt like he was licking them.
“May I help you with that?”
My brain short-circuited. “What, like... finger me?”
“Oh, I am sure both Boone and Ravik would enjoy that.” He smiled—slow, knowing, devastating. “However, as I explained before, I’m much more adept with my mouth.”
I didn’t understand at first.
And then,oh... Oh!
Understanding crashed over me like a wave.
“You want to...” I swallowed hard.
Then found myself admitting, “I’ve never... had that done to me before.”
Zion arched an eyebrow over one glowing eye. “Never?”
“Yeah, never.” Somehow, it was still so easy to talk to Zion. Even with the air fully charged between us, he felt like a friend I could gossip with—even if the gossip was about me. “At my big old age of fifty-six.”
I tried to laugh, but it came out shaky. “I hear it’s... nice.”
“Tell me, Bell…” His tone was careful, almost gentlemanly. Offering, not demanding. “Would you be amenable to finding out what all the fuss is about?”
25/
all the fuss
BELL
Did I want to find out what all the fuss was about?
I could not work up enough saliva to answer. Or enough coherence to make my mouth form words.
But then Zion’s nose visibly flared again.
“My body is already telling you yes, isn’t it?” I asked with a full-face wince.
“I believe...” Zion shifted closer, his hand hovering near my hip. “That your body is conveying what you want. And it would bring me immeasurable joy to give this first-time experience to you. But, of course, I would not do so without your spoken, fully aware consent.”
I wanted to die of embarrassment.
But also, felt like I was about to die of curiosity. What would it feel like? Would it chase all the bad feelings I’d been carrying inside of me away?
“It would be touching.”
“It would,” he agreed.
