Thalia stared at him, watching the rise and fall of his chest. The way he seemed to strain against his doublet.
“Did you not believe me when I said I was still in love with you?” Cassius’s voice rose. “Did you not think that the idea of leaving here, of returning to face whatever awaits me in Vaccarium, is less terrifying than the thought of you not being by my side?”
“Cass—”
He shook his head. “If you wish to stay here, then I will stay with you.”
Anger flared in Thalia’s gut. “My mother will kill you, Cassius. Don’t you get that?”
“Do you not realize that I’m a dead man without you anyways?” Thalia sucked in a breath as he closed the distance between them. “Do you not think I didn’t die the moment I had to flee your presence? Do you not think that I don’t die every time I’m not near you? When I’m forced to be away from you?”
Cassius’s rough hands cupped her cheek. “I have died every day since that night. Since the moment I was turned. I’ve been a walking corpse, wandering around in hopes that maybe one day … one day you’d finally forgive me.”
“Cass—”
“I die every time you look at me, because I know you see me. Through the pain of my betrayal. Through the secrets. You’re not afraid of the monster inside me. The thought of you, even far away, is the only thing that has kept this new life bearable. Your presence. Your essence. It consumes me more than the taste of blood. It drives me more than the air I breathe. I’d rather take a stake to my own heart than be parted from you again.”
Thalia stared up at him. His eyes glowed, his hands gripping her face as though it were an anchor. “I would rather face whatever dark death awaits me,” she whispered, throat tight, “than spend this life without you.”
She surged upward, her mouth colliding with his.
Thalia opened for him, her arms threading around his neck as he tugged her against him. She died and was reborn, each stroke of his tongue igniting the embers she’d let burn to ash.
His hands were on her bare back, traveling up to her shoulders, his calluses rough as he tugged the straps of her gown down.
Her bare breasts peaked, and she fisted a hand in his hair as he bent his head, mouth closing around her nipple.
She groaned as his teeth scraped, setting her nerve endings sparking. Her heart pounded in her chest, and his hands pulled the rest of her gown down until it pooled at her feet.
His fingers pressed into her hips, pulling her against him. His clothing frayed against her heated skin.
Her fingers scrambled over his doublet. He only pulled away for a moment so she could yank it over his head before his lips met hers again.
They were a tangle of teeth and limbs.
Thalia hit the edge of her mattress and she sank down, Cassius following. She couldn’t get enough of him. Couldn’t get over the feeling of his hands running over her skin.
She shivered, his thumb swirling up the inside of her thigh. She sucked in a breath, waiting.
“What do you want?” he whispered, his lips pressing into the innermost portion of her leg.
She nearly whimpered. “You.”
Thalia could have sworn he grinned before his lips closed over her. She moaned, hips bucking as he sucked her into his mouth.
His strong hand splayed over her bare stomach, forcing her hips from moving.
“Gods, you taste like a dream. Just like I remembered,” Cassius rumbled. Then he pushed two fingers inside her.
Thalia cried out, the sharp pain slipping into pleasure as he worked her with his mouth and fingers.
She came hard and fast, her legs curling around his shoulders. He laughed, lifting his head, then he gently unstrapped her shoes.
Thalia’s lungs rose and fell in heavy pants as he unbuckled his trousers, and her mouth dried out as he sprang free. He fisted his cock in his hand, slowly tugging it. Thalia nearly came again at the sight.
Her heated gaze lifted to his. “Get over here. Now.”
He chuckled. “Of course, Princess.” Cassius crawled over her, kissing up the length of her body, his tongue wet and hot. He hovered above her. “Take off your jewelry.”
