My heart rate spiked as he slowed down, sliding a hand in my hair to pull my head back, forcing my eyes not to stray away.
“Yes.”
His tongue slid over his bottom lip as his eyes dropped to my breast, visible under the water. “Good girl.”
He pulled me with him as he swam farther into the cave, hiding us behind rocks protruding from the walls. I followed, my muscles still sore from our earlier training session in the woods.
“What are you—”
I gasped as he pushed me softly against the side of the natural pool, his hand finding its way between my legs to brush against my core. My eyes rolled in the back of my head, hands gripping his shoulders for support.
“Oh my stars—fuck,Dimitri stop…”
“Do you really want me tostop?” he asked, halting the motion of his fingers but not pulling his hand back.
“Wecan’thave sex…I don’t want Amyntas to wage war on—”
“First of all,” he said, circling his other hand around my throat, “I don’t like to hear the name of another man when my hand is trying to get acquainted with that sweet spot between your legs. Second of all, we’renothaving sex. I’m respecting your wishes on that matter, and however painful it is for me, I don’t plan on cockblocking your Dragon fiancé and bringing shame to you or your family.”
He paused, inching his face closer. My hand instinctively snapped around his wrist, trying to get free. But he wasn’t cutting my air. Wasn’t applying any real pressure. My throat bobbed.
“But I’ll be damned if I let you go to him before you even know pleasure. I’ll be damned if I lethimgive you your first orgasm. Because you might not want him, but if he’s evenhalfof a decent man, he’ll at least try and get you off too. But not. Before. Me.”
My cheeks flushed as his hand did another torturously slow circle and a strangled moan came out of my throat.
“So I’m gonna ask again, Anastasia. Do you really want me to stop?”
It took less than asecond before I shook my head. He exhaled a slow breath over my lips.
“Good. I won’t stop if you tell me to stop again. If you really want me to, use another word.”
His fingers moved faster, and I let out another breathless gasp.
“What—what should I say if I want you to stop?”
“Find a word,dusha moya.Any word. A safe word. But notstop.”
“Oh my—fuck.”
“Mh-mh, not an appropriate word. Think harder.”
Harder. Yeah, that’s what I needed. I needed him to touch me harder…Faster.
I rotated my hips on his fingers, seeking more friction, but he only pulled his hand back and tsked.
“That’s not thinking, Anastasia.”
“I can’tthinkright now, I’m—”
“A word. Give me a word, now.”
“Fire.”
I felt on fire. My skin was burning, like trying to turn me into the Phoenix I knew was sleeping in me. The Phoenix I was only allowed to shift into in secret. The Phoenix who ached to fly freely. To burn. The firebird that was only valuable to become a Maiden since Aghen was the heir.
Dimitri chuckled, the air caressing my face. “Good girl. Fire it is.”
“What—”
