The root keeps fast what lies below?—
To none but willing flesh will show.
When longing’s fire is freely given,
And need no more is chained or hidden,
Then shall the ancient wood unseal?—
And raise to light the buried jewel.”
“What the fuck does that mean?”Theronrumbles, frowning.
“I’m afraidIdon’t understand either,”Isay.
“I think you do, though,” the sprite says.Helooks at me knowingly.“Youalready hold the seed inside you to pay the price–otherwiseIwould not have been summoned.”
“Are you talking about my magic?”Iask.“Becausereally,I’mnot much more than a novice.Ireally don’t think–”
“Not your magic–yourdesire,” the sprite says.“Yourthirst for pleasure is exactly what the root needs to grow–a sacrifice of pleasure is what it needs to give up the jewel.”
“A sacrifice of pleasure?Whatthe fuck is that?”Therondemands.
The sprite sighs a tiny sigh of irritation.
“I see that mortals have not become any smarter since lastImet with one.”Heshakes his green leaf head.“Verywell,I’lltell you plainly.Yourlady is in need–you must drink your fill of her to quench her thirst.Onlythen will the root open to you and give up the jewel.”
“You’re sayingIshould drink of her?Asin taste her juices?”
Theron looks at me with half-lidded eyes andIfeel something clench deep inside me.Thecurse hasn’t been bothering me too much this morning but that one look from him is all it takes to make my body react.Suddenly, my nipples are so tight they hurt, and my pussy feels hot and swollen with need.
But despite my immediate physical response, the idea of letting the bigDrakeShifterget between my thighs and taste my pussy has my cheeks burning.Surelyhe doesn’t want to dothat–does he?
From the look on his face, he most certainly does.
“Mmm, little one,” he rumbles.“Itseems like we’ll need to work to get this jewel.”
I bite my lower lip.
“You…you really want to…you know…”
“Spread your legs and taste your sweet little pussy?”he growls, his tarnished silver eyes flashing with lust.“Fuckyes, baby—I’vebeen wanting to taste you right from the start.”
“But,I–”Ibegin butI’minterrupted.
“Now that you comprehend the sacrifice that is needed, it seems my work here is done,” theLeafSpritesays.Hegives us a roguish wink and disappears, melting back into the root like smoke.
“Well fuck,”Theronbreathes, then turns his attention back to me.“Whatabout it, sweetheart?Doyou want me to taste you so we can get this jewel?”
Actually,Idowant him too–butI’mstill acutely embarrassed.
“What if you don’t like howItaste?”Iask, pressing my thighs together nervously.
“I already knowIlike the way you taste–Ilicked your juices off my fingers the first timeItouched you.Remember?”he growls.
Oh, right.Iremember him licking his long fingers after filling me that first time.Thememory makes my cheeks get even hotter.
“But even ifIhadn’t,IknowI’dstill love your flavor,” he continues.“BecauseIlove your scent.”Hiseyes go half-lidded again.“Icould fucking come just from your scent alone, baby.”
