“You…you could?”Myvoice comes out in a squeak, but his words are doing something to me.Ican feel the heat and desire pooling in my belly, making me feel positively molten from the waist down.Thecurse is working on me but so is that look on his face and the low rumble of lust in his deep voice.
“Fuck yes,”Therongrowls.Heputs his arms around me and pulls me close.Leaningdown, he cups my face in his big hands and gives me a long, breathless kiss.
I find myself moaning into his mouth and my whole body seems to wake up and come alive for him.Thesweet ache between my thighs intensifies as my tight nipples rub against the hard planes of his abdomen.
The kiss seems to last forever and when it finally ends,Theronstill doesn’t let go of me.Hesearches my eyes with his own, as though he’s looking for something.
“Please, baby–let me taste you,” he growls softly.”Letme give you what you need.”
I know he’s no longer talking about whatIneed to get the jewel.He’sspeaking of the coiled desire inside me–the sexual need caused by the curse.Butis it only from the curse?Idon’t feel likeI’dneed to be cursed to want the bigDrakeShifterholding me in his arms.He’sso big and strong he could break me with one hand…and yet he chooses to be gentle instead.
“All right,”Iwhisper, looking into his eyes.“If…if you really want to.”
“I fucking want to,” he assures me.Hestrokes my cheek.“Comeon–let’s get comfortable.”
39
THERON
I lead her to the base of the root.
The ground here is softer than the rest of the forest floor—thick with moss and short green grass that springs gently under our feet.Theair feels different too—quieter somehow, as though the massive tree above us is listening…watching.Perhapswaiting for our sacrifice.
“This will do,”Imurmur.
Elowen hesitates for just a moment, then lets me guide her down.Ilower her carefully onto the grass, my hands lingering a little longer than they should at her waist beforeIforce myself to pull back.
The momentIdo, myDrakestirs.
“Now,”he growls, low and eager.“Takeher.Tasteher.Iwant to taste her too.”
My jaw tightens.
No,Itell him silently.No, you can’t.
He pushes harder, insistent.
“She wants us.Ican feel it.Letme taste her.Letme take what is ours.”
She would be frightened,Iargue, keeping my expression neutral asIlook down at her.Youcome forward like that, she won’t understand.
TheDrakehuffs, irritated.
“I would be gentle.Iwould taste her sweetness.Iwould put my tongue inside her—give her pleasure?—“
Enough,Isnap inwardly.Stopbegging –the answer is no.Idrag in a slow breath, forcing him back.Youhold back,Itell him.Letme handle this.
There’s a long, tense pause between us.Then, reluctantly, theDrakewithdraws.
He’s not gone, exactly—he can’t ever leave me completely.Buthe’s stepping to the very back of my mind.Whichis good—Ican’t concentrate likeIneed to and argue with him at the same fucking time.
I let out a quiet breath and turn my full attention back toElowen.
Lying there on the soft green grass, her ruby-colored hair fanned out around her like spilled wine, her eyes wide and uncertain as she looks up at me.
Gods, she’s beautiful.
For a moment,Ijust stand there, looking at her—taking her in.Mychest tightens again, that now-familiar ache settling deep inside me.
