She nods, tucking her hair behind her ear. Now, time to stroke his ego. “You know so much more about the gods than I do, Cas. Can’t you help me?” Her robe slips off her shoulder when she crosses her arms and pushes her breasts together. “Have a little mercy?”
There’s a flash of desire in his eyes, followed by realization. Then disappointment. “I know what you’re doing, Star Girl.”
She bites her lip, leaning back against the bed, running her palms over the silk sheets. “Is it working?”
He stiffens, surveying her body and pondering. His expression is exaggerated like he’s taunting her just for asking. “I am not a descendant of a god. The story is far more tragic than that.”
He looks toward the door, but when he looks back at her, there is a glimmer in his eyes. Something different. Something hungry.
Finally, he shrugs. “I do have something that could help you. Something that my third-great-grandfather wrote about the truth of our ancestry. How bad do you want it?”
Excitement makes her hands tingle. She fights a smile. She didn’t expect him to offer so quickly. “I don’t just want it. I need it.” Luxos is easier than she thought.
“Prove it.”
She tilts her head. “How?” Hopefully, he’ll ask for a kiss, and Claudia will get everything she came here for—his family secrets, and a glimpse at his greatest fear.
Cassius licks his lips, and the candles flare. “Beg.”
The room goes blurry for a second as a shocking jolt of attraction runs through her body. This isn’t the first time he’s mentioned begging. She never thought he actually meant it.
“Please, will you—”
“On your knees.” His voice is darker than it has ever been.
A breathy laugh escapes her. “What?”
“Get on your knees, Claudia. I won’t repeat myself.”
This is… unexpected. Strange. Humiliating?Exhilarating.Her body freezes, caught between want and rationale.
Is this really about the book? Or is this much bigger than one tiny trade? This feels like the start of something new and all-consuming, like a lit match tossed into a tinder-dry forest.
Slowly, she sinks to her knees and lets her robe drop from her other shoulder. It pools around her body. Candlelight catches on the angle of her shoulder, the jut of her collarbone, the blade of her jaw.
Cassius watches her, a slight smile playing on his lips, as he joins her in dropping his robe. The only thing left is his billowing white shirt, hanging open and loose, and a pair of tight black trousers. Golden light skips along his sculpted torso, stumbling over his rippling muscles. His eyes burn with fierce, dominating intensity. Claudia has never wanted to touch anyone so badly.
Not even Dorian.
In only her small green gown, she clasps her hands together as if in prayer and says, “Please, Cassius.” She looks up at him through her lashes and licks her lips. “Please.”
A sharp breath escapes him, followed by a deep, almost inaudible growl, as if an animal were hiding in the back of his throat. He points to the bed with his chin. “Reach behind you and grab a book you brought me.”
She obeys.
“Now hold it in your mouth. Bite down hard and don’t drop it.”
She doesn’t let herself think. Clenching her jaw around the book, she sinks her teeth into the worn, salty leather.
“Bring it here.”
She starts to stand, but Cassius stops her with a halting gesture. “No. Crawl.”
Oh.
Fuck.
Wetness pools between her legs. She feels her slick skin sliding against itself while she inches slowly toward him. The burgundywool rug burns her knees, but she likes it. She puts even more weight on her legs and scrapes them across the carpet, reveling in the sweet sting.
