Even awkwardly delivered, the words set her entire lower body on fire.
She tipped her head back and parted her lips.
He tugged her chin down, forcing her to open wider, and lowered his face until their lips were almost touching. The rapid breaths sawing out of his nose coasted over her cheeks. As if he was just as affected by their proximity as she was.
Hints of silver flashed in his flinty gray eyes as he angled his head, slanting his mouth above hers. His pursed lips grazed hers, and she swallowed a moan.
He dribbled the liquid into her mouth and at the first splash of it against her tongue, already warmed by his body, she shuddered.
He closed his lips and tilted his head back. “Are you okay?” he asked, misunderstanding her quiver.
She nodded emphatically, keeping her mouth open, and squeezed his wrist, encouraging him to keep going.
He bent his head down, bringing his lips dangerously close again, and streamed the liquid into her mouth at a steadier pace. It poured over her tongue and down her throat, tasting sweet and tart, like blackberries, but with an aftertaste of spring-damp grass that was pure Cael.
Unable to look at him any longer, afraid she might lose control, close the distance between them, and sweep her tongue into his mouth, Xenia closed her eyes.
* * *
Thankthe High Gods she’d closed her eyes.
Staring into those two shimmering depths of melted emeralds while surrounded by the musky scent of her arousal was testing the limits of Cael’s restraint.
He cuffed her throat and tilted her face up, swore he heard her whimper. He pressed in closer, enough that every movement had his lips brushing hers as he drained the last of the liquid into her warm, waiting mouth.
Before he could reluctantly back away, she captured his tongue, sucking down the length in a long, hard pull that sent his cock straining against his zipper. She flicked the tip of her tongue around his lips before doing the same to her own.
He watched, mesmerized, as the soft pink tip gathered up the droplets of purple suppressant staining her bow-shaped lips, making them appear as flushed as if they’d actually been devouring each other and not performing some pale, yet kinky, imitation.
Her eyelids fluttered open and the heat in her eyes sent another jolt to his painfully hard cock. “Just making sure I got every last drop,” she whispered.
“Very thorough,” he exhaled. They hadn’t broken apart, his hand still curled around her neck. He caressed the fragile skin, aching to lick at the vein thumping her pulse against his fingertips. Then lick other parts of her and feel those muscles deep inside of her grip his tongue.
He should move away, break this spell. The last thing she needed right now was some horny beast panting over her. Especially when she’d have to keep her wits to deal with whatever new horrors Maksym had in store.
But he was rooted in place, paralyzed by the warmth in her eyes and her shallow breaths.
And she wasn’t moving away either.
Did she want this?
Didhe?
His father’s admonishments echoed in his mind.
Keep your distance while you are in the colonies.
You are aZephyrus.
Humans are not worthy of us.
“Cael.” The plea on her lips silenced his father’s voice.
He bent his head down, prepared to taste her for real, when the dungeon door clattered open and they bolted to opposite sides of the cell.
Alexei appeared with another Deathstalker guard in tow, then pulled the iron key from his pocket and unlocked the cell door. “Let’s go, little mouse. Maksym’s almost ready for you.”
A pool of dark blue fabric spilled over the other guard’s forearm—Xenia’s attire for the evening.
