“You’re very beautiful. You know that, don’t you?” I eye the slope of his shoulders and the thick slices of muscle moving beneath his cool skin. “Whatever creator you believe in spent a little extra time when forming you.”
His aura swirls with the magenta of embarrassment and the deep fuchsia of pleasure. “You don’t have to say things like that to me.”
“I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do, Bram. I like complimenting you. It’s the truth, and it pleases me to see you squirm.” I drift my fingers down my chest to cup one breast. He forgets all about his embarrassment as he watches me circle my nipple with my thumb. “I know you don’t have a high opinion of yourself, but I would like to hear you tell me your greatest strength.”
He shakes his head sharply. “That’s nonsense. What does such a thing matter?”
“I suppose what it matters is up to you.” I trail my fingers further, down my stomach to the top of my pants. “I’ll happily remove these . . . just as soon as you answer my question honestly.”
14
BRAM
I knew that there would be bedroom games played tonight, but I didn’t expect Grace to fuck with my head so thoroughly. Or so quickly. She’s serious too. I can read her resolve in the violet of her energy. She knows how uncomfortable this makes me, but she’s not going to relent.
I grit my teeth and force the words out. “My greatest strength is my strength itself.”
“Wrong. Try again.”
I glare, but my ire seems to bounce right off her. Worse, she’s still playing with the top of her pants, and I can barely think past the promise of seeing her pretty pussy again. I swallow hard. I can do this. I can cut myself open and lay myself bare for her. “My greatest strength is my loyalty. Once I give it, I will not waver.” I might fail to do what needs to be done, but I’ll want to do the right thing. I don’t know if that makes my loyalty better or worse.
“Very good. Very, very good.”
It’s everything I can do to keep myself still as she lifts her hips and works her pants down her legs. She kicks the pants off the rest of the way and parts her legs. I’ve never wished so fervently for bright light. The moonlight coming in through the open window is nowhere near enough to illuminate her to my satisfaction. Even so, I see her clearly.
Her toned thighs, peppered with scars from the life she never talks about. Her perfect pink pussy, a delight I fully intend to enjoy to the fullest before the night’s over. But only if I’m good. The thought sends goose bumps over my entire body and makes my cock strain. I don’t know how she manages to collar me with so few words, but I feel like she has her hand wrapped around my throat.
I fucking love it.
“Oh, Bram. You try so hard to be the monster you believe you are, but right down at the core of you, you are an honorable man. Maybe even too honorable.”
That startles a harsh laugh out of me. “Hardly.”
“Too honorable by far.” Her fingers coast over her belly button and then lower, skating around to stroke first one thigh and then the other. “If you weren’t, you would’ve brought the nobles in your territory to their knees by now. If you weren’t”—she presses on as if she can see me about to protest—“then you would’ve taken what you want from me by now.”
“Just because I want you willingly coming on my cock doesn’t mean I have honor, Grace. Don’t mistake me.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Finally, what feels like an eternity later, she creates a V with her fingers and parts her pussy. “Don’t move until I tell you to.”
It’s as if she’s reached across the distance and turned me to stone right down to my bones. I watch in helpless desire and frustration as she strokes her clit in small circles. I remember exactly the pattern she likes, the one that I used with my tongue to make her come all over my face last night. It’s the same she’s using now.
She dips her fingers down and presses two inside her. I actually let out a groan as I witness them disappear into the space I desperately need to occupy. She doesn’t fuck herself with them, though. She merely spreads her wetness back up to her clit and resumes stroking herself. It’s only a minute or two later when her head falls back and her breasts heave with her harsh breathing.
Holy fuck, she’s going to make herself come.
Without letting me touch her.
“Grace.” My voice is a ragged plea. “Let me. Please.”
She lifts her head just enough to meet my gaze. Gods, but she’s stunning. The command and her gray eyes hold me captive more thoroughly than any bonds could. “Do not move.” The words are soft, but no less of an order for their lack of volume.
I press my hands hard to my thighs as she continues to stroke herself. I’ve never been one to come fast, and certainly not without some sort of physical stimulation, but as her thighs start to shake and her fingers coat with her desire, I am suddenly terrified that I’m about to orgasm without touching my cock at all.
The hold this woman has on me is borderline witchcraft. Except that’s a cop-out. It’s not magic that ties me to Grace, or at least it’s not magic beyond the demon bargain we both made. It’s a kinship that I’ve never felt with another person. It defies belief, but somehow this woman is broken in exactly the same way I am. The fault lines on her soul are a perfect match for mine.
“Oh, fuck.” She presses hard on her clit. And then a single word slips from her lips, so soft that I almost convince myself I’m hearing things. I must be. Surely she didn’t just whisper my name as she came.
I can’t move. I can’t think. I am a receptacle for her demand, so when she crooks her finger at me, I know exactly what she requires without her saying anything at all. I crawl to her. It’s not a long distance, but it’s incredibly awkward with my wings. It should be demeaning; in fact, it is.
I’ve never felt so at peace.
I stop at the edge of the bed. She’s so close, it would take no effort at all to touch her. I know better than that. From the twist of Grace’s lips, she understands exactly how much it cost me to keep my hands to my thighs as she came.
She sits up, a little awkward in her desire-drugged movements. “That was an excellent appetizer.” Grace leans forward and eyes my cock. “Are you in pain?”
“Always. I can handle it.”
Now she truly smiles. Her approval warms me as if it were the sun itself. I actually have to close my eyes against it. But I open them just as quickly because I don’t want to miss a minute of this.
Grace catches my jaw. “You did well. But now I’m all messy. Would you like to clean me up?”
There was only ever going to be one answer to this question. I am nearly certain I might die if I don’t taste her again. Clean her up? I want to make a mess of us both. I nod slowly. “Yes.”
“I thought so.” She pinches my jaw lightly, guiding my mouth open. Then she presses her fingers, still wet with her orgasm, between my lips. A shiver racks my body. Can a person die of bliss? Before tonight, I would’ve said it was impossible. Now I’m not so sure.