Page 64 of Oak & Ember

He nodded. “Until you.”

Pandora’s heart jolted within her, and she straightened in surprise. “What?”

“At first, it was merely a game with you. I wanted you in my bed, and that was all. But then, in the library…” He trailed off again, his nostrils flaring. “I had never wanted anyone as much as I wanted you. Not since her.”

Pandora’s throat tightened at the admission. Her insides warmed, and a blush heated her cheeks.

He had wanted her.

Desperately.

But she couldn’t find it in her to be pleased by this. Not when she knew he’d been thinking of her. The very goddess who constantly invaded her thoughts and dreams.

“I can’t have been the only woman to taste your cock,” Pandora said, trying to lighten the mood.

Sol cut an exasperated look at her. “Of course not. But this was different. You knew exactly what to do to drive me mad. You knew how to push me, how to send me over the edge. As much as I hate to admit it, Trivia, you owned me in that moment.”

Pandora crossed her arms, and a satisfied smirk spread along her mouth. “I knew it. I beat you.” She flicked his nose, and he chuckled.

“You rekindled something I’d lost,” Sol said, straightening and turning to face her. “Something I thought had died long ago. With her.”

Pandora’s smile vanished, and something cold slithered into her chest. “Don’t compare me to her.”

He winced. “Sorry. Not the most exemplary of goddesses, was she?”

Pandora shook her head. “It’s not that. I am not her. You know that, right? I refuse to be preserved in the shadow of your former lover. And I’ll be damned if I just stand by while you hold me to her standards.”

He huffed a dry laugh, raising his hand to catch a stray curl that had fallen against her cheek. “I wouldn’t dream of caging you like that. Besides, it doesn’t matter, does it? I’m leaving for the mortal realm in a matter of hours.”

“Right.” That twisting sensation returned to her chest. “And don’t expect me to come with you. I could never live in that realm.”

“I would never. I myself can scarcely believe I’m to live there.” He wrinkled his nose. “Among humans, of all things.”

Pandora clasped her hands in front of her, trying to ignore the way his hand lingered against her cheek, his knuckles creating a path of fire on her skin. “So, we’ll part ways then. You, a changed man, rekindled anew thanks to my delicious tongue, and I remaining the stunning goddess that I am.”

He threw his head back and laughed, the sound raucous and vibrant and so damn alluring that Pandora couldn’t help herself. When his laughs subsided, she pressed her palms to his cheeks and brought his mouth to hers. His lips opened for her as if he’d been waiting all evening for this. His tongue swept along hers, and his hands came around her waist, sliding lower until they cupped her ass and brought her body closer. Their hips aligned, and he ground against her, his tongue running along her teeth and fully tasting her. Ravishing her. Devouring her.

She moaned into his mouth, sliding her hands along his neck until they tangled in his hair. His mouth left hers and moved to her throat, her collarbone, and the swell of her breast. She gasped, throwing her head back as he licked the hollow of her throat, then slid his tongue between her breasts.

“Sol,” she breathed, closing her eyes and relishing the feel of that wicked tongue, of the hot moisture pooling between her legs.

Much to her dismay, he withdrew from her bosom to bring his lips to her ear. “It’s my turn,” he whispered, then caught her lobe between his teeth.

“For what?” she rasped, hardly able to think straight.

He brushed his lips along her throat again, the motion feather-light and sending shivers of pleasure through her body. “It’s my turn… to own you.” His breath tickled her skin, and she arched her back at the sensual promise in his voice.

“I still hate you,” Pandora whispered, her hips writhing against his. “You’re an arrogant asshole. This doesn’t change anything.”

“Mmm,” he purred against her neck. “I know. You are a loathsome creature, Trivia, and that won’t change, either.”

She chuckled, but the sound was breathless and airy as he dragged his nose up the column of her throat. His fingers at her waist teased the fabric of her dress, caressing the exposed flesh of her back and sliding under the silk. They traveled lower and lower until they grazed the curve of her ass, and she shivered again from the feel of his warm hands against her bare skin.

When he removed his hands, she almost whimpered in protest.

Until she found him lifting her skirts from the front, a wicked grin on his face.

“This dress is stunning, but it’s covering up far too much of you for my liking,” he murmured.

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