Page 66 of Oak & Ember

“You want me,” he teased. Gods, the way his breath felt against her…

“No,” she rasped, even as her body thrashed against him, demanding more.

“Say it.”

“Never.”

His teeth grazed her, and she cried out. His tongue worked her, in and out, bringing her closer to the edge.

“You’re mine, Trivia. Say it.”

“I can’t—I can’t—” She didn’t even know how to form words anymore. The fire pulsing through her, pounding relentlessly against her restraints, was driving her mad.

She couldn’t think. Her mind emptied of all thoughts except for that singular focus of his tongue burrowing deeper into her.

“Sol,” she gasped, her hands fisting his hair, tugging hard, pulling him more firmly against her. He obliged, his tongue plunging farther into her, another finger joining the other as he pumped and thrust. Each motion had her panting, moaning, rasping…

“I can go harder,” he said. “All you need to do is ask.” He continued driving into her, and white stars danced in her vision as release drew nearer.

Oh gods, she wanted more. She wanted it hard.

But she couldn’t. She couldn’t give in

All reason fled her mind as his teeth clamped down on her, and she shoved her fist into her mouth to keep from screaming.

She didn’t care anymore. She didn’t even know why she was resisting. “Please, Sol,” she begged. “Please.”

“There it is.” Triumph tainted his voice, but he obliged. His fingers dug deeper, claiming her fully. His tongue seemed to burn her skin. Each stroke became more aggressive, more violent. His fingers pushed, pushed, pushed, until they were so deep inside her she couldn’t see straight.

“Come for me,” he demanded, then bit down hard on her.

She screamed, unable to contain it any longer as release barreled through her, bringing sparks of white light flashing across her vision. Pleasure spiraled within her, cascading in a raging river that couldn’t be stopped. Oh gods, oh gods, she had never felt like this before. She continued writhing against him as she came, her breathing ragged and desperate.

He removed his hands and gripped her thighs, steadying her. He was panting, too, but she took small satisfaction in this. In the end, she knew he’d won. He’d claimed her fully, just as he’d promised.

Slowly, he lowered her, keeping her back against the wall. She looked at him, still dazed from her release, as he smirked at her in triumph.

“Ass,” she whispered.

He only grinned. “Consider that a parting gift.”

Her eyes widened. “What, that’s it?”

He arched an eyebrow. “You want more?”

Heat filled her face. She did. She wanted him fully inside her, his clothes shed and his skin flush against hers.

She wanted all of him.

His eyes glinted. “Another time, perhaps.”

“You’re leaving for the mortal realm.”

“Yes, we established that. But we also established I’m an arrogant prick, didn’t we?” He grinned again before retreating toward the ballroom.

“Sol—” Pandora surged forward, then realized her dress was still bunched around her waist, and her hair was likely a wild mess around her. She was in no state to return to the ball.

But at her outburst, he stopped and glanced over his shoulder at her. So many words left unsaid between them, and for the briefest of seconds, his expression sobered into something thoughtful and yearning and full of regret.

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