Page 3 of Hands Off

“Good girl. Now lie back and let me taste you.”

I don’t move. No one else has both asked and demanded to taste me in the same sentence. My cheeks flush with heat as I wriggle in my spot, embarrassed. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so forward with my desires. Ophelia bends down, one of her hands resting beside my thigh on the bed, the other gently wrapping around my throat. Her lips hover over mine, teasing me into a kiss until I’m grasping at her shirt for more.

Her tongue grazes the seam of my lips before she pulls away. Before I know it, a hand is pressed to my chest, guiding me backward. I shift so that my legs are dangling off the edge of the bed, no longer folded beneath me. Ophelia drops to her knees and I prop myself up on my elbows, intrigued as she rucks up my gown and pushes my thighs apart.

Cool air wafts against my panties, another shiver crawling up my spine. “Already wet for me, sunshine?” Ophelia purrs as she runs a finger along the fabric and then brings it to her lips. “Like the sweetest nectar. It will be my pleasure to show you what you have been missing, Juliette. Goddess, I don’t know how anyone could pass up a moment like this.”

She crooks a finger in my panties and tugs them to the side before stuffing her face between my thighs. A howl tears from my throat as pleasure suddenly shoots through me and my hips buck toward her face. My legs clamp around her head as I squirm beneath her attention, my hands sifting into her hair before pulling it from its ponytail. It’s just as soft and long as I fantasized, a great hold as Ophelia stuffs her tongue into my pussy in even strokes.

She thrusts and sucks, alternating between sensations until I’m crying for release, riding her face to the finish line. Stars dot my vision as I pant, incoherently whining that I’m close. That seems to spur Ophelia on as she hooks an arm beneath one leg and drags me closer. Two fingers join her tongue and I explode, shaking and crying out as I come. Whimpers and moans peel from my lips as I wriggle away, confused that she so easily tore that pleasure from me.

“Ophelia—I—” Tears prick the edge of my eyes as I begin to come down from the high, wondering if I did something wrong. Was I supposed to hold on longer? My orgasms have never felt this freeing and I feel exposed in front of this woman.

Ophelia sits back on her knees, the lower half of her face glistening with my release. Her tongue slides down to lick up what’s left, Ophelia sucking on her fingers soon after. “Don’t apologize for giving me a slice of heaven, sunshine. A piece of heaven that I would no doubt ask for again if we had the time. As it is, it’s time for dinner and I’m not sharing this view with my brothers when they undoubtedly come looking for us.”

I giggle, imagining them storming in here with their gruff expressions, Ophelia on her knees and my ruffled self still sprawled out on the bed. “Mmhmm, that would be funny.”

“It would not be. Let me grab something to clean you up, sunshine. Give me a moment.”

“One thing first,” I ask, wondering if she’ll give it to me. This might be my last moment with Ophelia. She pauses just after standing, her arms folded across her chest. She’s starting to rebuild that wall to reign in her emotions and while I know it’s necessary, I hate it. “Kiss.” When Ophelia doesn’t move, I maneuver until I’m kneeling on the bed and then push myself to my feet, using her arms as leverage. Like this, I’m a few inches taller than her, looking down at the fierce warrior goddess, her auburn hair splayed out around her shoulders and falling to her torso.

I lean forward and press my lips to hers, tasting myself. Her gruff exterior melts for a moment as she accepts the kiss before her presence disappears, Ophelia heading to the attached bathroom. I feel like my heart has shattered and she’s only tasted me.

I wonder what it would feel like to truly be beneath that woman, consumed by her touch and her commands. I’m hoping the universe gives me more time before I must be the woman that my father demands I be.

Chapter 3

OPHELIA

A heavy sigh leaves my lips as I stare at the precious bundle currently moaning her way through a dessert that has entirely too much whipped cream for my sanity. Those delectable sounds started half an hour ago during the roast dinner that the tavern provides and I’ve had to steel my emotions lest my brothers catch on. Granted, Blaise and Artemis aren’t stupid. They also have eyes. We’re a set of triplets and the ease with which they catch onto my thoughts is terrifying.

After spending those final moments before dinner with Juliette, I had to distance myself from her bubbly personality. Her emotions have since been muted and while I wish I could apologize, there’s no reason to. Not when we both know that these moments go no farther than this little town.

Someone jabs me in the side and I glare at my brother, Artemis—Blaise is goddess knows where at the moment. “Do you need something?” I snark, leaning against the wall and placing my hand on the hilt of my sword. The beer I downed during dinner was a terrible idea because the sounds Juliette keeps making sound like an invitation rather than a red flag.

Artemis’ gaze follows mine and then he grins at me. Despite the three of us tasked with bringing Juliette back in one piece, he has discarded his soldier attire for more comfortable clothes while we rest here. “You’re shacking up with the princess tonight. There’s only one room in the inn,” he jokes, wiggling his brows.

I throw a punch toward his arm, loving the way he playfully bends over in fake pain, and then grabs my wrist to kiss it. “You realize that my preference is women, right?” I ask, wondering if he sees the irony of forcing me and the princess in a room together.

He shrugs. “So? She’s the princess. You won’t do anything to disrespect Kusovania or the King of Smunia. You’re her protection, her soldier. Blaise and I know you wouldn’t cross that line. Well, that you wouldn’t cross it again after that brazen kiss in the hall.”

I snort and shake my head, attention still focused on Juliette. They know nothing. They have no idea how far that woman has nestled herself into my heart without even trying. They have no idea that I’ve already tasted her sweet nectar nor made her whisper my name after trying to run from me. They have no idea what she looks like after she lets go, the way her lids grow heavy as a smile spreads across her entire face.

“She started it,” I grumble, tearing my gaze from her and staring at Artemis. “Fuck, it won’t happen again.”

He chuckles, shaking his head as he pushes off the wall. “Promises, promises. You know that when we get back, she can’t be yours. Oh, don’t give me that look. Pheli, I know how attached you get to people. Remember your last relationship? Thought you would have fought her father because of some of the dumb rules he made. When she decided to marry a noble, you closed yourself off. This,” he points to Juliette. “Can’t happen. Grab your little slice of heaven but not at the expense of your heart. It hurt seeing you like that last time.”

I hate thinking of Lola, my last girlfriend. We had been the same age, just under 30. Most people attending the yearly gala tried to find their mates by 25, the latest 30 but we were stubborn, taking the world by the balls and owning our freedom. At least that’s what I had thought.

Two years in, Lola told me that she needed a stability I couldn’t provide. In the end, it came down to money. I hear she’s enjoying an elegant life somewhere in Kusovania but I don’t keep tabs. Since then, I have closed down my emotions and found excitement where I could. Quick and easy is my motto. Well, it was.

Until I stumbled upon Juliette and for some reason, I can’t fathom anyone else touching my little piece of sunshine.

Artemis snaps his fingers in my face and I lunge at him before he twists us around to flatten me against the wall, his arm at my neck. “Don’t you dare, Pheli. You’ll lose this fucking fight in an instant. Get a hold of yourself. Cuddle your princess for the night and then be ready to let her go in the morning.”

I open my mouth to respond when Blaise decides to make an appearance at that moment. Identical as we are, Blaise is the only one with brown eyes but they speak volumes. He arches a brow and we straighten up, silently apologizing for the fuss in the tavern. The chaos of the small dining area that stopped continues, Juliette looking on, confused.

Blaise moves toward us, bending his head to mine so that our foreheads touch and then he does the same to Artemis. “You always choose the most unattainable, frustrating women, Pheli. Protect her. And we’ll protect you.”

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