Page 34 of A Bond of Fire and Roses

Then he pulls me back down again, and reunites our lips in a deep, passionate kiss that literally takes my breath away. It’s like he’s trying to steal the air out of my very lungs. He keeps his fingers twisted through my hair and his other hand on my hips as he grinds me against him. His tongue spears my mouth, devouring me, and I stop fighting him. I stop running away. In that instance, I no longer want to do either of those things.

I just want to feel, to touch and taste his body.

Claim him, that primal side of me whispers. Claim him like he wants to claim you.

Try as I might, I can no longer deny this bond between us. It’s growing stronger every time our lips meet. Every time he looks at me with that hunger in his eyes. Every time he touches me and calls me his. I can’t deny our bond, and as he anchors my legs to his waist and lifts me over to the bed, I finally realise that deep down, I don’t want to. This is a battle I can longer fight.

A mix between a sob and a moan escapes me as he rests me on a velvet ottoman by the front of the bed. Without taking his eyes off me, he lowers himself to his knees, his eyes coming into level with my own. His hands find purchase on my ankles. Slowly he glides his palms up my legs and my silk green nightgown slides over them. Oh, gods above! My cheeks flush as I recall the ridiculous outfit I’m wearing.

Even though I didn’t have much of a choice in the matter, it’s still embarrassing to be wearing something so revealing. This stupid nightgown was the only piece of clothing the servants brought with them. Well, that, and the very tight, and very fancy white lace undergarments I’m wearing underneath. I only agreed to them because I figured attempting to kill my new husband naked wasn’t my brightest plan of attack.

Erax reaches for the nightgown’s many thin lace straps. They cut across each other on the bodice, starting just below the plunging neckline. They’re not tight like a corset but still snug enough to look like one, and it felt like forever until the servants were done fastening them. Mostly because the same lace straps run down my arms as well as my chest and back. With a quick glance down at myself, I quickly realise that the most embarrassing factor of all isn’t the gown itself.

No. Of course there had to be something more embarrassing.

It’s that the white undergarments underneath can be seen even through the nightgown.

Erax doesn’t take his eyes off me. He continues to unfasten the laces on my torso and then my back. He only loosens the ones on my arms before he slides the nightgown down my torso, the material puddling at my waist.

I raise my hips, allowing Erax to slide the nightgown off me. He tosses it to the side and a light chill caresses me as he trails his eyes over my body, before he removes my undergarments too. First the bralette, then the underwear, followed by the see-through stockings, which he unrolls slowly off my legs one after the other. His throat jerks and his pupils are dilated when he finally takes me in, now lying naked before him, totally exposed and vulnerable.

“Fuck.”

The word startles me. I hug my arms close to my chest. “Fuck?”

“Fuck,” Erax repeats, pulling my hands away. “As in, fuck, this beautiful goddess is my wife. Fuck, only I get to see her like this. Fuck, I’ll kill any god or mortal who touches or sees my wife’s naked body. And fuck, I’m about to be inside her. That’s what I mean by fuck.”

I don’t pull away or try to cover myself again. I scarcely even breathe as he runs his hands up my body, beginning at my knees. The way he looks at every inch of my skin makes me feel more alive than I have ever felt before. Like my body was meant to be his. It responds like it does. Is it like this for everyone? Does it always feel this good when you’re touched? He trails the tips of his fingers up my thighs and over my stomach. Goosebumps raise the hairs on my skin everywhere he touches. It’s like he’s setting every scar on fire, brandishing them with his touch.

His hand cups my breast and gently he caresses me. I don’t know why I do it, but I arch my back and push myself against him. My nipple rubbing his palm sends a jolt of pleasure circulating through me. His murmur is like poison sweeping throughout my body and taking everything. “So responsive for me.” I let out a quiet moan as my most sensitive area grows hot and tingles between my thighs. I’ve never done this before and I don’t know right from wrong, but this feels good, and I don’t want him to stop.

Erax doesn’t stop. He stretches up until his mouth claims my other breast, and then he flicks his tongue over my pebbled nipple.

Fuck was right. Why does this already feel so good?

Back and forth he flicks his tongue before taking my nipple between his teeth. He bites down and I let out a surprised gasp, followed by a moan as he softly kisses me. Then his tongue works its way down my body. He trails his lips over my stomach down to my inner thighs. He bites me there as he lifts my ankle and rests it over his shoulder. He does the same with my other leg, draping it over his shoulder.

“Lie back,” he whispers against my thigh. “I want to taste you.”

I do as he says, and he parts me that bit wider.

The moment his tongue finds its place between my legs, I reach for his hair, grabbing hold of him as though I’m about to fall. His breath tickles me as he chuckles increases my pleasure. I bite my lower lip to keep from gasping out again and focus on letting that pressure grow until it spreads over my body in a wave. I’ve never felt anything like it. I’ve had orgasms before, by myself, but they weren’t like this. It’s more intense, more everything, with Erax.

The long sweeps of his tongue, the gentle breaths and relentless swirling, are unlike any I have experienced. It’s unlike anything I could have imagined. Erax laps at me as if I’m honey, the very nectar to his being. His fingers move from my inner thigh to caress my folds. He spreads me out, the tip of his tongue searching for that little bud. I feel him moan against me when he finds it, and the sound is beyond erotic.

I want to hear it again.

I twist my hips and try to angle them to give him better access. Or rather, make it easier for him. But Erax presses a hand to my stomach and firmly pushes me down, pinning me to the bed. His eyes flash up to me in warning.

“Stay, or I will tie you to this bed.”

I follow his glance to where leather restraints hang from the bottom of the bedposts, some of them clearly visible. How did I miss those?

“You came—aah! —prepared.”

I gasp as he flicks his tongue over me again, right over my sweet spot.

Erax grins up at me. “Of course I did. I know my wife better than anyone. Better than you.” He glides his tongue over the length of my core. “Just like I know all this delicious wetness is for me.” He groans as he breathes me in. “Now this is the feast I’ve been waiting for.”

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