Page 101 of Crowned By the Fae King

I bit his tongue and dug my fingers like claws into his scalp. I couldn't get enough of him, needed to be in him, in his skin, oh, holy fucking black night.

His hand grabbed me by the thigh; dragged me onto him. I was too fucking short, had to be on my knees to reach his mouth, couldn't splay myself open on what ached for it. But, fuck, I would die without his mouth, his tongue, his need.

I chased it. I chased him, kissing Cass with such feral desire that I felt my lip split against his teeth from the forcefulness. The iron tang of blood sang across my tongue and was wiped away by the taste of him, by the hot slide of his tongue against mine—don't stop oh fuck never stop love this love you—

"Cass," I gasped out against his hot mouth.

He groaned and kissed me again, pouring himself into me. Fingertips digging into tense thighs, the sharp heat of peaked nipples, soft breasts pressed against hot skin, groin tight and cock aching—gods, please touch me, just touch me, don't stop—take me have me keep me love me—

I tore myself away, panting, gasping, then whimpered as Cass buried his face against my throat, breathing in great gulps of air. We were still touching, still pressed together, but it was only physical again. My heart pounded with his and our hands shook and our mutual want roared like a forest fire, but I wasn't in his head; couldn't feel the secrets of his heart like they were mine.

"You sure you want slow, Cassie?" I asked in a daze, panting against his wet hair. It kept circling in my mind, the endless yearning in the depths of his soul: take me, love me, I need you, I love you.

"I—" He kept panting, breathing hard, wings lifting with every gasp. "I don't—shouldn't—"

I couldn't keep my self upright on my shaky legs. I slithered down his chest, and that was a mistake, because suddenly I was on his lap with my thighs straddling him and his hard shaft pressed up against my heat. His close-trimmed pubes scraped against my sensitive skin. Need throbbed through me, a demand to take—and to be taken.

"Please," Cass whispered. "Don't… don't."

I was off of him before he finished speaking, moving to put distance between us. I couldn't bear that fear in his voice. I wouldn't hurt him like that. So many people had used him for pleasure; had stolen from him the joy of being wanted, and of choosing. I wouldn't be one of them. Never. Not ever.

He sprawled backwards, eyes closing, breathing hard. I turned away so I wouldn't be tempted to stare. Cass deserved his privacy. I wished I could give him more than physical distance and turning my eyes away. I always wanted to have him under my skin, but I knew he didn't feel the same way. He had a lot more caution than I did, and a sense of self-preservation that I wished was a little less honed.

Cass let out a panting sigh. "That was new," he said softly. The water shifted, lapping at me, and a moment later his toes brushed against the back of my calf in a tentative caress.

My whole body went stiff, freezing up from surprise. Cass made a low sound. His toes pressed more firmly against my leg, and then his power threaded through me in a purposeful touch, relaxing my muscles and easing my stress.

His hesitation shivered through me in the tension of his shoulders and the sensation of one sharp canine hooked over his lower lip. "Is that alright?" he asked. He ran his foot higher on my calf. "Is this?"

"Of course it is." I took a moment to luxuriate in the feel of his magic in my veins before I turned towards him with a smile.

Cass had rolled onto his side again, freeing his wings. His ears lifted hopefully. "You don't feel frightened."

"Oh, sweetheart," I said, relaxing into him. I shifted, settling into the water, and pulled his foot onto my lap. "You don't scare me. You never have."

I saw his throat bob as he swallowed. "I know. But I'm still…"

"Worried?" I asked, when he didn't say anything more.

The corner of his mouth lifted into a melancholy smile. "Not worried, precisely. Uncertain, maybe." Cass flexed his foot against my hand in silent request.

With a smile, I started giving him a foot-rub, my fingers automatically moving to press along the invisible channels through which his power flowed. "Feeling pretty vulnerable, huh?"

His blush warmed my face. "Yes, but I think that went both ways," Cass said, with some trepidation. "At least, I… I think that you were hearing what I was hearing."

The memories of him still sang in my mind, his naked heart bared for me. I knew, somehow, that I hadn't clawed my way in. Cass hadn't been trying to hold the line. For those beautiful, desperate kisses, he'd been willing to give me everything.

Body and breath… and soul, I thought, searching his expression. Aloud, I said, "'Love me. Take me. Don't stop. I love this.'"

I didn't say the rest of it. I didn't want to be the first one to give voice to that part—to how much he wanted me.

"'You're mine,'" Cass said quietly, not looking away from me. "'I hear you. I want you. You're mine, you're mine, you're mine.'" His lashes trembled. Longing shivered underneath my ribs. "'I want more.'"

We stared at each other for the space of maybe ten seconds, the air taut with anticipation… and then Cass cracked a smile, and I couldn't do anything but laugh. My bright voice rang through the air, all the tension vanishing like mist. "Good grief," I said, fanning myself to cool my suddenly raging blush. "Is that actually my subconscious litany? I really am as hungry as the Court."

Cass' smile broadened into a grin, his dimple showing again and the gold in his eyes sparkling. "And thank the gods for that, since apparently I'm begging for it."

"Are you surprised?" I asked, laughter still lighting my voice. "Maybe one day you'll be bold enough to do it out loud."

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