Page 157 of Scourged

Even from her angle, she could just make out his answering grin.

“What happened to your patience, princess? What happened to being worshiped?”

A soft whine slipped past her lips. “Fuck being worshiped. I just want you.”

When she slammed her lips to his, the world stopped.

Her magic ignited, lighting up her blood. The way he tasted, mixed with that familiar, beloved smell of rain and sandalwood.The way he growled against her, pressing into her as he bit her lip, his tongue pushing into her mouth …

Gods, she’d missed this. Missed him. So much anguish, regret, and pain these last few months.

No more. She was done.

She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him even closer. And bit him back.

“Fuck.” Andrian chuckled into her mouth. In a too-fast movement, he slid his hands around her hips, lifting them both up and pushing back onto the mattress. His hands were under her before her back hit the comforter, lifting her sweater and tossing it away. His fingers snapped the clasp of her bra, and just as quickly, that was gone, too. He settled over her, his lips moving to the sensitive skin beneath her ear, traveling down her neck.

“Why are you still dressed,” Mariah growled, that aggravation back, teeth clenched as she dug her fingers into the corded muscle of his forearms.

Andrian chuckled against her collarbone, shifting above her. Just enough so she could feelhimpressing against her core, hard and hot and thick.

“I’m worshiping. Remember, princess?” He peered up before propping an arm on either side of her. He bent down and licked a smooth line between her breasts and up the column of her throat.

Mariah almost choked on her breath, gasping as his lips settled against her ear.

“I’m already yours, Mariah. I’ve always been yours. Let me make youmine.”

His claiming kiss swallowed a half-hearted retort resting on the tip of her tongue. Her heart jolted at their clash of hot breath and teeth, a desperate search and devouring of the other.

When Andrian pulled away, she was panting for air, her chest heaving with her thundering heartbeat. He slid to the column of her throat, peppering kisses and stinging bites down her neck and across her collarbone. He traced a path back between her breasts, across her stomach, settling between her legs.

His breath fanned across her bared center, and she writhed on the bed. He pinned her in place with an arm across her stomach. A soft chuckle had her opening her eyes.

He stared at her, something ravenous and consuming in his gaze.

“Time to learn another word.”

She clenched her fists around the sheets.

“Is now really the time?” she gasped.

Andrian’s smile broadened. “Oh, yes.” He shifted, freeing his other arm. Slowly, possessively, he pressed a finger against her—not into her, butonher, right against that collection of too-sensitive nerves.

Mariah broke, her eyes fluttering closed as she tilted her head back into the mattress, body shuddering.

“Hm.” He hummed. “So fucking wet for me,nio. Do you know what else you are?”

She couldn’t answer him. Only shook her head, one quick jolt to the side.

Andrian chuckled again. He removed his finger and replaced it with his mouth, his hand now digging into her thigh.

“Svass, nio.” He groaned against her. “It meanssweet. And you taste like the sweetest nectar the gods have ever dared to make.”

And, as if it were Andrian’s last meal, he devoured her.

Mariah lost herself to the feeling of his mouth on her. The heavy, urgent swipes of his tongue. The gentle nipping of his teeth against her clit.

She felt as if she were floating. Lifting into the heavens, rising to join the stars. Magic and power and love crackled around her, around them, and it wasn’t long before the rising tide of her climax swept toward her.

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