Page 18 of Wings of Desire

I know it’s ridiculous to need anyone’s approval, but—with the lack of a mirror it helps reassure me that I look less like ahideous swamp goblin and more like the desirable woman I am. “Thank you.”

Grabbing his hand, Xakiras leads us back to the large open cavern near the mouth of the cave where the Volese are playing their music. There’s several Volese dancing, while the band strums and plucks at various instruments.

They all appear so happy, so carefree, despite being little more than slaves. The music grows more upbeat, and one of the Volese approaches us. I think it’s the same one from before, though I hardly got a good look at them last time.

“Is there something else I can get you both?” The little man glances up at Xakiras, instead I shake my head to prevent any more orders.

“No, we’re perfectly fine.” I give him a gentle smile. “What’s the name of this song?” I ask, hoping to shift the conversation in a lighter direction. I know it’s not my place, but I can’t help feeling badly that they’re taking care of us when we’re more than capable of it on our own.

The little firefly creature looks at me, confused at first, but a small smile spreads across his face, revealing sharp, pointed teeth. “This song has no name. Havita made it up herself.” He points at the woman strumming the larger instrument.

“Whoa, that’s amazing!” My eyes drift to the musician Havita. I realize she has a white ball of downy fluff for hair piled up on top of her head. “Would it be okay if I join for a while?”

“Of course. Do you know how to play?” He asks me, eyes sparkling with excitement at the opportunity to have someone join their fun.

I shake my head, grinning at how enthusiastic he is. “No, but I can dance a little.”

“Otoki, what about resting?” Xakiras tilts his head down to me, pinning me with a stern gaze.

I sigh, reaching out to pat his arm. “One dance, then I’ll sleep. We can’t just let this music go to waste, right?”

The firefly creature hesitates, clearly afraid to agree, until Xakiras mumbles a reluctant “alright” under his breath. The moment he does, the creature grabs my hand with surprising strength and jerks me forward onto the dance floor. I yelp, caught off guard at first though it bubbles into laughter as he spins me.

He pulls me into the circle of other Volese dancers, swaying with the rhythm. “What’s your name?” I ask as we join them.

My new dance partner beams proudly. “I am Jati, and you?”

“Echo,” I say, shaking its little hand.

The tempo shifts with a new song, and at first, I simply watch the others adjust to the music. Once they’ve found their rhythm and Jati dances along, I feel satisfied. I close my eyes, letting the beat guide me. Slowly, I sway my hips in time with the subtle slaps of someone’s hands against their legs like a drum.

Eventually, I let myself move freely across the dance floor. The rhythm guides me in every step I take. Suddenly, I feel hands against my waist, pulling me back toward a strong, familiar chest. The scent of something sweet floods my senses and my eyes snap open as I’m twirled around to face my new partner.

“I didn’t know you danced!” I laugh, surprised at the thought of this stern man allowing himself to relax and enjoy something so simple.

Xakiras doesn’t reply. Instead, he moves his hips in sync with mine, leading me in a graceful dance. He twirls me around, and laughter bubbles from my chest. When he pulls me back to him, the mood instantly shifts. His expression has changed. His playfulness is gone. Xakiras’s eyes are dark, shimmering with carnal desire that tells me this is far more than just a dance to him.

He holds me tightly to his body, grinding our hips together as the scent of his pheromones grows heady. It’s so strong that a moan gathers in the back of my throat and shivers run down my spine. Can everyone else in the room smell him, too? Do they know how delicious he smells?

“Otoki,” he murmurs, his voice is husky. “You came from the stars and, out of all the constellations in the sky, to me you shine the brightest of them all.” He tilts my chin upward; his gaze is locked with mine and leans down to press his lips to mine. The kiss is the sweetest, most tender kiss he’s ever given me.

I’m at a loss for words. My heart races in an erratic rhythm. Instead of running away, or saying something snarky to him, I press my head against his chest, finding comfort there. “You’re a good dancer.”

Xakiras chuckles softly, and the sound vibrates through his chest. “I have practiced.”

“Why would you need to?” I ask, looking up at him. I see the worry etching his face, but he doesn’t immediately respond to my question. Instead, he halts our dance and guides me with a tug of my arm away from the crowd. We slip down a shadowy corridor, hidden from everyone’s eyes.

Suddenly, he pulls me into his arms so that I’m straddling him. His tongue forces its way into my mouth. Xakiras and I moan in tandem as my hips grind against him. The wetness of his cock is already soaking my shift.

He says nothing at all, as his fingers glide between us, touching between my legs to find my clit. Xakiras kisses me so intensely that it steals my breath from me. He sucks my tongue with his, as his fingers deftly find the places I crave just the right way. My hands grip at the ruff of fur on his neck, and I tighten my thighs around his waist so that I can better grind against his sternum. My legs dig into the rough rock wall, hard enough thatit aches, but I don’t care. Xakiras rubs tiny circles against my clit until I’m grinding and moaning into his mouth.

My orgasm builds in my belly as his fingers pick up their pace while his tongue vibrates around my mouth in the delicious way, I know means he’s going to choke me with it. He pulls away momentarily from our kiss to grab hold of his cock in one hand, slowly lining it up against my entrance. The feather tendrils around his cock wrap around my thighs, teasing me. As he enters me, every raised spiral rub inside me, pleasantly building my desire for more of him.

“I will never clip your wings, little bug, but know I want you as my mate,” he says, as he hoists me up along his cock just enough that my eyes close with relief. “I desire you like no other, and no matter what happens from this moment on, I want you ruined for anyone else.” It’s a promise, a proclamation of just how much he wants from me.

Once the words are uttered from his mouth, he jerks his hips upward into me roughly. His hands are on my ass, using it as leverage to go more deeply. Xakiras isn’t as gentle this time. Once he’s inside me, he pushes my body onto his cock so viciously my eyes squeeze closed. My nails dig into his back, and I whimper, “Fuck!”

There are no other words, as he shifts me so that my back is against the cold, wet cave wall and his lips are against my throat. Every thrust into me, I feel my every nerve ending grow taut in pleasure.

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