A squeak of surprise came from her as he gripped her thighs and yanked her to the edge of the vanity. He didn’t give her any time before his tongue was hot and wet against her center. Her knees tried to snap closed at the sudden sensation, but he’d already braced them with his shoulders, keeping her open.

“Theon,” she gasped. She’d expected him to make her beg. That was what he liked. He liked hearing her ask for him, the words from her lips making him feel like he had that control he valued so highly, knowing he could deny her if he wished.

He didn’t acknowledge her though. All of his attention focused on where his tongue was driving her to an edge she’d been chasing for days. It flicked against her clit before there was another long, hard lick that had her grinding against his mouth. She felt him smile against her, and she cursed as he lifted his mouth from her, his lips glistening. His eyes met hers, a wicked gleam of triumph in them.

There was a nip to her inner thigh that had a whimper coming from her as he asked, “Tell me again, Tessa. What were you thinking about when you were touching yourself in the shower?”

“You,” she gasped. “It’s always you, and I hate it.”

Then she was moaning as his power snaked up her body, coils of shadows skittering along bare flesh in a way that had her magic struggling beneath her skin. It wanted out.

“Theon,” she gasped again.

“Tell me what you want, little storm.”

But she wasn’t telling him shit. Her hand went back to his hair, and she yanked his mouth back to her aching center. He didn’t fight her, but she felt the shiver roll through him down the bond. Her grip never loosened, holding him to her, and her head fell back as he did exactly what he’d promised and gave her what she needed to forget. He alternated between kissing and sucking her clit and taking the time to swirl his tongue in the deepest parts of her. He didn’t seem to mind that she was holding him there, forcing him to do this to her. Something inside of her recognized it was a sense of control he was giving her. Another thing he knew she was needing right now, but she wouldn’t let herself dwell on it.

She might hate that her feet had found their way to his shoulders, bracing herself against him, but she didn’t care. Not as he acted like a starving male. In a way, he probably was. He had to be as crazed with want as she was. He was right. This was all she wanted from him, and as long as he didn’t make her say those words, she would take what she needed.

He hit a particularly sweet spot, and she bucked against him. His groan reverberated through her. She was panting, her vision shimmering as she came so close to bliss. He gave her no reprieve. There was no teasing or demanding from him this time. If she was going to take, apparently so was he.

Every swirl, flick, and lick coaxed her closer to that edge, the tension building in her lower belly, her thighs, her entire body, and with a sharp nip to her clit, he forced her over it. He took her pleasure, just like he said he would. She was a quivering mess as she came on his tongue, and he didn’t stop. Not until she wasall trembling limbs and sweat-glistening skin did his tongue stop moving. He dropped an open-mouthed kiss to her inner thigh. Then another.

He climbed to his feet, his heated gaze taking her in, before he was gathering her up. For once, she didn’t care as he carried her back out to the bedroom. She was fairly certain her legs would have given out if she’d tried to stand.

Theon set her on the bed before grabbing a glass of water and handing it to her. She took a long drink. The moment she was done, he was taking the glass from her and setting it aside. He took her chin in his hand before his mouth was back on hers, forcing her to taste herself on his lips. He pulled back enough to look into her eyes.

“Tell me what other things you think about someone else doing to you when you’re touching yourself,” he demanded, something frenzied filling his eyes that had a shiver of excitement rolling through her.

“Why?”

“Because I want to make sure that I’m the only one you’re thinking about doing anything to you.”

She smirked. “I think I’ll keep my fantasies to myself.”

His features darkened. “Then I’ll be forced to replace them.”

“Good luck with that,” she taunted, because she knew exactly what it would get her.

And she wasn’t disappointed as a low growl rumbled from him, and he was pushing her down onto the bed while shoving off his pants.

She wasn’t disappointed at all as she took what she wanted from him for the rest of the morning.

Because that’s all this was.

A distraction.

“Luka will be back soon,” Theon said, sliding into the seat beside her at the table.

There was a spread of roasted chicken, salad, fruit, bread, cheese, and some kind of soup full of vegetables. Theon had filled a bowl for her, but she’d pushed it aside, loading her plate up with chicken, fruit, and bread instead.

“Where did he go?” Tessa asked.

“Flying.”

“Yeah, butwhere?”

“I’m sure he went to his place for a bit.”